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 ...
Praise for Asha and The Spirit Bird:
"A gorgeous, magical, Indian tale of adventure, it's set in the Himalayas and it's got peril and bravery and the kind of reckless optimism of youth. You've got two children who go on a quest to save the heroine's family and they encounter wolves and tigers and they go to the highest temple in the country and they come across human predators in the city. For my money, it's like a Hindu version of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. It's *that* good. It's just an enchanting, powerful story. (Interviewer: "and good for adults to read?") Oh, it's REALLY fun! I read it at a gulp."
Suzannah Lipscomb, historian and Chair of the Costa Book Awards jury.
"Bilan’s story is an eye-opening adventure with one-sandalled foot in atmospheric realism and a toe-hold in the mythical."
Observer Review
"An evocative debut…weaves ancient Hindu beliefs into a fast-paced quest…satisfyingly classic in feel, Bilan’s story also highlights contemporary issues, such as child labour and the perils of factory fires."
Guardian (Books of the Month)
"Lyrical and vivid, Jasbinder’s haunting debut explores themes of faith friendship and greed, while capturing the wild, rich heart of contemporary India."
World Book Day Newsletter
"Immerse yourself in a lush world of spirit birds and mango trees, snow leopards and majestic mountains, in a sumptuous and sizzingly debut…a colourful story guaranteed to win the hearts and minds of MG readers."
Lancashire Post
"Asha sets off on a dangerous journey to find her father in our gripping but warm Book Of The Day.’ ‘Explores some dark and terrible truths…but with a constantly reassuring tone."
Book trust (Book Of The Day)
"Fantastic debut…uplifting adventure…fire and fury…Bilan creates a vivid world."
Alex O’Connell, Times (Children’s Book Of The Week)
Further press plaudits:
“High stakes set against a vividly evoked setting, steeped in wild mysticism. I was swept along by Asha’s story from the first page.”
Sarah Driver author of The Huntress, a Waterstones Book of the Month
“A touching story of love, hope and perseverance”
Steve Voake, author of Dreamwalker’s Child and The Starlight Conspiracy
“All the ingredients of a fantastic story”
Lucy Christopher, author of Flyaway, Stolen and The Killing Woods
“A strong story full of incident plus that extra layer of the almost magical”
Julia Green, author of The Wilderness War, The Northern Sky and Bringing the Summer, among many others.
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 ...
Praise for Asha and The Spirit Bird:
"A gorgeous, magical, Indian tale of adventure, it's set in the Himalayas and it's got peril and bravery and the kind of reckless optimism of youth. You've got two children who go on a quest to save the heroine's family and they encounter wolves and tigers and they go to the highest temple in the country and they come across human predators in the city. For my money, it's like a Hindu version of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. It's *that* good. It's just an enchanting, powerful story. (Interviewer: "and good for adults to read?") Oh, it's REALLY fun! I read it at a gulp."
Suzannah Lipscomb, historian and Chair of the Costa Book Awards jury.
"Bilan’s story is an eye-opening adventure with one-sandalled foot in atmospheric realism and a toe-hold in the mythical."
Observer Review
"An evocative debut…weaves ancient Hindu beliefs into a fast-paced quest…satisfyingly classic in feel, Bilan’s story also highlights contemporary issues, such as child labour and the perils of factory fires."
Guardian (Books of the Month)
"Lyrical and vivid, Jasbinder’s haunting debut explores themes of faith friendship and greed, while capturing the wild, rich heart of contemporary India."
World Book Day Newsletter
"Immerse yourself in a lush world of spirit birds and mango trees, snow leopards and majestic mountains, in a sumptuous and sizzingly debut…a colourful story guaranteed to win the hearts and minds of MG readers."
Lancashire Post
"Asha sets off on a dangerous journey to find her father in our gripping but warm Book Of The Day.’ ‘Explores some dark and terrible truths…but with a constantly reassuring tone."
Book trust (Book Of The Day)
"Fantastic debut…uplifting adventure…fire and fury…Bilan creates a vivid world."
Alex O’Connell, Times (Children’s Book Of The Week)
Further press plaudits:
- June 2019 – Featured in Best Children’s Books of 2019 in Guardian
- Ealing SLS – Shortlisted for Junior Book Award 2019
- Best of Book Depository 2019
- Oct 2019 – Longlisted for Bury Grammar School Book Award 2020
- Cumbria SLS Shortlist 2020
- On BookTrust top 100 books
- Observer Best Children’s Books of 2019 – Kitty Empire (Dec 2019)
- Carnegie Medal Nominated 2020
- Winner Costa Children’s Book Award 2019
- Waterstones Book Prize 2020
“High stakes set against a vividly evoked setting, steeped in wild mysticism. I was swept along by Asha’s story from the first page.”
Sarah Driver author of The Huntress, a Waterstones Book of the Month
“A touching story of love, hope and perseverance”
Steve Voake, author of Dreamwalker’s Child and The Starlight Conspiracy
“All the ingredients of a fantastic story”
Lucy Christopher, author of Flyaway, Stolen and The Killing Woods
“A strong story full of incident plus that extra layer of the almost magical”
Julia Green, author of The Wilderness War, The Northern Sky and Bringing the Summer, among many others.