Summer 2005 Review:

The Ear, The Eye and The Arm was originally published in 1994, but was recently republished with a few minor changes. The new version includes a few changes in the book, a new preface by the author and a discussion guide. It is a 1995 Newberry Honor Book, A Parent’s Choice Award Winner and has also won many other awards. 

Zimbabwe has changed much by the year 2194. The whole country is made of cities and technology. Only the small village of Resthaven remains untouched by advancement, and is blocked from the rest of the city of Harare, the capital, by a magnificent wall. Very few people are accepted into the village, and once the go in, they must never come out. Tendai and his brother and sister have escaped from their father, the chief of security, and are lost in Harare. They do not know much about the outside world and are kidnapped. Their father has enlisted the aid of the only three detectives left in Harare, The Ear, The Eye and The Arm. They each have special abilities, Ear has massive ears and can hear the minutest sound; Eye has larger than normal eyes and can see very far; Arm can read peoples minds and feel their deepest emotions. The General is hoping that these three extraordinary men will find his children. 

I really liked this book. It only speaks about Zimbabwe in the future, but it gives great thought into what the world will be like in about 200 years. There are many unforgettable characters in this story. My favorites were the detectives. If you like futuristic novels, then you will enjoy this one. It was a somewhat long book and wouldn’t recommend it for people who don’t enjoy reading too much. There is a small glossary in the back of the book, which helps you understand some of the strange terms used in the story. I feel that people in fifth grade and up would enjoy this book.

~ Stelios Theophanous, 9^th grade, Boardman High School

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