Tamarind and the Star of Ishta by Jasbinder Bilan (author)

Our September 2020 Ages 11-12 Book of the Month

Our 11+ Book of the Month pick for September is Tamarind & the Star of Ishta from Jasbinder Bilan. Bilan’s debut novel, the stunning Asha & the Spirit Bird won the 2019 Costa Award.

I have selected it because quite simply it is a beautifully written emotional family drama lightly woven with magic, in a breath-taking Indian setting. I loved it and I think it is perfect for those confident readers who want to be transported away on a magical adventure!

Tamarind never knew her Indian mum, Chinty, who died soon after she was born. So when she arrives at her ancestral home, a huge mansion in the Himalayas surrounded by luxuriant gardens, she’s full of questions for her extended family. But instead of answers, she finds an ominous silence – and a trickle of intriguing clues: an abandoned hut, a friendly monkey, a glowing star ring, and a strange girl in the garden who calls herself Ishta. Slowly, Tamarind unravels a mystery at the heart of who she is …

Su – Book Club Editor, Ages 7–11+