When a peculiar advertisement appears in the newspaper for children to take part in a secret mission children everywhere sit a series of mysterious tests In the end just four children succeed Reynie Kate Sticky & Constance They have three things in common they are all honest all remarkably talented & all orphans They must go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened where the only rule is that there are no rules There they must work as a team to save not only themselves but also the world outside the walls