Marvin lives in a grey house with a white fence - a white fence but for one red post. He has red hair and blue eyes. He is also left-handed. "We're lucky to be left-handed," said Mrs North. "It means we have royal blood."

One day, at school, while writing a report, Marvin realises that nothing adds up. His parents have brown hair and they have brown eyes. Can he really be Marvin Redpost? Or is he, in fact, the lost son of the King of Shampoon - Prince Robert? Was he whisked away from the hospital at birth and are the Redposts really his kidnappers? Marvin sets out to get things straight. There are a lot of perks to being a prince and it's all very tempting but Marvin soon realises that sometimes the truth isn't all it's cracked up to be.

Louis Sachar writes with pace and humour and heart. In this, the first in a series of eight books, he introduces strong and memorable characters in his unique and inimitable style.