Two teens accompanied by a bushman travel across the African desert braving the elements while they run from a poacher out to kill them. Nonnie is a teen girl living in Africa with her parents who are wildlife advocates who stop ivory poachers. Her father's friend John and his son Henry are visiting from America and are staying at their ranch. Henry is stuck-up and a brat, making it clear that he is unhappy with this trip. Naturally, Nonnie doesn't like him. One night as Nonnie goes out to meet with her bushman friend Xhabbo in a cave, Henry follows her. Xhabbo has a premonition and warns Nonnie that something bad is about to happen. They stay in the cave. When Nonnie goes back to the ranch, she discovers that her parents, and John have been assaulted and killed by elephant poachers, they are now burning her home. Nonnie, Henry, Xhabbo, and Nonnie's dog make a run for it in the dessert, with poacher Ricketts (supposedly a family friend), in pursuit. They are witnesses to the murders and must now be killed as well. Ricketts has a plane and surveys the African dessert for them, the kids create dummies using their clothes to trick Ricketts into thinking he is shooting at them. As the kids trek across the sands, they must find food and water, and with Xhabbo's help, they get a crash course on survival. Nonnie and Henry develop a romance, since Henry reveals his much sensitive caring self. They reach Rickett's hideout, and it is filled with elephant ivory. They rig the place up with explosives that Rickett's fails to stop, killing him. The kids are now out of harm's way, and they go their separate ways, Nonnie staying behind in Africa, and Harry returning to America with their incredible journey behind them.
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Best part of story, including ending:
I love the sweeping African scenery and I like the adventure aspect where we watch a strong and independent teenage girl as the heroine.
Best scene in story:
The scene when a family of elephants are following them as if commiserating with their misery.
Opinion about the main character:
Nonnie is a refreshing teenage girl role model because she takes charge of the situation and is never the helpless, whiny girly-girl. She is a product of her environment and parent's upbringing which is a strong contrast to Henry's sheltered life.