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Eagle Drums: (Newbery Honor Book)

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Description

A NEWBERY HONOR BOOK A magical middle grade adventure about a boy in the Arctic who faces a series of challenges presented to him by a family of eagle gods. Through this, he learns important lessons about respecting nature, building compassion, and bringing a community together. With beautifully hand-drawn full color art throughout! As his family prepares for winter, a young, skilled hunter must travel up the mountain to collect obsidian for knapping―the same mountain where his two older brothers died. When he reaches the mountaintop, he is immediately confronted by a powerful eagle god named Savik. Savik gives the boy a choice: follow me or die like your brothers. What comes next is a harrowing journey to the home of the eagle gods and unexpected lessons on the natural world, the past that shapes us, and the community that binds us. Eagle Drums by Nasuġraq Rainey Hopson is part cultural folklore, part origin myth about the Iñupiaq Messenger Feast, a Native Arctic tradition that is still celebrated in times of bounty among the Iñupiaq. This story is based on the oral tradition of how Iñupiaq people were given the gift of music, song, dance, community, and everlasting connection. Hopson's full-page illustrations and spot art, rendered in colored pencil, accompany this memorable story. Read more

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Roaring Brook Press


Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 12, 2023


Language ‏ : ‎ English


Print length ‏ : ‎ 256 pages


ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1250750652


ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 55


Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds


Reading age ‏ : ‎ 8 - 12 years


Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.75 x 0.85 x 8.65 inches


Best Sellers Rank: #417,288 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #178 in Children's Native American Books


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Top Amazon Reviews


  • Fascinating origin myth and hero's journey
Format: Hardcover
I am amazed that I never heard about this book in Mock Newbery discussions or elsewhere last year: even after being named as an Honor book in January, it still doesn't have many Amazon reviews. Before reading it, I assumed that maybe it was because it wasn’t all that good and was just being recognized as an own voices/diversity pick. Terrible, I know, but I had no other explanation for why it wasn’t being discussed in all the places I track new middle grade fiction. However, I will admit that I was very wrong and that Eagle Drums is deserving of its Newbery Honor status. I expected Pinja’s story to be the standard hero’s journey arc, but Hopson had so much more depth to the lessons learned by her protagonist. I especially appreciated Pinja’s love for family and connections, though I don’t want to say more and spoil it. Pinja is a boy you will cheer for by the end of this mythological origin story. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on September 2, 2024 by Shelved by Strand

  • You have to read this book
Format: Hardcover
There are so many reasons we are loving this book. Embedded in every page are teachings from our Elders - things that I have been trying to impress on my own child. These little lessons are so affirming - resounding yet quiet - speaking directly to my heart as a Native mama. In every chapter, my son and I see ourselves reflected - a boy like my son, is reading about a boy like himself! Now and then, we stop to discuss something - a subtext that feels it was written just for me. And when I check with my son to see what he understands - he is able to reflect upon, or elaborate on, his own knowledge and experience. As I pause to sip my coffee, he says things like, “I am loving this book!” Or, “Mom, can you please read?” because my sip has turned into a long moment of reflection. My son is excited when he can make connections to something he learned from Tooey in Molly of Denali, or something I have told him that I thought was long forgotten. This book captures exactly the way I felt as a child, hearing my Elders tell stories that were so marvelous and strange, exhilarating and tender, transporting me back to my youth, and even further back a multitude of generations to the very genesis of these stories. You have to read this book. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2023 by KAM

  • Gorgeous!
Format: Hardcover
Fantastic storytelling and beautiful illustrations.
Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2025 by BearBait

  • 15 year old boy seal of approval
Format: Hardcover
My 15 year old son is a picky reader and he immediately said this book seemed cool. Win!
Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2025 by nora marquez

  • Excellent book!
Format: Hardcover
I lived and worked on the North Slope for over 10 years in the 80s & 90s and wished I had read this book at the beginning of my time there. An amazing look into the language and culture. Very well done and I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2024 by Kay Reader

  • An Iñupiaq Myth Brought to Life for Middle Grade
Format: Hardcover
I initially found interest in this novel because of the connection to Inuit mythology. Back in fifth grade, I had to do a major research project on a Native-American Indian tribe, and after visiting Alaska, I was extremely invested in learning about the Inuit people and sharing that knowledge with others. Even today, I find myself looking at Inuit language and mythology just for fun, while also referencing their culture in my own creative writings. This novel takes readers on a captivating journey into the heart of Iñupiaq culture (Alaskan Native-American tribe), where the rich tapestry of tradition and mythology comes alive. Set against the backdrop of a family's winter preparations, the narrative follows a young and skilled hunter, Piña (not spelled like the book, as it uses Iñupiaq-to-English which we do not have an exact character for), whose quest for obsidian leads him to the mountain that holds both peril and promise. The mountain, a haunting reminder of his brothers' tragic fates, becomes the stage for a transformative encounter with the eagle god, Savik. In this stirring tale, the interplay between mortals and divine beings is a conduit for exploring the cultural dynamics that have shaped the Iñupiaq people's identity and their traditional Messenger Feast. At the crossroads of history and spirituality, Piña faces a profound choice that thrusts him into an odyssey of self-discovery. Through his encounters with the eagle god and subsequent journey to the realm of the eagle gods, readers are immersed in the intricate belief system that defines the Iñupiaq culture and community. As the story unfolds, layers of wisdom about the natural world, ancestral heritage, and the binding force of community are unveiled. Hopson artfully weaves the theme of resilience into the narrative, underscoring the enduring strength of a people who have thrived in the harsh Alaskan landscape for generations. Eagle Drums not only transports readers to a realm where gods and mortals intersect, but also serves as a poignant tribute to the cultural heritage of the Iñupiaq people. By exploring the origins of the Messenger's Feast, the story offers insight into the origins of music, dance, and the interconnectedness of community members. Hopson's prose is a lyrical homage to the values, rituals, and traditions that have sustained the Iñupiaq throughout time and serve as a valueable history lesson for a middle grade audience. This book resonates as a celebration of the human spirit's ability to forge connections with both the physical and metaphysical realms, providing a window into a vibrant culture that continues to thrive through its stories and celebrations today. This novel serves as excellent cultural exposure for middle grade readers who might not know about the Iñupiaq people. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2023 by Terri

  • Excellent
Format: Hardcover
Excellent book my son loved it
Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2025 by diem dangers

  • Not the "masterpiece" I expected it to be...
Format: Hardcover
I purchased this book as a potential title for my 6th grade ELA class. I was hopeful that I could use this text as a "mentor" text (use as a tool to instruct student writers). Unfortunately, while the "story" is good, the "writing" is mediocre, bland, and lacks style. I was disappointed.
Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2024 by L. Henkel

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