The Beast Player - by Nahoko Uehashi

About the Book

A Hans Christian Andersen Award winner delivers a fantasy about a girl with aspecial power to communicate with magical beasts and the warring kingdom onlyshe can save.

Book Synopsis

Named one of Kirkus' best books of the 21st century

Elin's family has an important responsibility: caring for the fearsome water serpents that form the core of their kingdom's army. So when some of the creatures mysteriously die, Elin's mother is sentenced to death as punishment. With her last breath, she manages to send her daughter to safety.

Alone and far from home, Elin soon discovers that she can communicate with both the terrifying water serpents and the majestic flying beasts that guard her queen. This skill gives her great power, but it also involves her in deadly plots that could cost her life. Can she save herself and prevent her beloved beasts from being used as tools of war? Or is there no escaping the terrible battles to come?

Review Quotes

A Batchelder Award Honor Book
A Printz Award Honor Book
An ALSC Notable

"Uehashi's vivid storytelling, beautiful prose, and shifting perspectives that cover a broad scope of events will have readers relishing every detail of her lush world building." --The Bulletin, starred review, on The Beast Player

"The beauty and power of the natural world is at the core of this intriguing fantasy, whose abrupt ending guarantees a sequel." --Kirkus Reviews on The Beast Player

About the Author

Nahoko Uehashi is one of Japan's most popular children's writers. She has won numerous awards, including the 2014 Hans Christian Andersen Award. An associate professor at a Japanese university, she has a Ph.D. in cultural anthropology and studies indigenous peoples in Australia. Her books include the multivolume Moribito series. She lives near Tokyo, Japan.