Alem is on holiday with his father for a few days in London. He has never been out of Ethiopia before and is very excited. They have a great few days together until one morning when Alem wakes up to find that his father has left him. Alem is left a letter in which his father admits that political problems in Ethiopia mean they have decided he will be safer in London. Alem is now on his own, in the hands of the social services and the Refugee Council. This story charts Alem's fate as he is moved from children's home to foster family, and in and out of court hearings. Winner of the 2002 Portsmouth Book Award - Longer Novel category.