Stand on the Sky by Erin Bow

2019 Winner of the Governor General's Literary Award​

 

An exquisitely written, uplifting middle grade debut by acclaimed author, Erin Bow, about a young girl who defies her family's expectations in order to save her brother and become an eagle hunter, perfect for fans of PAX.

 

It goes against all tradition for Aisulu to train an eagle, for among the Kazakh nomads, only men can fly them. But everything changes when Aisulu discovers that her brother, Serik, has been concealing a bad limp that risks not just his future as the family's leader, but his life too.

 

When her parents leave to seek a cure for Serik in a distant hospital, Aisulu finds herself living with her intimidating uncle and strange auntie--and secretly caring for an orphaned baby eagle. To save her brother and keep her family from having to leave their nomadic life behind forever, Aisulu must earn her eagle's trust and fight for her right to soar. Along the way, she discovers that family are people who choose each other, home is a place you build, and hope is a thing with feathers.

 

Erin Bow's lyrical middle grade debut is perfect for fans of original animal-friendship stories like Pax and Because of Winn Dixie.

Erin Bow was trained as a physicist, though she now spends her days writing poetry and fiction in a tiny (though heated) garden shed in Ontario, Canada. Her books--which include fairy tale Plain Kate, the thoughtful horror Sorrow's Knot, and science fiction duology The Scorpion Rules and The Swan Riders--have won a fistful of awards. ErinBow.com. @erinbowbooks.

Praise for STAND ON THE SKY: Winner of the Governor General's Literary Award 2019 A Junior Library Guild Spring 2019 Gold Standard Selection A New York Public Library 2019 Best Books for Kids "[A] story of strength, courage, and resilience that will resonate with anyone who has ever felt abandoned, alone, or doubted themselves and their place in the world.... Bow delivers a jubilant tale that celebrates the power of family, love, and young women." --Quill and Quire "Bow uses wistful narrative flourishes to paint this meticulously detailed portrait of a nomadic family and their profound relationship with the wildlife and unforgiving land....[Y]oung readers will find [the ending] heartwarmingly earned and inspiring." --The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books "[T]his book is lyrical and lovely and features complex and vivid characters."--Booklist "Readers will root for Aisulu and her community, an ancient culture negotiating the contemporary world." --Kirkus "[A]n interesting and unique setting." --School Library Journal "Bow (Sorrow's Knot) creates a vivid sense of place." --Publishers Weekly

Target Age: 10-12

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

October 20, 2020

0.9" H x 7.6" L x 5.0" W

336 pages

Paperback