Archie Stringweed lives in the windswept Scottish fishing village of Westervoe. Archie is sure that the wind talks to him; that the wind watches him. It seems to appear round corners and laugh at him; to creep up behind him and blow him along the pavement; to drape itself round his shoulders and screech in his ear.

Then, on Archie's tenth birthday, he discovers that he faces a huge challenge - one that will determine the fate of his family, who have been plagued by a curse for generations. Before the day is out, Archie is pitched in a furious battle with the elements . . .