This book is set in the Southern plains of China, when the Japanese are swooping upon the Chinese from above during the second Sino-Chinese War, lasting from 1937-1945.(Basically during WW2) Ashley Anderson lived with his father and Tibetan Uncle in monastery in Southern China. Their little village was one of the first to be attacked by the Japanese. Due to impeding danger, Ashley is forced to flee with his uncle to Tibet to escape, and travel from there to India. Despite facing imminent threats and dangers consecutively, Ashley and Uncle did not lose hope and ploughed on. They had to face wolves and worse, angry Tibetans who wanted to kill them both. (They hated white people like Ashley) However, in a bitter snowstorm, Ashley is separated from his uncle and captured, taken to a cave. But who are the mysterious creatures who have captured him? Is it the mystical Yeti, said to live in the Himalayas or a family of snow giants, said to live on the highest peaks of the Himalayas? (Some secrets have to remain....)
This book focusses more on psychology
than action, unlike other books I have read. It is narrated from Ashley’s eyes
and thus portrays his thoughts and actions and subsequently the thoughts behind
them. However, this is still full of suspense and emotion. It portrays the
change in appearance of Ashley, from originally being quite weak to becoming
strong-willed and physically strong as well. The feeling of losing his family and best friends, that too twice must
have been unbearable. He lost his father, friends, and his uncle, but still
persevered. This book is well described and one of my favourite Morpurgo’s. (For
now. There are really no traffic lights in reading!!)
Due to above reasons, this book helps
in character building and confidence, and thus I recommend it to children of
9+.
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