For the longest time, Thanksgiving was my favorite holiday. It's an occasion for people to gather and reflect on all the things they're thankful for, which is in my opinion the most meaningful reason people can come together. But then, ofc, I learned about the American holiday's terrible origins in colonization and betrayal, whitewashed over the years to make the day more palatable to larger, more gullible swathes of the populace, amongst whose number I had once been.

While I'm still grateful for the ability for loved ones to get together and count our blessings, I also think that it's important for those of us who live here in the United States of America -- and by extension Canada -- to acknowledge and honor the First People who shared their bounty with others, asking nothing in return (and in far too many cases getting less than nothing, or receiving just outright cruelty or evil in exchange.) So I'm really glad that Nasugraq Rainey Hopson wrote this book, that talks about the origins of the Inupiaq Messenger Feast, a tradition of several native tribes of Alaska that has much in common with the modern celebration of Thanksgiving.

As legend has it, Pinay was the youngest of three brothers who lived with their parents in a rich part of the North. One by one, his older brothers disappeared, leaving him only an ornately carved bow hewn by the eldest and decorated by the middle brother with scenes indicating good hunting. Pinay himself grew to be an expert hunter, honoring the land and working with his parents to store the the food -- meat, fish and vegetables -- they collected to see out the lean seasons.

But while searching for obsidian one day in the same area where his brothers disappeared, Pinay is accosted by a golden eagle. The eagle gives him a dire warning: follow, or die just like his brothers. And so begins Pinay's difficult journey to Grandmother Eagle's aerie, where she and her children teach him song and dance and architecture for reasons they will not explain. The only thing keeping Pinay going is the hope that he'll one day be reunited with his loved ones. But will he be able to survive in a world of eagles and other creatures decidedly hostile to humans like himself?

The extraordinary middle grade novel that brings this folk tale to meticulous life would be valuable enough on its own for disseminating a tradition suppressed by, you guessed it, colonizers. It also weaves the anthropological details of diet and habitat in and around the Arctic Circle into its narrative, providing fascinating insight into what it takes to survive in such hostile conditions. But Ms Hopson makes Eagle Drums so much more than just a myth or a handbook. She really makes Pinay's ordeal palpable as he wrestles with his thoughts and feelings, mourning his brothers and longing to see his parents once more. Following along as he ultimately makes excellent, if difficult, choices is a life-affirming experience, one that emphasizes the need for hope and kindness and community even in the face of bleakness and loss -- all the things our Thanksgivings ought to celebrate and encourage.

The afterword was also illuminating, as Ms Hopson talks about her background and what compelled her to write (and gorgeously illustrate!) this terrific book. I'm really glad I had a chance to read it over Thanksgiving, and hope you'll be able to add it to your reading lists, for any time of year, too.

Eagle Drums by Nasugraq Rainey Hopson was published September 12 2023 by Roaring Brook Press and is available from all good booksellers, including <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/15382/9781250750655">Bookshop!</a>

I wish I had read the author's note before I read the book. As I started reading, I thought that the way the book was written reminded me a lot of an oral history story being told. I think that was an authentic way to deliver the tale, and helped me to appreciate the story and its foundation even more. The author's note at the end explains even more about the story and why she wrote it the way that she did.

This is the story of a young boy who hunts for his family. One day, he is cornered by an eagle god who tells him that he must come with him or die like the boy's brothers. The boy follows the eagle for a long time until they arrive at a mysterious place where the boy will learn about the natural world, how to connect with the world around him, and how to tell a story and sing so that he can share his training with his community.

It is a lovely book, would work really well as a read aloud, and had gorgeous illustrations throughout.

This indigenous tale of survival and literally living with other species was adventurous and well paced.

Trigger Warnings: Death of siblings, grief, animal death, depictions of depression and anxiety

As his family prepares for winter, young hunter, Piŋa must travel up the same mountain where his brothers died in order to collect obsidian for knapping. When he reaches the mountaintop, he’s immediately confronted by an eagle god named Savik who gives him a choice: come with me, or die like your brothers.

What follows is the origin story of the Iñupiaq Messenger Feast, a Native Alaskan tradition.

