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

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Description

Aisholpan Nurgaiv, the subject of the award-winning documentary The Eagle Huntress, tells her own story for the first time, speaking directly with writer Liz Welch (I Will Always Write Back), who traveled to Mongolia for this book. Her 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 Olgii eagle festival. She was the only girl to compete in the festival.

Her triumphant story hits on multiple key nonfiction points of appeal: stories of survival, of unique animal-human bonds, and of girls accomplishing amazing things. One of the consistent highest-achieving trends in middle-grade nonfiction continues to be empowering stories about strong girls accomplishing tasks that had previously been considered impossible. Not only does Aisholpan's story deliver that sensation in spades, but it comes with strong media ties from the 2016 documentary about her and her achievements.

Reviews

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

Author Bio

Aisholpan Nurgaiv was the first female eagle hunter to have competed in the Golden Eagle Festival in Olgii, Mongolia. Her story was featured in the award-winning documentary film The Eagle Huntress. She is currently a student in Kazakhstan.

Liz Welch is an award-winning journalist and memoirist. She is the co-author of the New York Times bestselling I Will Always Write Back and The Kids Are All Right, which won an ALA Alex Award.