The Eagle Huntress: The True Story of the Girl Who Soared Beyond Expectations

by Liz Welch, Aisholpan Nurgaiv Narrated by Alexa Khan

Overview

The subject of the award-winning documentary The Eagle Huntress tells the true story of how she became the first girl to compete in-and win-one of Mongolia's most prestigious competitions.
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In this compelling memoir, teenaged eagle hunter Aisholpan Nurgaiv tells her own story for the first time, speaking directly with award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Liz Welch (I Will Always Write Back), who traveled to Mongolia for this book. Nurgaiv's story and fresh, sincere voice are not only inspiring but truly magnificent: with the support of her father, she captured and trained her own golden eagle and won the Ölgii eagle festival. She was the only girl to compete in the festival.

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The Eagle Huntress is a striking tale of determination-of a girl who defied expectations and achieved what others declared impossible. Aisholpan Nurgaiv's story is both unique and universally relatable: a memoir of survival, empowerment, and the positive impact of one person's triumph.

Editorial Reviews

JUNE 2020 - AudioFile

Aisholpan Nurgaiv is a real-life Kazakh girl who became the first female entrant and winner in Mongolia’s prestigious Golden Eagle Festival. Hunting with eagles is an ancient skill traditionally limited to males. Narrator Alexa Khan uses her youthful voice to re-create Nurgaiv’s accented English. This gives the first-person story a feeling of authenticity, as Nurgaiv frequently describes her unfamiliarity with the world outside her nomadic life in Mongolia. However, the stilted speech pattern makes the story’s pace quite slow, a weakness that is compounded by the absence of contractions in Nurgaiv’s writing. Nurgaiv has an even temperament, but Khan also expresses her occasional frustrations, her sadness over the death of a beloved relative, and her excitement upon winning the competition. L.T. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

From the Publisher

"[A] glimpse into another culture.... Recommended."—School Library Journal

"Nurgaiv's love for and pride in her homeland, culture, and family come through with quiet, persuasive power. An intriguing memoir from a girl who's become a cultural icon."—Kirkus

"Young readers will be intrigued by the details of eagle hunting and the nomadic lifestyle.... An accessibly written, steadily paced story of perseverance and self-confidence."—School Library Connection

"A great stand-alone or companion to the documentary film The Eagle Huntress."—Booklist

JUNE 2020 - AudioFile

Aisholpan Nurgaiv is a real-life Kazakh girl who became the first female entrant and winner in Mongolia’s prestigious Golden Eagle Festival. Hunting with eagles is an ancient skill traditionally limited to males. Narrator Alexa Khan uses her youthful voice to re-create Nurgaiv’s accented English. This gives the first-person story a feeling of authenticity, as Nurgaiv frequently describes her unfamiliarity with the world outside her nomadic life in Mongolia. However, the stilted speech pattern makes the story’s pace quite slow, a weakness that is compounded by the absence of contractions in Nurgaiv’s writing. Nurgaiv has an even temperament, but Khan also expresses her occasional frustrations, her sadness over the death of a beloved relative, and her excitement upon winning the competition. L.T. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940172309366
Publisher:	Hachette Audio
Publication date:	05/12/2020
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	8 - 11 Years

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