Incident at Badamya [School & Library Binding]

Dorothy Gilman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1990

"Gilman keeps you turning the pages."
UPI
After Gen Ferris's missionary father commits suicide in 1950, it is up to her to get out of Burma alone. She has one hundred dollars in her knapsack, a slingshot, a magical Burmese puppet, and the New York City address of an aunt she doesn't know. But Gen is captured by Red Chinese forces and imprisoned with six other lost travelers. She vows to escape, not believing that her destiny lies in captivity, never dreaming of the forces that will finally come to her aid....

--This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Gilman's new suspense novel has a heroine no less endearing than her perdurable "Mrs. Pollifax." The time is 1950, the place a Burmese village where Genevieve Ferris is orphaned at age 16. Taking the first step toward returning to her native America, Gen meets Neil Hamlin, an undercover agent from the U.S. sought by Communist soldiers. Gen and Neil become partners, slipping through the jungle, trying to reach the river boat headed for Rangoon, but the girl is alone when she's grabbed by troops under General Wang. Wang's prisoners include a motley group of men and women, all with secrets they gradually disclose to each other during the long days of captivity. Among them is Ba Sein, a puppet master whose gentle leadership helps determine the outcome of riveting events. At the conclusion, one feels the full effects of a story which is both magical and convincing.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Inside Flap

"Gilman keeps you turning the pages."
UPI
After Gen Ferris's missionary father commits suicide in 1950, it is up to her to get out of Burma alone. She has one hundred dollars in her knapsack, a slingshot, a magical Burmese puppet, and the New York City address of an aunt she doesn't know. But Gen is captured by Red Chinese forces and imprisoned with six other lost travelers. She vows to escape, not believing that her destiny lies in captivity, never dreaming of the forces that will finally come to her aid.... --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

Product Details

• School & Library Binding: 216 pages
• Publisher: Turtleback Books: A Division of Sanval (February 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1417636238
• ISBN-13: 978-1417636235
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,156,788 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dorothy Gilman is the author of thirteen Mrs. Pollifax novels, beginning with The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax and continuing through Mrs. Pollifax, Innocent Tourist. She lives in Westport, Connecticut.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Touch of Mystical, March 25, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Incident at Badamya (Mass Market Paperback)

Gen Ferris is an unusual girl, living in Burma in 1950, the daughter of a missionary--when she has to make her way out of the country. Her flight is almost immediately interrupted by her capture by Red Chinese forces, along with a large and often comical cast of characters, who are imprisoned with her. But she soon realizes that these people are wearing masks that hide their true selves. And subtle forces bring her help and illumination, both for her life and spirit as well as her fellow captives. It is never overtly stated, but beautifully done, and when I put the book down, it made me wistful for that magic. A good read!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite Dorothy Gilman book, July 12, 2003

By 

zhongwen xuesheng (Silver Spring, Maryland United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Incident at Badamya (Mass Market Paperback)

I've read this book several times, and it never fails to make my skin tingle. First off, I've been to Burma, which doesn't really change, so I relate especially to the setting. Dorothy Gilman usually does a good job with her settings. They are like travelogues -- at least in the places I have also visited.

The plot involves a bit of supernatural, and a bit of created supernatural. The feature of the insurgent group, and the Chinese Communist rings true, although the Kuomingtang (nationalist) was more active in the area just after 1949.

What I liked best was the interaction between the captives -- how they resolved differences and came to respect each other strengths. Perhaps the puppetmaster made it so. I especially liked the line praising escapist literature.

The last reason I appreciate the book is that I spent two weeks of my youth with a sculptor named Genevieve in upstate New York, who reminded me of Gen.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A touching adventure story, August 25, 2000

By 

Christina P. Branson "Strixaluco" (Fort Collins) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Incident at Badamya (Mass Market Paperback)

Gilman hits just the right note of poignancy in this story of a young girl who must use her wits and discover her unique talents to survive the harrowing journey to freedom when her missionary father commits suicide. It is easy to see the world through Gen's eyes as she struggles to determine who are her friends and who are her enemies in a land torn by war.

Gilman does very well with the mystical elements, fitting them in so that they mesh with the world she describes to us and seem no less real than the rest of the story.