Sunday, April 24, 2016

"The Boy Who Flew With Eagles" by Ben Woodard

REVIEW
The Boy Who Flew With Eagles
(Mythic Adventures Collection Book 1)
by Ben Woodard


The Boy Who Flew With Eagles is the first book in the Mythic Adventures Collection by Ben Woodard. It is recommended for children ages 7 to 12. You can read my review and an excerpt below. Also available: Whispers of Trees (read my blog post coming 25 April).


More books by this author: A Stairway to Danger (read my blog post), Steps Into Darkness (read my blog post), The Hunt (read my blog post), and Bubbles: Big Stink in Frog Pond (read my blog post).

Description
By the light of leaping flames an old man weaves a heart-pounding tale. A story of a time of great hunger when man and beast might die. Only one boy can save his people and the other creatures from starvation. But he must face a terrifying challenge.
The story combines myth, environmental awareness and the concept of working together. Action and adventure in a short middle grade novel with illustrations.
Awards Nomination for Best Children Literature Award on April 30, 2013 from eFestival of Words. Winner! Best Cover Design Award from ewords4kids.

Excerpt
Look inside The Boy Who Flew With Eagles.

Praise for the Book
"This book is fast paced, full of excitement and entwines nature with culture ... Any school-aged child will absolutely fall in love with Naa'ki and his empowering adventures!" ~ Reviewed by Rita V for Readers Favorite
"Woodard's lyrical writing adds heft to this dreamy myth-like story." ~ Marcia Thornton Jones, bestselling author of over 130 children's books
"Danger, beauty, humor, and in the end, deep satisfaction." ~ Martha Bennett Stiles, prizewinning author of 12 books including the middle grade Sailing to Freedom

My Review


By Lynda Dickson
An old Indian tells a story around the campfire about Naa'ki, a boy who is picked up by an eagle who wants to feed him to her children. They are starving because there are no fish in the lake due to the fishing practices of the humans. In return for his life, Naa'ki promises to work for her until her babies leave the nest. He spends his days gathering food for the babies and ends up feeling like part of the family. So much so that, when the eaglets are ready to fly, Naa'ki wants to fly too. Will Naa'ki learn how to fly? Will he ever want to return to his old life?
The author's wonderful descriptions make you feel like you are actually there, on the cliff with the eagles. The book contains some great messages about persistence paying off and about being accepting of others' differences. The eagle also teaches Na'aki a lesson about over-fishing salmon: "For all to live, we must share." The lovely illustrations by Laura Leikona at the beginning of each chapter are a great complement to the story. The author's notes at the end provide some real-life information about topics discussed in the book.
A great story for reluctant readers, especially boys, ages 7 to 12.

About the Author
A spellbinding storyteller of high adventure, Ben has walked the Great Wall of China, hiked in Tibet, and climbed to 18,000 feet on Mt Everest. And recently learned to surf in Hawaii.
Ben is active in SCBWI and a member of a local children's writing critique group. He is a former Marketing Manager for a major corporation and ran his own marketing consulting business. He started writing children's stories in 2008 and has written picture books, middle grade and young adult. Stories of adventure and wonder. Stories that inspire and educate, and, most of all, entertain. His titles include The Trestle (FREE), The Hunt, The Boy Who Flew With Eagles, A Terrible Price (FREE), A Stairway to Danger, Steps Into Darkness, and Bubbles.
Ben lives in Kentucky with his wife Lynda.

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