Coyan Hyde's world is the one we all know. Kids go to school, play games, visit each other on sleepovers, fool around. With one exception. The phrase "having his balls pricked" is part of their everyday vocabulary. For the boys, because it's a rite-of-passage. Every boy knows that before his eleventh birthday, he will be neutered - have a drug injected into his testicles that will cause them to soften and eventually disappear. He will not hit puberty and will never be able to have sex with girls.

The girls are also familiar with the words for a different reason. It is part of the culture that, in the festive atmosphere of a yard party, sisters get to neuter their own brothers.

Twelve-year-old Emily decides it's time she experienced sex with a boy- having his penis up her vagina - and selects her cousin Eric to do the honours. Unfortunately for this plan, Eric has his balls pricked a week before Emily's visit, and by the time they actually meet, Eric can do no more than fondle and cuddle and kiss.

Emily has a Plan B - but what this is, I'll leave you to find out.

Coyan Hyde is one of my favourite EA authors - a pity that his output has only run to three stories so far.