A heart-wrenching tale of selfless love and the powerful desire to
survive. When little Kai is brought to the orphanage run by Bell, a
fearsome Englishwoman whose dedication to her charges is unflinching, an
older child, Pax, immediately takes him under his wing. Kai is a
brilliant child, who could go on to achieve great things. Living amidst
political strife and constant uncertainty, the children are cared
for--until Bell dies and they are left on their own. In a desperate
attempt to make enough money to keep Kai in school, Pax starts working
for a shady character known as Mister. Mister sends Pax on a "special"
mission--carry a heavy box to a pre-arranged location, and wait. At the
very last minute, Pax realizes that the box contains a bomb, which
explodes, killing and maiming hundreds of people. Pax and Kai escape the
explosion, only to be arrested and charged with terrorism. Once
imprisoned, Pax faces brutal guards who stop at nothing to make him
talk. This haunting novel brings home the tragic situation in which
children in over 40 countries are tortured with impunity. But it also
speaks to the strength of love in the most dire situations.