About this title: This futuristic tale, which is set in Zimbabwe in the year 2194, centers on Tendai (age 13), Rita (age 11), and Kuda (age 4), the children of the very strict General Matsika. One day, tired of living within the confines of their father's rules, they sneak out of the house, and are promptly, kidnapped. Determined to get them back home, General Matsika hires the Ear, the Eye, and the Arm--three nuclear-mutated detectives whom he hopes will be able to use their unusual powers to track down his children. Meanwhile, Tendai, Rita, and Kuda have a series of amazing adventures--all of which keep them ...
read more
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Scholastic
Date Published: 1994
ISBN-13:9780531068298ISBN:0531068293
Description: Very good in very good dust jacket. Very Good, In very good dust jacket. Sewn binding. Paper over boards. 320 p. Ex-Library expected imperfections. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Orchard Books (NY)
Date Published: 1994
ISBN-13:9780531086797ISBN:0531086798
Description: Good in good dust jacket. Good, In good dust jacket. Library binding. Cloth over boards. 311 p. Ex-Library expected imperfections. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Orchard Books (NY)
Date Published: 1994
ISBN-13:9780531086797ISBN:0531086798
Description: Good in good dust jacket. Very Good, In very good dust jacket. Library binding. Cloth over boards. 311 p. Ex-Library expected imperfections. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Puffin
Date Published: 1995-10-01
ISBN-13:9780140376418ISBN:0140376410
Description: Good. Ex library. trade paperback. Cover has a couple of library stickers and very light corner wear. Pocket removed from inside of rear cover. Library stamp on first page. Top block has a couple of small library marks. No other faults. read more
Description: Very Good. 0140376410 Great condition Soft Cover book, clean pages, mild creases to spine, light edge/corner rubs, this book is GREAT! Shop & Save With US. read more
Description: Very Good. 0140376410 Great condition Soft Cover book, clean pages, mild creases to spine, light edge/corner rubs, this book is GREAT! Shop & Save With US. read more
"Growing up in the overly sheltered home of General Matsika in futuristic Zimbabwe, three siblings, Tendai, Rita, and Kuda, long for adventure. With the help of the Mellower they embark on a trip across the city to fulfill a scouting rite but are captured along the way by the henchmen of the She Elephant. Three mutant detectives (Ear, Eye, and Arm) are dispatched to rescue them from their increasingly more perilous situation. Along the way the children must discover the world around them and learn to fend for themselves and each other before they are sacrificed to the gods of the Masks.
A creative retelling of a traditional African tale and full of wild creatures and characters, the book has a lot of personality. It involves themes of self discovery and coming-of-age as well as interdependence and discovering the love of family taken for granted. Just not a read I personally felt invested in. Great for teens waking up to the adult world, perhaps those starting with employment, and in areas dealing with racial or economic variety.
The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm is a novel set in 22 Century Zimbabwe. It follows the story of Tendai, Rita, and Kuda, the three children of a high standing General. They were sheltered their whole lives, so on their first outing by themselves they are kidnapped which starts them on an amazing adventure.
I was truly surprised that I liked this book. I saw the date in the blurb on the back and was not excited to be reading a sci-fi book. It's not really sci-fi--though it does take place in the future and therefore there is futuristic gadgets and people. I found it fascinating how the characters change and develop throughout the novel and that we as readers were able to see how this development came about. Farmer is able to pull this off with subtlety and grace, something that very few authors can do well.
"I will probably hear some disagreement from people who liked this book, so I'll explain my reasons for this rating. I was expecting an amazing story from a Newbery Honor Book, but I just couldn't get into this one. The structure of the future world was interesting and unusual, and the story concept - 3 kidnapped children who have to use their wits to survive - is a good one. This could have been an awesome book, but it was dragged down by several problems. (1) The title refers to three detectives in the book who have superpowers, but what book does not introduce the title characters until chapter 6! The first 5 chapters of the story are about the over-controlled children of the wealthy General Matsika. As each chapter passed, I began to wonder where the title characters were. When they were finally introduced, however, I was not impressed. In spite of their superpowers, all three are remarkably inept. (2) The story is set in Zimbabwe in 2194. The author tries to introduce a flavor of early Africa (ancient kings, tribal spirits, witchcraft) at the same time as she plugs in technology of the future. Unfortunately, the way it was written weakened the two aspects, leaving the reader without a good sense of either time period. (3) Would children raised in a strictly protected home be quite so naive when out in a dangerous area of town? one would imagine they would be even more cautious than the average child. (4) The detectives arrived at a scene just after the children had escaped it. Then again they arrived just after the children escaped. Then again.... It became unbelievable after a while. Could we vary it a bit? Perhaps have the detectives actually find the children and then lose them again? It was ridiculously repetitive. (5) Although the story started smoothly enough, it bogged down about halfway through. The story of the children is written separately from the detectives, and they do not intersect until the end. The constantly shifting locations were disorienting."
"Taking place in Zimbabwe in 2194, the book follows the kidnapping of the ruling general's children. The general's children were kidnapped by people working for the She Elephant and put to work in a plastic mine. The general hires three detectives, named the Ear, the Eye, and the Arm, for their talent and skills. These detectives always seem to be just one step behind the children and the dreaded She Elephant, that is until the god of Zimbawe makes direct contact with the Arm.
My students seem to really enjoy this book because it has a very intricate plot that keeps them on the edge of their seats. Nancy Farmer is an enjoyable author to read, as well. This would classify and fit well into a text set about science fiction because it takes place in the future, involves technology that goes against the known laws of nature, and involves a difference political/social system."
We guarantee every item's condition, as described on Alibris. If you are not satisfied that an item is as described, return your purchase for a refund.
rating
