Illustrated by Christian Birmingham
Ollie's brother wants to go and work with children who have been made orphans, through war, in Africa. He wants to be a clown and make them laugh. His mother and sister want him to stay in England and go to university.
Hero, a swallow, has a journey to make too. He must fly to Africa for the winter to join all the other swallows. His journey is difficult and fraught with danger.
Three separate stories are woven into one powerful and moving novel whose central theme exposes the horrors of war and landmines, but also the endurance of the human spirit.