The Namer of Spirits

Twelve-year-old Ash Narro is often teased for naming and talking to dolls, sticks, and other objects like her trusty carpetbag, Wayfarer.

And to make matters worse, an ongoing drought in her small frontier village, increased attacks from the forest-dwellers, and stormy assaults from the mysterious shape-shifting illwen have brought out the worst in the frightened villagers. Even Ash’s mom isn’t acting like herself anymore.

One night, during a terrible attack, Ash sneaks out and discovers that she can tame the raging illwen by giving them a true name. Forming unlikely friendships with the illwen named Puppy and a forest boy taken prisoner by her village, the three journey into the heart of the forest to discover what’s causing their worlds to go so horribly wrong.

A Middle-grade Environmental Fantasy.