99% of this I listened to as an audiobook on my way to and from my hometown (2.5 hours each way, perfect amount for the 5 hour audiobook). I’m glad I listened to it because I would have been pronouncing everything incorrectly and I already do enough of that in English (and that’s my first language).

This is a beautifully written, fast paced middle grade novel that gives the important origin story of the Native Alaskan tradition of the Iñupiaq Messenger Feast - a story that has been heavily relied on the Elders’ accounts of it from when they were children after encroachment of the missionaries into Indigenous territories and communities. Nasuġraq Rainey Hopson’s writing mixed with Irene Bedard’s narration made me feel like I was sitting around a campfire listening to the stories of long ago.

This is a story of grief, courage, honor, and community mixed in with lessons about leading, sharing, and communicating.

I know this is aimed at the Middle Grade reading level, but I can see many age groups reading and enjoying it, especially since it is about a part of a culture that was on the verge of being snuffed out because it wasn’t Christian.

*Thank you Roaring Brook Press and NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

I am trying to break more into middle-grade, and while I was happy to read this one, I do think it would perhaps be a little tough to get middle schoolers into it right away? Nonetheless, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to students.

For middle grade readers who enjoy survival stories, as well as fantasy and folk tales, this traditional Inuit folktale is in chapter book form, with illustrations and an afterward that tells a bit about the history of folklore and the resurgance of folktales. As a librarian and teacher, I appreciate that this folktale is told in a way that will engage the most reluctant of readers and immerses one in nature and some of the traditional folklore that might otherwise have been lost when Christian missionaries tried to stamp out the Alaskan natives' heritage.

This will be a selection that I will recommend to my middle grade readers who are interested in hunting, storytelling, and animals.

Pina, or otherwise just 'the boy' is a member of the Iñupiaq tribe. At 10, he is a skilled hunter and trapper, knowing how to follow the caribou across the tundra and understanding the need to respect nature and animals. He tries to follow in his dead brothers footsteps and he understand when he needs to head up into the mountains to gather obsidian, as his brothers did, why his parents are nervous. When he gets to the mountains, he is attacked by a giant golden eagle that turns into the man Savik. Join him and do the tasks he is asked to do and he can return home. Deny him, and find the same fate as his brothers. Pina heads out with Savik and is introduced to Eagle Mother who instructs him to learn many things. These lessons lead to the Messenger Feast, a cultural tradition of the Iñupiaq tribe.. Pina struggles with his fear of strangers and the unknown, of his grief over his brothers and what his not returning would do to his parents, but he perseveres and faces each task; even when he fails, he tries again until he gets it right. This leads Pina to being more than a hunter, but a creator. a learner, and a teacher as well. The origin story and looking at another culture is fascinating, broken with illustrated pictures to highlight what Pina is experiencing .This captivating story has lessons on nature, spirituality, and overcoming fear..

*Not an own voices review*

This book was absolutely beautiful. (In person, this book is stunning!)

This is a story about a boy learning how to create, foster, and build lasting communities between people and nature and people with people. The narrative style is so rich without weighing the story down. I could absolutely see myself reading this out loud to patrons of all ages. From the scary eagles to the heartwarming family scenes, this is a story whose morals an images will stay with me for a long time. The drawings also add such a delightful element to the reading experience. Do not pass this one up!

Nasuġraq Rainey Hopson’s Eagle Drums is an atmospheric middle grade novel that invites readers into the Iñupiaq Messenger Feast origin story.

A young hunter sets off to gather obsidian from the mountains, promising his parents he won’t meet the same destiny as his brothers, whatever fate that kept them from returning. But on his journey, a golden eagle swoops down and takes the shape of a man. This eagle offers the young hunter a choice: come with the eagle-man, or die like the hunter’s brothers.

Unwilling to leave his parents mourning another son, the young hunter follows the eagle-man on a long journey to the home of the eagles, where he is told he can return home after he learns all they need to teach him.

This lyrical story transports readers back in time, to an undisclosed place in history when people lived separately from one another, forgoing community due to fear of strangers.

The atmospheric tone allows Hopson to craft the eagle-people such that the hunter and reader are aware of their power in a somewhat frightening way while also layering in the understanding that the hunter, and by extension the reader, should also be in relationship with these creatures.

