Asha and the Spirit Bird

"Asha lives in the foothills of the Himalayas in rural India, on the family farm with her mother. 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"--Dust jacket flap.