The nine-year-old English boy Jim Graham lives in Shanghai with his aristocratic parents and a handful of servants. His privileged life comes to a sudden end when the Japanese troops invade the city on December 8th 1941. As the Japanese march through the streets Jim is seperated from his parents. All of a sudden he is forced to take care of himself, has to live in the streets and fight for food. Eventually he is interned in the Soo Chow confinement camp for British civilians. Basie, an opportunistic merchant seaman, who somewhat reluctantly takes Jim under his wing, teaches him the most Darwinian methods of survival-lessons that help Jim endure the lengthy stay. Since the camp is situated next to a captured Chinese airfield, Jim develops an admiration for the imprisoned American pilots but also for the Japanese. When finally the war ends, Jim sets out to find his parents again.