Aarti and the Blue Gods: from the winner of the Costa Children's Book Award
By Jasbinder Bilan

From the author of the Costa Award-winningand Asha andamp; the Spirit Birdand andand Tamarind andamp; the Star of Ishtaand comes a atmospheric, magical adventure with a stunning twist ...'A magical stormy adventure'and THE TIMES'A gem for readers of eight-plus'and THE GUARDIAN'A deliciously addictive, one-sitting type of read'and NIZRANA FAROOK, AUTHOR OFand THE GIRL WHO STOLE AN ELEPHANT'A beautiful weaving of myth and magic ... Simply stunning'and ZILLAH BETHELL, AUTHOR OFand THE SHARK CALLERAarti has lived on the island with Aunt for as long as she can remember.Like the weather, Aunt rules her world with rare warmth. Aarti's only comforts are a book of Indian myths full of blue gods, a fox's friendship, and a toy rabbit she finds in a locked room.Then, she learns Aunt has been feeding her lies. Fate intervenes when a half-drowned boy washes up on the beach. With his help, Aarti hopes to remember who she really is ... and perhaps find a way home.The mesmerising third novel from one of the most exciting writers of middle-grade fictionJasbinder is the author of the Costa Book Award-winningand Asha andamp; the Spirit Birdand and Indie Book Award-winningand Tamarind andamp; the Star of IshtaThemes of identity, faith and belonging with a stunning twist in an evocative and remote Scottish island settingPraise for Jasbinder Bilan's novels:'I absolutely adored it ... an achingly beautiful story'and SITA BRAHMACHARI'Atmospheric, dreamy, charged with wonder and menace, loss, sorrow and delight'and TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT'A lush, gorgeous setting in a novel as vivid and original as her Costa-winning debut.'and THE GUARDIAN'Beautifully written, richly atmospheric and touchingly spiritual, this brief novel sparkles like a polished gem'and DAILY MAIL