When the Japanese invade China in 1941, fourteen-year-old Ashley Anderson's father sends his son away with Uncle Sung, an old family friend from Tibet.

When their food supply begins to rapidly diminish, Uncle Sung sets out to get help, leaving Ashley fighting for survival against hunger, snowstorms, and wolves.

In her review for the School Library Journal, Mary Mueller said the novel is a "gentle fantasy in which the yeti seem very real and are portrayed as intelligent, kindly creatures.

[6] The Emergency Librarian Magazine stated in their review, that what Morpurgo has written in this novel is "an imaginative, well-written adventure and fantasy story".

[7] Ethel Twichell from Horn Book Magazine; Keith Barker from The Times Educational Supplement and Rita Padden from the Lassen County Times, all gave the book a favourable review, and the consensus amongst the three writers was "this novel is a good adventure for teenagers", and Padden also commented it "has an exotic setting and an unusual plot".

She also noted that Morpurgo who narrates the audiobook, has an "appealing voice and his British accent are perfect for this story told by Ashley".

[2] AudioFile Magazine wrote in their audiobook review that "Morpurgo delivers this charming and endearing tale in a British accent and steady pace.