shonaningyo's review
4.0
Truth be told, this was an assignment for school to read, and when I read the first page, I was bored out of my mind.
Despite that, I read on, and though the beginning chapters are stale, it seems for the best, because Nancy Farmer's style seems to be that you slowly lure the reader in, word by word, sentence by sentence, until they find themselves turning page after page, trying to find what happens next in the story.
This book is a very well-mixed balance of sci-fi, African folklore and traditions with italicized foreign words (complete with a glossary in the back) , laugh-out-loud comedy, and adventure.
The middle got a little stale, and the ending seemed rushed, but the characters are unforgettable, and I find myself checking the book out over and over again just to read it again and again.
The main characters, Tendai, Rita, and Kuda, are round and dynamic, with a crowd of supporting characters carrying the banner, so to say, and bringing a smile to one's face and flesh out the story with quirks and humanity.
I sincerely recommend this book to anyone who likes a story about preteen children on an adventure with many life lessons and growing to be acquired along the way.
Despite that, I read on, and though the beginning chapters are stale, it seems for the best, because Nancy Farmer's style seems to be that you slowly lure the reader in, word by word, sentence by sentence, until they find themselves turning page after page, trying to find what happens next in the story.
This book is a very well-mixed balance of sci-fi, African folklore and traditions with italicized foreign words (complete with a glossary in the back) , laugh-out-loud comedy, and adventure.
The middle got a little stale, and the ending seemed rushed, but the characters are unforgettable, and I find myself checking the book out over and over again just to read it again and again.
The main characters, Tendai, Rita, and Kuda, are round and dynamic, with a crowd of supporting characters carrying the banner, so to say, and bringing a smile to one's face and flesh out the story with quirks and humanity.
I sincerely recommend this book to anyone who likes a story about preteen children on an adventure with many life lessons and growing to be acquired along the way.
crikhopit's review
2.0
Re-read this after 15 years. Wasn't as great as an adult, but I still enjoyed the sci-fi-ness of this book.
gbaty's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
mslaureeslibrary's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
ambzetelmo's review
5.0
An utterly chaotic book (in the best and weirdest way). I don’t remember it being so wild when I read it as a kid. Also - is this meant to be a YA book? It’s not exactly graphic but there were a lot of borderline things... I guess if I didn’t remember it as a kid it didn’t traumatize me enough to warrant a “not-for-kids” warning. Either way, would recommend if you’re looking for a strange romp through futuristic Africa.
vaughtgn's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
teorogers29's review
adventurous
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
tacochelle's review
5.0
This book blended fantasy and science fiction so well, I wish it was more well known.
The story follows Tendai, Rika and Kuda, the childen of General Mastika who live a sheltered life in future Zimbabwe. All they wanted to do was go into the real world, but their father thinks it's too dangerous for them. Nonetheless, the kids escape to the city. All was going well until they are kidnapped. The General's last resort to find them is The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm Detective Agency. Ear has large ears and enhanced hearing, Eye has one large eye and the best sight, while Arm has abnormally large arms, and can sense people's emotions. They should be the best, but they haven't gotten a good job since they started, until General Mastika calls them to find his kids.
When I read the back, I was worried that the kids would just be helpless to what happens and they'll just wait to be rescued, but this is far from the truth. They're cunning and strong-willed, and manage to survive out there, on the run from those who want them. All 6 protagonists are important in one way or another.
I loved that Nancy Farmer chose to use African folklore in this story. I don't come across it often unless it's in school, so I enjoyed the change in source.
Overall, this was an amazing read. I own this, so I put it down halfway through to get to a stack of library books. That was a stupid decision, because this is an amazing book that deserves more recognition than it has.
The story follows Tendai, Rika and Kuda, the childen of General Mastika who live a sheltered life in future Zimbabwe. All they wanted to do was go into the real world, but their father thinks it's too dangerous for them. Nonetheless, the kids escape to the city. All was going well until they are kidnapped. The General's last resort to find them is The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm Detective Agency. Ear has large ears and enhanced hearing, Eye has one large eye and the best sight, while Arm has abnormally large arms, and can sense people's emotions. They should be the best, but they haven't gotten a good job since they started, until General Mastika calls them to find his kids.
When I read the back, I was worried that the kids would just be helpless to what happens and they'll just wait to be rescued, but this is far from the truth. They're cunning and strong-willed, and manage to survive out there, on the run from those who want them. All 6 protagonists are important in one way or another.
I loved that Nancy Farmer chose to use African folklore in this story. I don't come across it often unless it's in school, so I enjoyed the change in source.
Overall, this was an amazing read. I own this, so I put it down halfway through to get to a stack of library books. That was a stupid decision, because this is an amazing book that deserves more recognition than it has.
afuzzybird's review
5.0
man i like this book. it's about an african country in an alternate future, and a detective team made up three guys with genetic mutations from being born near lots of gross nuclear/chemical waste.
vermidian's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This book wasn't quite what I expected, but it was worth reading once. The story is very much like a fairy tale set in an afro-futuristic setting of Zimbabwe. If I were to compare it to another story, the shuffling from one situation to another that the children do is not dissimilar to Pinocchio's story. In a way, I think that the author was trying to showcase the differences in culture within a nation, which I was successful in a way. However, I felt it had a habit of saying, "Other cultures are good, but this one is a bad culture because of this." The passing of judgement on other cultures rubbed me the wrong way when their original culture never received nearly as much criticism aside from a lack of freedom.
I wish the story was more sci-fi oriented. There were aspects that were, but they were more cosmetic than anything. I found most of the more science fiction details weren't particularly important to the story. You could easily have made this fantasy or even modern without damaging the plot line meaningfully.
It is also important to note that this book was written by a white woman. While the dust jacket says she lived in Zimbabwe and Mozambique for seventeen years, but it is important to note that this was about black people which were written by a white woman. It is also important to note that at the time this book won the Newberry Honor, those voting were also all white. This does not make the book valueless, but please be sure to seek out the voices of black people when looking at reviews for this book, as their perspectives are important in this matter.
I wish the story was more sci-fi oriented. There were aspects that were, but they were more cosmetic than anything. I found most of the more science fiction details weren't particularly important to the story. You could easily have made this fantasy or even modern without damaging the plot line meaningfully.
It is also important to note that this book was written by a white woman. While the dust jacket says she lived in Zimbabwe and Mozambique for seventeen years, but it is important to note that this was about black people which were written by a white woman. It is also important to note that at the time this book won the Newberry Honor, those voting were also all white. This does not make the book valueless, but please be sure to seek out the voices of black people when looking at reviews for this book, as their perspectives are important in this matter.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Child abuse, and Trafficking
Moderate: Misogyny, Gun violence, and Sexism
Minor: Alcoholism, Pedophilia, and Infertility