Welcome to Miss Carbunkle's Home for Wayward and Misbegotten Creatures. Part animal and part human, the poor "groundlings" in the orphanage toil in classroom and factory, forbidden to enjoy ordinary childhood things--most particularly singing and music. When an innocent, one-eared, fox-like eleven-year-old with no proper name protects a young bird groundling from being bullied, she gives him two incredible gifts: a real name and a best friend. Together, they escape from the Home and embark on an extraordinary quest