The balance of action and description keeps the story moving at a fast pace while also taking the time to tell this story the way it is meant to be shared. This beautiful tale has traditional Iñupiaq folklore, culture, and story influences. It’s adventurous while also teaching the qualities that make the hunter the right person for the job– even if he’s still a child. His adherence to cultural teachings, how he honors animals while hunting, his willingness to help wherever he can– each character trait showed he was capable and worthy of the task set before him.

The heart of this story is family and community. The importance of learning, gathering, sharing, and celebrating is emphasized. The young hero’s willingness to work hard, learning and practicing each skill the eagle people teach him, so that he can return to his family is beautiful. His loyalty to his parents and to the eagle-people is rewarded with the community they find while hosting the Messenger Feast.

Thank you to the author, Macmillan Children’s Publishing, Roaring Brook Press, and NetGalley for an e-ARC such that I could share my honest opinion.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 4/5 stars.

Once again, another VERY delayed review of an ARC because I fell behind. Eagle Drums retells the story of the Messenger Feast in Inupiaq culture. I thought it was interesting in how it told the story and the importance of it, and I had never heard of the Messenger Feast before. It's also beautiful in terms of representing Indigenous culture and ways of life, including many aspects of hunting and foraging -- along with the importance of telling the story of the origins of the Messenger Feast.

It does seem repetitive at some points as it's all about the creation of the feast and teaching humans all the parts of the feast BUT it's also a quick read and an important one.

This is the story of a boy who is confronted with an eagle in human form who gives him a choice to follow and learn from him or be killed. Over the course of many moons, the boy learns to make drums, sing, and develops various other skills while under the tutelage of the eagles. After some time, he shares the things he learns, culminating in the origins of the Messenger Feast.

I always enjoy learning about other cultures and the history behind important holidays or festivities. This book was no exception. I did find it to be a bit slow, and that made the story harder to get into. I also think if the author's note was at the beginning, instead of the end, I might have had a better understanding of what was going on and that would have helped the story a bit more. That being said, I am glad I read this and enjoyed learning about this important tradition of the Inupiaq people.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC of this book, however all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was really intrigued when I picked this up as I had never read a book by an Inuit author pertaining to the Messenger Feast. This is a beautiful way to help share and keep a tradition alive. It was well-written with lovely illustrations. Younger readers will be captivated by this tale and the characters.

Eagle Drum is a beautiful tale from Nasugraq Rainey Hopson about the origin of the Inupiaq Messenger Feast. Young Pina, who has struggled in the shadow of his dead older brothers, sets out on a journey to collect supplies for his family’s winter preparations, but instead is taken on a quest by Savik, a golden eagle god and his family. The little bits of life and life’s lessons filter in and around Pina’s journey show the universal truth of kindness, making your way in the world, and friendship. A delightful read for any age that can be easily enjoyed in an afternoon.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Eagle Drums is an entertainingly informative story with beautiful artwork to match. It was an absolute privilege to be presented with this story so near and dear to the author, especially in a way that is so detailed. And even though it is an Iñupiaq tale, I think a lot of other Indigenous communities, like my own, will find something relevant in the pages that they can tie back to.

What really stuck with me was the last 40% of the book. Everything that we had been leading up to finally takes off with a lot of momentum, and I couldn't put it down. I knew at that point where it was all coming together with the meaning, but I loved how it unfolded and came together. It was like I was there too, not just reading the story. The author's talent and passion shines all throughout but it is blatantly obvious when reaching the end. Every bit ties up together, leaving you totally satisfied.

The reason I did not give a full five stars, however, is because I think for this being a middle grade novel, the first half of the book is quite slow. We are learning along with the teachings, but a lot of the story discusses *Pina's hunger and survival from the different foods he eats. Although I found it intriguing from the stand point of wanting to learn more about the culture, I don't know how it will translate for middle grade readers. A lot of emphasis goes in to Pina learning from doing, so I understood why there was little dialogue, but I think if a bit more was cut out or if a bit more was added in, it would have added an extra layer of intrigue.

