'When bombs rain down on the Malayan plantation where seven-year-old Rosie lives with her parents and beloved amah, her days of privilege and playfulness come to an abrupt end. Swept along with other British families eager to escape Malaya, fate cruelly leaves Rosie on the deck of a ship heading to India, alone and separated from her family Confined to a brutal school in Bombay, a determined Rosie seeks freedom in the crowded, chaotic city slums. Her life is lightened when she meets Armand, a poor Portuguese-Indian boy, and his mother. They shield Rosie with their love and allow her to enjoy adventures and escapades on the magical streets of Bombay. While Rosie is growing up on her own terms, her parents and brother endure different worlds in prison camps, dreaming of one day being reunited in Scotland.' (Publication summary)