A review by vermidian
The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm by Nancy Farmer
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