Rating: 
Summary: Great stuff
Review: I can't really understand why this didn't win the newbery medal. Do the people who give out the medal enjoy torchering Nancy Farmer by giving the medal to books that aren't as good? Thid book was great, yet walk two moons won, which was okay, and then a 2002 honer, The House of the Scorpian, which is even better than this lost to a single shard, which was also okay but not great like these two books. The book has its ups and its downs. It follows young children Tendai, Rita, and Kuda, three children of a general of Zimbabwe who are never really aloud to go anywhere. The steal out of the house and vanish. Their parents call in the strange detectives the ear, the eye, and the arm who are mutants to find the children, but the three kids stay one step out of their reach. The only complaint I have of this book is that it spend way too much time on the kids, who are pretty stupid and no matter how hard you try, you can never really like them. The ear the eye and the arm part of the story is far more interesting. These three characters are instantly likable and I wish the book spent more time on them. Kuda is one of the most annoying characters I have ever encountered in a book, but the futuristic parts of the story, and the storyline of these three detectives more than make up for the flaws. Be warned however that in the book about a hundred pages through the children will come to a place called resthaven which is like africa now, and is the most boring part of the book. You might get stuck on that part for a while. It's still a fantastic book which is the mark of a truly great author.
Rating:
Summary: Nancy Farmer: Sci-fi children's author extraordinaire
Review: The best futuristic sci-fi tale for children set in Zimbabwe I've ever read. Which is unfair backhanded praise for a book that, in my opinion, should've been awarded the Newberry Award without question. Sometimes I like to pretend that I'm at a party and a savvy Hollywood producer comes up to me and asks for the number one children's book that should be optioned for a movie. Batta bing, I recommend this book. In it, you have a well-developed plot containing characters of amazing depth. No two-dimensional stick figures for this children's novel. The setting is more than unique. It is unparalleled. Farmer's ingenuity has created a book that speaks volumes. Not only is it an enjoyable edge-of-your-seat mystery, but there's a distinctly moral core to the book. It's the rare story that can make a person actually enjoy a section on (believe it or not) "courage". If your children can read, give them this book. If your children cannot read, give them this book anyway and teach them to do so with it. There is no higher praise I can give.
Rating:
Summary: anonymus reviewer
Review: She has woven into this book a story with unmatchable characters villains and creatures. It starts out in a boot camp like household in which a military-like father forces his kids to take his path and go into the army. A kind person called the mellower happens to hypnotize there parents into handing over there I.D's and credit cards excess money e.t.c. And the children escape into a future (2194)Zimbabwe city. Soon after they get kidnapped and turned over to an evil old queen who turns them into slaves. The mother of the kidnapped children after hearing her children escaped, called 3 detectives called the ear the eye and the arm. They all have been gifted supernatural powers in which to slueth with. Will they find the children and rescue them or be turned into slaves themselves? You'll have to buy the book and read on to find out.
Rating:
Summary: The Ear, The Eye, and The Arm
Review: I liked this book because I like adventure and mystery. It had both. I couldn't stop reading. Every spare second I had, I read.
I loved it. I was also reading another book for a report so it took me seven days to finish. This book was the greatest. The cover is unique. Tendi, Rita, and Kuda are the best characters you have ever heard of. This may be the best book you could ever read. It was for me. It was great.
Rating:
Summary: read this book!
