Sinopsis

Barney Willow's life couldn't get any worse. He's weedy, with sticky-out ears. Horrible Gavin Needle loves tormenting him - Barney has no idea why. And headteacher-from-hell Miss Whipmire seems determined to make every second of Barney's existence a complete misery! Worst of all, Dad has been missing for almost a year, and there's no sign of him ever coming home.

Barney just wants to escape. To find another life. To be a cat, for example. A quiet, lazy cat. Things would be so much easier - right?

Life couldn't get any worse for twelve-year-old Barney Willow.

He's weedy, with sticky-out ears. Evil bully Gavin Needle and horrible headteacher-from-hell Miss Whipmire both seem determined to make his existence a complete and utter misery. Mum doesn't seem to care, not that she's around very often. Worst of all, Dad has been missing for almost a year - and there's no sign of him ever coming home.

Barney just wants to escape. To find...