This nine-volume series chronicles their long journey fraught with perils. The children meet all sorts of people, both friendly and wicked, as they travel toward Hong Kong. Yaya and Tuduo learn many growing lessons along the way, not the least of which is to judge a person on their character, not their social or financial status. The gloom of war, its absurd tragedy, gives way to the incredible capacity of youth to overwhelm grim reality.

In Book 8 Yaya and Zhu set sail on St Patrick's Day, and head towards Shanghai while Tuduo and Oyster Gravy miss the boat. During the crossing, however, Yaya recovers her memory and realizes that her savior is not who she thought he was!