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The true story of a poor Chinese peasant boy who, plucked unsuspectingly at age 10 from millions of others across the land to be trained as a ballet dancer, turned the situation to his advantage to become one of the world's greatest ballet stars. Li tells his story with simplicity and charm, with humour and compassion, and at times with great drama. After seven lonely years of gruelling training at the Peking Dance Academy, Li is selected, at age 18, to perform at the Houston Ballet's summer school, which leads to a dramatic  defection, assisted by his friends and contacts in arts and politics including George and Barbara Bush. His courage in the face of extreme loneliness, his determination to succeed 'to put food on my family's table', his commitment and self-discipline to be the best, make for an awesome, inspiring and moving story that will speak to readers of all ages, everywhere. Will include new material bringing us up-to-date on Li's family her and in China, some of the other key players in the book, thoughts on how the China of today.

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