First published 1985
Jim is a privileged British schoolboy living in Shanghai when Japanese forces invade China in 1941. Separated from his parents during the chaos of war, he wanders the occupied city before ending up in Lunghua internment camp. There Jim spends four years among fellow prisoners, learning to survive on meager rations while bombs fall around them. He befriends American sailors, trades cigarettes for food, and watches B-29 bombers streak overhead. The camp becomes his entire world as childhood innocence gives way to the harsh realities of captivity. Jim must navigate the complex social dynamics of imprisoned adults while clinging to hope that the war will end and his family will return. This is the story of a boy's resilience in the face of extraordinary circumstances.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, war, adventure
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Shanghai, China, Lunghua
Period: 1941
Audio Cassette