A heart-wrenching tale of selfless love and the powerful desire to survive.

When little Kai is brought to the orphanage, an older child, Pax, immediately takes him under his wing. Left on their own after the orphanage shuts down, Pax is determined to keep Kai safe, but life on the streets is tough—and dangerous. In a desperate attempt to make enough money to keep Kai in school, Pax unwittingly transports a bomb, which explodes, killing and maiming hundreds of people. Pax and Kai escape the deadly explosion, only to be arrested and charged with terrorism. What follows is a descent into the hellish prison where brutal guards stop at nothing to make Pax 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.

Sharon McKay is an award-winning author of many books for parents and children, including Penelope from the Our Canadian Girl series. Her first young adult novel, Charlie Wilcox, won the Geoffrey Bilson Award and was shortlisted for the Governor General's Award and the Ruth Schwartz Award. Charlie Wilcox's Great War, the sequel, was nominated for a 2003 Red Maple Award. Esther, her most recent novel for young adults, was shortlisted for a 2004 Governor General's Award.

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