The author succeeds in enticing us to accompany from childhood this brave, determined missionary in the ups and downs of her walk with God. The background is wartime Britain, and then China liberated from Japan and then fought over by Nationalists and Communists. Joan joins Jim Broadbent's family and small team in China Inland Mission work amongst the hitherto unreached remote and lawless Nosu tribes in the mountains of Daliangshan in Southern China. She is persistent in looking for every opportunity in word and action to win trust and share God's gospel of love, despite witchdoctors and shaman. The team's medical ministry unlocked doors, and converts were made who kept their faith through the communist years.