Joyce McMillan was born in the United States, she had a professional background in nursing and decided to come to Taiwan to set up an orphanage in the small coastal town of Erlin where she focused on caring for children with illnesses. She not only provided the medical treatment and rehabilitation they needed, but also encouraged the children to stand up for themselves, to use willpower, courage, perseverance and optimism to go out and live different lives.
The story focuses on a young Taiwanese boy called Shan and over the course of the book the scenes go from grey-blue to yellow and orange, suggesting that his life gradually shifts from darkness to brightness and that this change happened when he met Joyce McMillan at the orphanage. The book also implies that if you make someone feel that warmth, you can encourage them to confront their plights and love their life.