Published: 07/02/2019

Highly evocative of rural India and the spiritual traditions and beliefs of the region, Asha and the Spirit Bird sends a determined young girl on a Himalayan adventure, with only her best friend and the spirit animal of her grandmother for company. Wonderfully escapist, Bilan’s mesmerising debut immerses the reader in a distinctive culture and geography that sings on every page.
Longlisted for the The Jhalak Prize 2020
Winner of the Costa Children's Book Award 2019
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 - will be watching over her.
Publisher: Chicken House Ltd
ISBN: 9781911490197
Number of pages: 288
Weight: 210 g
Dimensions: 205 x 142 x 20 mm
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“A rather different read”
So as it won the costa book award category it would be frankly rude not to read it!
A very good story, spiritual, magical, heart breaking, heart warming,
Very happy to recommend on to others.

“Swept off on an adventure - magical!”
Winner of the Times Children's Fiction Prize in 2017, 'Asha and the Spirit' is a wonderful and enchanting debut by Jasbinder Bilan. It deserves all the accolades it gets and should be used by every... More

“Charming and Adventurous”
Asha is desperate to find her Papah so her family can be safe from moneylenders and prevent them moving to England. She runs away with best friend Jeevan at her side and the Spirit Bird overhead.
A sweet story about...
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