Eagle Drums

Written & illustrated by Nasuġraq Rainey Hopson

A young hunter faces a deadly choice from an eagle god on a perilous mountain journey.

4.0/5 Goodreads · 1,150 ratings

256 pages

$18.99Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

In a land where tradition and survival intertwine, a young hunter ascends a treacherous mountain to gather obsidian, the site of his brothers' demise. Confronted by the formidable eagle god Savik, he must choose between following the god or facing the same fate as his siblings. This journey leads him to the realm of eagle gods, unveiling profound truths about nature, heritage, and the bonds of community. Discover the origins of the Iñupiaq Messenger Feast, a tale of music, dance, and enduring tradition, in a story where myth and reality merge.

From the publisher

A magical realistic middle grade debut about the origin story of the Iñupiaq Messenger Feast, a Native Alaskan tradition. 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 terrifying 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 Messenger’s Feast - which is still celebrated in times of bounty among the Iñupiaq. It’s the story of how Iñupiaq people were given the gift of music, song, dance, community, and everlasting tradition.

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