Chiko is a 15-year-old young man growing up in Burma (officially known as Myanmar, though the name is not universally recognized by a number of nations or media outlets). His father, a doctor, has been imprisoned for his views against the military junta. As a result, Chiko has taken on the responsibility of making sure his family has enough money or food. Like his father, he is an intellectual, and Chiko hopes to become a teacher someday. His life takes a surprising turn when he finds an ad looking for teachers.

When he goes to the center to take the test in order to see if he might be one of the lucky ones to be trained as a teacher, he finds that he has been conscripted into the army. It is not a choice because it is the only way in which his mother will have enough food or money.

Before long, he and a number of other teenage boys find themselves at a former school near the Thai border. They are all being trained as child soldier to serve the military junta and the might of Burma. Life is harsh in the training camp, but the difficult times are eased as he befriends a street (homeless) boy who is also at the camp. Tai, the boy, and Chiko form a team with Chiko teaching Tai to read and write and Tai showing Chiko how to survive the tough conditions and beatings that are common in the camp.

Their friendship becomes so strong that when an opportunity to reconnect Tai with the sister he left behind, Chiko volunteers to take his friend's place on a mission. It is because of this that Chiko gets to meet Tu Reh, a Karenni boy. The Karenni are a tribal minority (one of many in the country) who have become the target of the military junta as scapegoats so the Burmese can hold dominance in the country.

While Tu Reh, a young man filled with anger because of the treatment of his people, would love to kill Chiko because they are really sworn enemies, the Karenni finds that his cultural beliefs and a need to protect the week makes him choose otherwise.

These three boys are entwined in the horrors that have become the closed culture of Burma. Perkins uses their story to provide insight into the cultures and belief systems present in the country while also highlighting the horrible human rights situation in there. Each of the three boys comes from a unique background that is filled with their beliefs, different educational and economical situations, and hopes, but they are all filled with the same sense of humanity. They all have a strong sense of family and a need to protect those they care about.

It is this sense that helps readers connect to a story that is fully unknown and difficult because true feelings for Chiko, Tai, and Tu Reh develop. While I don't think most readers would instinctively pick this one up, those that do will find a wonderful tale of hope and strong characters.