Twelve year-old Tash lives in Tibet, where her village has been overrun by Chinese soldiers and everyone lives in fear of being thrown in jail. After a man sets himself on fire to protest the repressive regime, her parents are seized. Tash and her best friend Sam are determined to escape to Nepal and seek guidance from their leader and hero, the Dalai Lama.

They manage to borrow two yaks, Eve and Bones, to help them carry provisions, but two children and two yaks attempting to travel across the peaks of the Himalayas just before winter proves to be dangerous indeed. Tash and Sam show incredible courage and determination to achieve their goal.

This strong, beautifully packaged debut helps readers learn about Tibetan culture and landscape from an author who has experienced living in the region. It’s an exciting and exotic Himalayan adventure story that is not for the faint-hearted, but will appeal to adventure lovers aged 9–12.

Angela Crocombe