Eagle Drums has been recognized with many awards, including being named a Newbery Honor Book. This book is an important addition to middle grade literature because of its imagining of the first Messenger Feast and exploration of Inupiat mythology, culture, and traditional practices. The narrative is supported by beautiful artwork.

The pacing of the book is measured, and the narrative focuses on small details; this mirrors the protagonist’s experience in the hall of the Eagles. Additionally, it gives the novel weight and authenticity. Pinja must learn certain things, and there are no shortcuts. For a book with mythical creatures, it is amazingly rooted in the normal process of acquiring skills over time.

Readers who enjoy survival stories and learning about other cultures will enjoy this book; even fans of non-fiction would probably enjoy this novel because it incorporates Inupiat ways of life into the narrative. Its pacing lends itself to the middle grade readers at the older end of that age spectrum.

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language: None

Violence/Gore: Verbal threats; family members disappear/go missing; character says that he killed a character’s brothers; character taken and kept against their will; hunting scene with some description of the killing, death, butchering, and dressing of the animals for food; mention of weapons; several recollections and mentions of hunting animals and birds for food; tense situations bordering on violence; character hit in the head from behind by another and knocked to the ground; character treated roughly

Sex/Nudity: None

Mature Subject Matter:

Death of a family member; hunting, killing, and preparing of animals for food; abduction; captivity.

Alcohol/Drug Use:

None