Thanks so much for your lovely message and for everything that you do with Book Wagon. Yourself and Bob are much cherished in our booky world and I personally really appreciate everything that you do. This unique debut novel is perfect for inspiring anyone who, like the dedication says, ‘has ever felt too small to make a difference.’” Tash and her family have to follow many rules to survive in Chinese-occupied Tibet. Her parents are involved with the resistance and when they disappear, Tash and her best friend Sam have no choice but to embark on a perilous journey to seek the wisdom of the Dalai Lama. The characters are Tibetan, but their names are abbreviated to Tash and Sam. Which...it just made me slightly uncomfortable that their names were abbreviated to something that seemed Western. You know?

The setting of the majority of the story, the Himalayas, is another main character here. As daunting as the journey through the mountains and towards the relative safety of northern India is, the setting is still painted as breathtaking and beautiful by debut author Jess Butterworth. It’s unforgiving, yes, and Tash along with her best friend Sam and their yaks have various difficulties to contend with along the way. The landscape is still seen in a reverential way, a way that inspires awe in these young minds. Emma Perry is a children's book author, a teacher, the founder of MyBookCorner and organiser of International Book Giving Day. She loves books so much her first two books were about... books! After the publication of I Don't Like Books and This Book Has Alpacas and Bears, she ventured outdoors with two books celebrating being outside - Puddling! illustrated by Claire Alexander, plus Know It Owl illustrated by Andrea Stegmaier.

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An] adventurous tale of survival. Twelve-year-old Tash embarks on an incredible journey with her best friend, Sam, encountering Chinese soldiers and the Dalai Lama. It’s a great opportunity for kids spending the summer at home to escape to a part of the world they’re probably not all that familiar with.”

Tash lives in Tibet, where as a practicing Buddhist she must follow many rules to avoid the wrath of the occupying Chinese soldiers. Life remains peaceful as long as Tash, her family, and their community hide their religion and don’t mention its leader, the Dalai Lama.

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The attitude and outlook of the Tibetan people is reflected in many of the characters in the book and it’s refreshing to read. Even though these characters endure hardship and persecution, there is always hope and a lot of love. Despite there being a clear “villain” in the shape of Chinese soldiers, there is rarely if ever a feeling of ill-will towards them from Tash or her neighbours.