Asha & the Spirit Bird

Published 01/01/2001 | Paperback / softback,
Description:

Winner of the Costa Children’s Book Award 2019

Winner of the Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition

2017Shortlisted for the Waterstones

Children’s Book Prize 2020Longlisted

for the Jhalak Prize 2019Chosen as one of

the Guardian’s Best Books of 2019

‘This book is such a light-filled, huge-hearted delight of

an adventure.’ KATHERINE RUNDELL

‘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.