Street urchin and clever thief, Farhad spies a trinket sparkling in a lotus pond. As soon as he retrieves the bauble, a bolt of lightning bearing Lord Krishna blocks Farhad’s escape. The silver locket has thrust him between Krishna and the Demon King, Ravana. Proclaiming the amulet identifies Farhad as his designated hero, Krishna discloses that Farhad is destined to save his daughter before the next full moon, when the Demon King plans to marry her. The only obstacles? Traversing the length of India, finding and defeating Ravana, and battling the Demon King and his minions all the way. Farhad’s helper? A magnificent white tiger. 2009 USBBY Outstanding International Books List, 2009 Batchelder Honor. lmp

Originally published as Ti germond in German by Loewe Verlag Germany, in 2006. Translated by Anthea Bell.

Safia tries to escape her fate as the wife of a cruel merchant by telling stories of Farhad the thief, his companion Nitish the white tiger, and their efforts to save a kidnapped princess from becoming the bride of a demon king.