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