Azaro is a spirit-child When he was born his mother recognised him and this recognition brought her sadness For the spirit-child is one who has not severed his links with the spirit world that most children abandon at birth, his memory of that idyllic life remains strong and he yearns to return, has promised to return to his spirit companions and to leave behind the world of the living But Azaro decides to stay Winner of the 1991 Booker Prize