Six-year-old Mei-en screamed in terror when she realized her gypsy owner was about to sell her to a foreign lady. Times were hard in the mountainous region of China in 1934, and orphans were often sold for pennies. But foreigners in China were considered "devils," and Mei-en thought surely the little woman in Chinese clothes would eat her for supper! But this time Mei-en's new owner was the compassionate and respected missionary, Gladys Aylward.

One day outside her new home, Mei-en saw wonderful silver "birds" flying in the sky but her delight turned to dread when they began dropping bombs that exploded all over the city. Suddenly their lives, and those of nearly a hundred orphan children, were in terrible danger!

With the enemy in hot pursuit, their only escape is over the mountains!