In 1941, the Sino-Japanese War finds Japan occupying a significant portion of China. Diplomatic security shields the International Settlement in Shanghai, where Westerners continue to lead lives steeped in comfort and familiar Western customs. Twelve-year-old British boy Jamie Graham, born into the affluence of a mill owner, has known only this privileged existence within the Settlement. With a deep passion for airplanes, Jamie is pampered and unaccustomed to hardship. He hasn't even learned the local language, expecting everyone he interacts with, even the household staff, to converse in English.
However, Jamie's sheltered existence shatters as Japan enters World War II following the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Japanese take control of the Settlement, confiscating all private property and forcing Western residents to evacuate abruptly. Amid the chaos, Jamie's self-absorption leads to separation from his parents during the evacuation. Left to fend for himself for the first time, Jamie confronts the reality of independence. It's in this challenging time that he must find the strength to mature and adapt to the new precarious circumstances. His survival hinges on his ability to navigate a path forward, all the while holding onto the hope of one day reuniting with his parents.