That being said, I personally adored this story and even loved hearing a bit about how the Nasugraq Rainey Hopson came to know the story. It felt really full circle and sort of like we were stepping into her shoes. An overall wonderful novel that I will be recommending highly to everyone.

*The spelling of Pina's name, particularly the 'n', is not available to type on my laptop. It is shown differently in the novel.

A highly readable version of the Iñupiaq Messenger Feast origin story, detailing how the Iñupiaq developed their traditions of song, dance, feasting, and community building. Written by a member of the community, the story is told with obvious love and should be of interest to people with both an interest in native traditions and magical realism storytelling of all types.

I will be honest, I did read this awhile ago and forgot until now to post my review. I really don't remember much unfortunately, but I do remember that this one was really beautifully written and will be impactful to a lot of kids.

ARC was given by NetGalley & Roaring Brook Press.
Release Date: September 12th, 2023

Content/Trigger Warnings: Loss of siblings, grief, animal death, loneliness, depictions of depression, anxiety, blood, scene of assault



"He felt as if his very soul had grown and found roots in the people around him He felt more connected than he had ever before, connected to the world, connected to the life around him, and connected to his parents. The celebrations filled him with such inspiration, such wonder, and an enduring strength. He felt his humanity blossom with new insight and a deeper sense of stability. The future hel fewer unknowns, and with all this knowledge her felt more deeply accepted... flaws and all."



This book had no right to make me feel so many feelings and make me cry multiple times especially when I was reading the author's notes. This is a story of the origins of the Messenger Feast of the Iñupiat of the Arctic Circle. This is a story that's passed down orally from generation to generation and it's such a incredibly beautiful story to follow. It's a story filled with family, sense of community, how all of us are connected to everything and everyone, the important lessons we learn especially when it comes to tradition, and the way we keep pushing forward despite our hardships. It's also about how Iñupiaq people were given the gift of music, song, dance, a community, and the everlasting tradition of the Messenger Feast. There's just so much packed into this story that filled my heart with so much warmth and learning about the Messenger Feast was such wonderful experience especially as a Native reader. It always feels like such a privilege to learn and read stories from other Native/Indigenous people who aren't from my own Tribe. So I feel really blessed, really privileged to be reading this book, and all at the same time emotional over the story I just read. If you're looking for more Native/Indigenous literature to add to your radar, I highly recommend putting Eagle Drums on your list. I think this is such a wonderful story that everyone just needs to experience.


The quotes above were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.


All thoughts, feelings, experiences, and opinions are honest and my own.

Eagle Drums resounds with depth using a style that feels like master storytelling. It perfectly fits the origin story of the Native Alaskan Inupiaq Messenger Feast. I felt like I was right there with Pia as he struggled from beginning to end - in trying to keep up with Savik, to wondering if he was making the right choices, to learning the many lessons, until his return home to attempt to complete the impossible feeling challenge set out for him. The illustrations have a deceptively simple style that match the story to a T. I look forward to adding this to my middle school library and promoting it often. The lessons Pia learns are important in a society used to instant gratification.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Roaring Brook Press, and Nasugraq Rainey Hopson for the opportunity to read Eagle Drums in exchange for an honest review.

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.

<i>Eagle Drums</i> tells the story of a boy who has watched his parents suffer due to the disappearance of his older brothers. He says of his father, "His silence became something you could almost see, a depth and heaviness in the air." So when he is confronted by an eagle who can transform into a human, he chooses to be wise and not run or fight. His mother has advised him about animals like these, "Respect them as you would any strong spirit, and never challenge them."

What follows is an adventure that tries his patience, his endurance, and his determination to someday return home. He is taught many skills and commanded to share them wtih others. He is also instructed in the way to teach other humans these skills and share what he has learned. If he can cling to his memories of home and master these new skills, he may just survive and bring something new back to his people.

Readers will be amazed at the incredible details of the environment, the homes, the foods, and the new instruments that he must master - both to play and to construct. The folklore figures of the animals who can "take off their parkas. And then they are human for a while" are also intriguing. And the portrait of a family grieving for loved ones who are gone - with no closure to that grief - rings true.

Recommended for those who enjoy retellings of legends and mythology, as well as those who appreciate a good survival story.