Asha and the Spirit Bird by Jasbinder Bilan (author)

Winner of the Costa Children’s Book Award 2019
Winner of the Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition
2017
Shortlisted for the Waterstones
Children’s Book Prize 2020
Longlisted
for the Jhalak Prize 2019
Chosen as one of
the Guardian’s Best Books of 2019

‘This book is such a light-filled, huge-hearted delight of
an adventure.’ KATHERINERUNDELL

‘An evocative debut novel … satisfyingly classic in feel’
GUARDIAN

‘A heartfelt and mystical children’s adventure story.’
TELEGRAPH

Asha lives in the foothills of the Himalayas. Money is tight and
she misses her papa who works in the city. When he suddenly stops
sending his wages, a ruthless moneylender ransacks their home
and her mother talks of leaving.

From her den in the mango tree, Asha makes a pact with her best
friend, Jeevan, to find her father and make things right. But the
journey is dangerous: they must cross the world’s highest mountains
and face hunger, tiredness – even snow leopards.

And yet, Asha has the unshakeable sense that the spirit bird of
her grandmother – her nanijee – is watching over her
…

A gorgeously original and magical adventure set in India,
for children aged 9 and up.

From the author of Tamarind & the Star of Ishta
- longlisted for the Blue Peter Book Prize.

Explores themes of faith, family and friendship while
capturing the wild, rich heart of contemporary India.