Anya's Quest

by Jasbinder Bilan, Jane Ray (illustrator)

Inspired by Hindu mythology, Anya’s Quest is an enchanting tale of a young girl’s journey to protect the planet, from the Costa-winning author of Asha and the Spirit Bird and renowned illustrator Jane Ray. A beautiful book to treasure for ever.

The earth’s lullaby is falling silent. Our world is in danger…

When the mighty goddess Ganga hears a forgotten melody in the night, she follows its tune to a palace in the icy Himalaya and to a young girl called Anya. For she has a quest for Anya – she needs her help to heal the fragile planet.

Flying on her dragon Makara, Ganga leads Anya and her friend Mahi on an epic journey through time and across India, in search of elusive spirit animals and forgotten lullabies. Together, they must confront their fears and discover friends new and old, as they join their voices in a celebration of the planet.

Genres: Middle Grade

102 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 5, 2024

About the author

According to family stories, Jasbinder was born in a stable in the foothills of the Himalayas. Until she was a year and a half, she lived on a farm inhabited by a grumpy camel and a monkey called Oma.

Jasbinder graduated from Bath Spa University where the seeds of her story were nurtured, but it was the incredible bond with her grandmother which was the inspiration for Asha & the Spirit Bird.

She lives with her husband, two teenage boys and dog Enzo in a man pad and splits her time between teaching and writing.

Reviews

[Cute Rabbit · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book about looking after the planet and caring about others and also looking after animals that are going to become extinct.It was also a message to tell that everyone has a spirit animal that they should protect no matter what.I loved the illustrations a lot however it was not a book targeted for me.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book takes readers to the Himalayas, where Anya goes on a magical journey to remember her mother’s lullaby. I liked how it included themes of nature conservation and Hindu mythology. I could use it to teach my future students about caring for the environment and exploring different cultural stories.

[Gill Huyton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This a beautiful book, from the illustrations to the story itself. Hope for the world lies in the children of the world assisted by the god of the Ganges. This story is a great introduction for children to the plight of the planet and how with remembering our origins of all coming from the same pot of life, that we can help heal the world.