Searching for the Songbird

A young boy in the Himalayas searches for a missing girl to prove her innocence, uncovering mysteries, social prejudices, and courage along the way.
on May 07, 2026

Kastura, ‘the Songbird’, has disappeared. She is the prime suspect of a burglary in the Himalayan foothills, and twelve-year Johnny Raut is determined to find her and prove her innocence. The problem is that he has just moved to the mountains from Mumbai, and knows almost nothing about his new surroundings. While coping also with his parents’ separation, he joins forces with three of his classmates and sets out to find the missing Songbird.

As Johnny solves the mystery of her disappearance, he must also come to terms with his own fears, understand the social prejudices that affect people close to him, and become familiar with the songs and sounds of this alien environment.

“Searching for the Songbird is an exciting mystery for younger readers with a number of provocative themes wrapped up inside a compelling thriller about a puzzling disappearance.“
Stephen Alter, author of several award-winning works of fiction and non-fiction, including Birdwatching: A Novel

“The serenity of the hills juxtaposed with the unsettling realities of crime and social conditions. An exciting read.“
Paro Anand, award-winning author and a recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puruskar for her anthology Wild Child and Other Stories.