Olly's brother Matt wants to go and work with children who have been made orphans through war in Africa. He wants to be a clown and make them laugh. His mother and sister want him to stay in England and go to university. Hero, a swallow has a journey to make too, he must fly to Africa for the winter to join all the other swallows his journey is difficult and fraught with danger. Three separate stories are woven into one powerful and moving novel whose central theme not only exposes the horrors of war and of landmines, but also the endurance of the human spirit.