First published 1987
Ten-year-old Tien Pao becomes separated from his family when their sampan breaks loose during a storm on the Yangtze River. Japanese forces occupy the Chinese countryside, making his journey home treacherous. The boy wanders through villages and rice paddies, hungry and afraid, clutching his pet pig Glorya for comfort. American airmen discover Tien Pao and take him to their base, where sixty pilots become his protective fathers. They feed him, teach him English words, and give him hope. But Tien Pao cannot rest until he finds his real parents and baby sister. The airmen help him search the refugee camps and destroyed towns. His quest becomes a test of courage as he navigates between two worlds, learning that family can take many forms. The story reveals how kindness survives even in wartime.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, war, adventure, asian-american
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: China, Yangtze River
Period: World War II
189 pages · Library Binding · Perfection Learning