Robbie Carter is adjusting to his new life in late-1950s Toronto with his single mother, an engineeer with the airplane manufacturer A.V. Roe. One night, waking to the buzz of voices, Robbie creeps downstairs and makes an astonishing discovery. His mother and her colleagues are working on plans for the Avro Arrow, a new fighter jet capable of unheard-of speeds! Determined not to miss a word, Robbie continues to spy on their meetings.

Charles Reid was born in the East End of London, England, and immigrated to Canada in 1975. He lives in Nanaimo, British Columbia.