REVIEW
The Boy Who Flew With Eagles
(Mythic Adventures Collection Book 1)
(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.
Links
