Stand on the Sky

January 28, 2019
In Mongolia, 12-year-old Aisulu chafes at the expectations of her Kazakh community, which confines her to “girls’ work,” despite her skills in math, science, and horseback riding: “In a land where girls are supposed to have hearts made of milk, Aisulu had a heart made of sky.” Aisulu, concerned about her older brother, Serik, betrays his confidence about his persistent limp after he breaks his leg, and he is sent for medical treatment. While her sibling and parents are away, Aisulu rescues an orphaned eaglet. She begins to feel as if she could be one of the burkitshi, the eagle hunters, and she and her bird prepare to compete in the Eagle Festival, with a monetary prize that could fund the medical treatment Serik needs. Though her uncle’s wife says “there have been women with eagles since ancient days,” Aisulu’s father thinks her inclusion will defy local convention. The narrative traces Aisulu’s growth, including her shifting role within her community, her burgeoning relationship with her eagle, and her maturing sense of self. And while Bow (Sorrow’s Knot) creates a vivid sense of place, she is writing from outside the culture, drawing from a home stay with a family of nomadic eagle hunters. Her lyrical work of fiction offers readers and educators an opportunity to explore essential questions about cultural appropriation and the #OwnVoices movement. Ages 10–12.