A boy's tale of lostness, courage and growing up in post-war 1950s Singapore


Eleven-year-old Ying Xiong's name means 'hero'. But what is the right way to be a hero?

Ying Xiong has trouble coping with his turbulent growing-up years in 1950s Singapore. His absent father left him for his home village in China, and his mother slogs hard all day to support their family. At first, he looks up to his Silat Road neighbour, a mild police inspector who likes to harp about the value of forbearance. Then, an impressive senior officer turns up in his rough neighbourhood and shows him what it's like to take charge. When Xiong runs into a series of difficulties, he must decide who he wishes to emulate and the kind of person he wants to become. As he navigates both paths, Xiong discovers what it means to be a real hero.

Little Hero's Wish is a work of fiction inspired by real events from the childhood years of the author's father in 1950s Singapore. It follows from Xiong's journey in the award-winning and bestselling Little Hero, inspired by the author's family's lived experiences in post-war 1940s Singapore.