In May 1995, a seven-year-old Tibetan boy was taken from his home with his parents and younger brother by Chinese security services. Neither the boy nor his family has been seen since. His devotees believe him to be the 11th incarnation of the Panchen Lama, the second most important in the Tibetan Buddhist hierarchy. In this text, Isabel Hilton tells the inside story of how this boy became the innocent prize in a battle between the Chinese regime and Tibet's exiled religious leader, the Dalai Lama. Travelling to many inaccessible locations, she uncovers the high politics and intrigue that accompanied the race to find the child and enthrone him as Tibet's future leader. She also explores the history of Tibet's high lamas and illuminates the unique role religion has played in shaping Tibetan culture.