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A review by micksland
The Ear, The Eye And The Arm by Nancy Farmer
3.0
3 stars
Read for my 2019 Book Bingo Challenge: Read a Middle Grade or YA book that you’ve never read before
This book was kitschy and fun, but had more than a few flaws. I probably would have loved it when I was ten, so I don’t want to judge too harshly; after all, its target audience probably enjoys it immensely. However, there were certain elements that kept me from enjoying it fully.
Pros: It presented a nuanced view of African culture. Resthaven was a well-developed location and showed the flaws of rejecting technology and modernity in a sensitive way. It’s nice to see an African setting in children’s lit, which in my experience is dominated by American and European settings. The story was fun and there were some genuinely funny passages.
Cons: The plot was generic, and the characters were forgettable. The worldbuilding was very shallow. It’s set in 22nd century Zimbabwe, but there is no explanation for the spirits and superpowers that drive the plot. If a fantasy series is going to be set in the real world, I think that the onus falls on the author to explain the presence of any magical elements in a satisfying way. Here, there was only the barest attempt at a hand-waving explanation.
Overall, it was fun, and I might recommend it to a younger child. But I’m not sure it really deserves to be as famous as it is.
Read for my 2019 Book Bingo Challenge: Read a Middle Grade or YA book that you’ve never read before
This book was kitschy and fun, but had more than a few flaws. I probably would have loved it when I was ten, so I don’t want to judge too harshly; after all, its target audience probably enjoys it immensely. However, there were certain elements that kept me from enjoying it fully.
Pros: It presented a nuanced view of African culture. Resthaven was a well-developed location and showed the flaws of rejecting technology and modernity in a sensitive way. It’s nice to see an African setting in children’s lit, which in my experience is dominated by American and European settings. The story was fun and there were some genuinely funny passages.
Cons: The plot was generic, and the characters were forgettable. The worldbuilding was very shallow. It’s set in 22nd century Zimbabwe, but there is no explanation for the spirits and superpowers that drive the plot. If a fantasy series is going to be set in the real world, I think that the onus falls on the author to explain the presence of any magical elements in a satisfying way. Here, there was only the barest attempt at a hand-waving explanation.
Overall, it was fun, and I might recommend it to a younger child. But I’m not sure it really deserves to be as famous as it is.