In Book 1, Azuki, the girl who can become a Toki, races across Meiji-era Japan to join her bird-kin. Her parents dead, herself hunted because of her beautiful feathers – what else can she do? Shota, her sparrow-boy brother, hurries after her. Their human mother told him as she died that they must return to claim their human status or spend the rest of their lives as outcasts. They are dual-natured, human and bird. They need to be able to be themselves and live as both. Ghosts, ogres, dragons and talking horses – nothing can stand in their way. Shota has to find his sister and get them home in time. When they arrive, there’s war brewing over the domain. They’re not home safely yet. As Book 2 begins, Azuki discovers an asset even more valuable than her feathers. With the help of a traveling monk, Shota and Azuki must reach their lord, secure their status and never, ever give up on themselves or their dreams. As orphaned children, though, their options are limited. Harassed by Tengu, helped by Tanuki, surrounded by stunning technologies and strange new people, Azuki and Shota find a long-lost uncle and can go home at last.