Deep in the English countryside, Kenneth Storey and his older brother have discovered the land of Arboria - a kingdom of adventure waiting for them through a gate in the garden wall. As the world outside plunges deeper into global conflict, the Arborians wage their own war against the Barbarians - an ancient foe seemingly as old as the forest itself. But for Kenneth, Arboria is more than a world of make-believe and the Barbarians more than a figment of his imagination. For Kenneth, Arboria is more important than the real world ...and perhaps, in some ways, he may be right. THE GOOD PEOPLE is Steve Cockayne's first novel for younger readers. It is both a spellbinding adventure story and an extraordinarily original novel of growing up. Disturbing, compelling and beautifully written, it is an unforgettable fantasy from one of Britain's most exciting new writers.