Review: It paints a vivid picture of future Africa- most people think of Africa only as tribes, huts, and lions. I know I did before I read this. Ancient spirits play an active role in this futuristic and exciting novel,and the plot twists and turns as detectives trace the kidnapped Tendai, Rita, and Kuda through all the different faces of the city. The children, kept secluded for most of their lives, must find recources in the city and in themselves that keep them one step ahead of the game. The blend of past and future is different and exciting, the characters are realistic and memorable, and the plot keeps you on your toes. A great book for all lovers of mysteries, sci-fi, or fantasy.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Read
Review: The Ear, The Eye, and The Arm is an excellent book. I highly reccomend it to anyone. The characters are all interesting and their journey is just strange. This book was unlike any book I have ever read before and every little detail is fascinating. It's a book that you just have to read, there's no describing it or explaining what it's about.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic
Review: Tendai, Rita and Kuda live in the year 2194, where everything in their home depends on technology. Tendai is a scout and wants to earn his last badge. In order to do so he must travel across the large city of Harare, Zimbabwe. Rita and Kuda talk him into taking them with him. As they leave their safe environment, they determine not everyone can be trusted. They are soon kidnapped. Tendai realizes that this is only the beginning of a long journey, which he hopes will take them back home. General Masika and his wife are distraut because the Mellower has tricked them into giving their children permission to leave their safe home. They are afraid that the Mask will get the children and hold them for ransom. Mrs. Masika hires the Ear, Eye and Arm detectives to find the children. As the detectives search they are always one step behind the children. The detectives reveal to the Masikas that the children were kidnapped and escape. Then they become kidnapped again. By who? I'll not tell. If you want to know what happens next read the book. If you like sci-fi books, you will love The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm. The title alone is what intrigued me to choose this book to read for a college course. The author does an excellent job of creating a plot that keeps you on your toes. Just when you think you know what's going to happen, IT DOESN'T. The setting is always changing and the plot is ongoing. I just love the characters from Kudo, the little brother to the waiter in the Mile High Restaurant. This story is full of emotions from sorrow to anger and excitement. I would definitely recommend this book to young adults that enjoy sci-fi, action books.
Rating: 
Summary: The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm
Review: The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm is a book chock-full of catchy phrases, words from languages other than our own, and a sense of creativity. Imagine yourself in Harare, Zimbabwe, in the year 2194. Automatic Dobermans are scattered about the streets. You live in a house, a home-away-from-home, with barred windows and everything shut tight and secure. You want to get away, but you can't...
This is the story of three young children who go out on a Scout trip across the city. They get kidnapped and are taken to a place where everything blends in with the trash-covered earth. The children run away soon after, and get stuck in a place they've dreamed of, but now suddenly dread.
The people of this place believe that the children are witches, and when proven not guilty, send them out onto the streets. The three look for a place to get help, as one of them is sick. Before they can find shelter and care, another of the three goes off, headed towards the subway...
The two others trail behind, and when they arrive at the station, awaiting them is quite an unpleasant surprise. They make it aboard a train, and are taken to Borrowdale. Here they meet a woman who will only send them home if she can greedily steal a reward in return.
This, however, doesn't happen. An unkindly woman who stole them once before, snatches the three children up and shoves them into a cab... What happens next? Buy the book or read a sample page and see!
The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm is amazingly well-written. Seeming childish at first glance, when you open it up, you soon find out otherwise... The details are apparent and well researched. A mystery in itself, an unfolded tale, a book for one and all... A story showing reality, with just a hint of imagination...
Rating:
Summary: a great book
Review: its a great book. i enjoyed it immensley and i am sure you will too. the plot is interesting, and there is never a dull moment in teh story. i am reading it for a third time for a book club, and when i tell about it, everyone is mesmerized at the adventrues of tendai, rita, and kuda. i think you should buy it, no matter what age you are!
Rating:
Summary: To earn the badge
Review: A Review by Ryan Tendia and his two younger siblings are three kids in Africa. But they are about to find out what it' like to survive in a world they have never seen. Follow them as they embark on an adventure that they will never forget. Such as when they spend more than half a year in a toxic waste dump. Or as they fight off old world diseases such as Chicken Poxs. It's a very enchanting page turner that will have you on the edge of your seat. Some things that I liked about this book are the ability to relate to the characters. Like when Tendia is struggling to find his purpose in life, or as they're trying to survive in a modern day world. Also I like the dramatic point of view as it goes back and forth to the kids and to the detectives. Like when the detectives are arguing next to the subway entrance as the kids are boarding the subway. Most of the vocab is confusing but at the end of the book you can look up its meaning. I really liked that. I say that any one who like to read adventure or sci fi books would like to read it. It's a real page turner and I would not recommend it to non serious readers.
|
