A Notting Hill childrens opera is suddenly on the world stage when terrorists try to kidnap one of the children. Too old to take part in the annual childrens opera, seventeen-year-old Doll Jacobs makes a place for herself as a junior member of the opera mafia who run the show. There are always exactly one hundred childrens roles, but an exception is made for Juan OGrady, the son of the ambassador from a small South American country, Matteo. When Mattean terrorists attempt to kidnap him, Juan is hidden amongst the other children and a tense standoff unfolds as the terrorists hold the cast and crew hostage and search for him. Dickinsons philosophical investigation of whether we can defend art for arts sake is also a taut thriller that will hold readers of all ages to the very end.