In 1941, bombs drop from the night skies of London, demolishing the
apartment Nick Freestone lives in with his mother. Deciding the
situation in England is too unstable, Nick's mother sends him to live
with his father in Burma, hoping he will be safer living on the family's
teak plantation.But as soon as Nick arrives, trouble erupts in the
remote Burmese elephant village. Japanese soldiers invade, and Nick's
father is taken prisoner. Nick is left stranded on the plantation,
forced to work as a servant to the new rulers. As life in the village
grows more dangerous for Nick and his young friend, Mya, they plan their
daring escape. Setting off on elephant back, they will risk their lives
to save Nick's father and Mya's brother from a Japanese POW camp.In this
thrilling journey through the jungles of Burma, Roland Smith explores
the far-reaching effects of World War II, while introducing readers to
the fascinating world of wild timber elephants and their mahouts.