Book Reviews by Kids - November 2005

The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm

by Nancy Farmer

When General Matsika's children, Tendai, Rita and Kuda, go missing, he is distraught. They have hardly ever left their Zimbabwe mansion, and do not know how to survive in the streets. The Matsika's call the Ear, the Eye and the Arm, detectives with amazing sensory powers due to toxic waste exposure, to help find them. The hunt for the children snakes all over the city, from the toxic waste dump called the vlei, to the mythical land of Resthaven, to the top of the Mile-High McIlwaine. 

This book, set in futuristic Zimbabwe, was a really cool mix of sci-fi and African spiritualism. Like Nancy Farmer's other books, "The House of the Scorpion" and "A Girl Named Disaster", it was a book that makes you think, makes your heart race, and evokes strong feelings of sympathy for the characters. It was very intense, and also very tender. I know lots of people that would think it was a really weird book, but I really liked it. 

Reviewed by Princess Toenails - age 15

The Divide

by Elizabeth Kay

Felix Sanders, a young boy from England, suffers from a rare heart disease that will leave him dead before long. In an effort to have one last adventure before he dies his family goes on a vacation to Costa Rica. While they are there, they visit the Continental Divide. While there however, Felix is suddenly warped to another world where magic is a reality, and science is only a myth. While there he must save the creatures from destruction by untested medicines, as well as find a cure for his disease. One thing I like about this book is how it starts with realistic people and landforms, but then shoots off into complete fantasy. It shows well how the will to succeed can overpower any obstacle. Even death.

Reviewed by Dude Man - Age 13

Earthquake Terror

by Peg Kehret

If you don't judge books by their cover it’s a good thing! Otherwise you would probably think Earthquake Terror was a documentary (because of the title), but it’s not! It’s a book about a boy and his crippled sister abandoned on an island while their dad runs to take their mother to the hospital for an ankle injury and while their parents are gone an earthquake starts! When it finally stops almost all of the trees are on the ground. Usually you could just climb over the trees and find somewhere to go but not when you have a crippled sister. When you have a crippled sister you have to lift her over each and every tree in order to get her somewhere ( that would be tiring work)! Find out if they make it or end up separated forever.

Reviewed by Peach - Age 10

Civil War on Sunday: Magic Treehouse

by Mary Pope Osborne and illustrated by Sal Murdocca

There were two kids. There name’s were Annie and Jack and there was a master librarian and her name is Morgan. She sends Jack and Annie on missions and this time they went to the Civil War and they were in a tree house that transports to places and they saw bloody people coming out of the woods and Annie went to help one of them and then they went into a tent with nurses and Jack and Annie became nurses and they got to help a few people.

My favorite part is when jack and Annie became nurses because it is nice to help people.

Reviewed by Sports Guy - Age 8