The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm

By: Nancy Farmer

Narrated by: George Guidall

Length: 9 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's Summary

You're about to enter the world of the future - a world turned inside out and upside down, beyond anything you've ever imagined.

Zimbabwe, 2194. General Matsika's three children sneak out of the house on a forbidden adventure and disappear. Immediately the general calls Africa's most unusual detectives: the Ear, the Eye, and the Arm. Together these three detectives combine their superhuman powers to find the missing children. It's a dangerous mission that leads them from the seedy streets of the Cow's Guts to the swaying top of the Mile-High MacIlwaine Hotel. With the evil spirits of the past and the villains of the future chasing them all the way, can the Ear, the Eye, and the Arm find the Matsika children before it's too late?

African tribal folklore meets futuristic technology in this brilliantly imaginative Newbery Honor Book. The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm blends adventure, laugh-out-loud humor, and an unforgettable cast of characters (black, brown, white, and even blue) into an extraordinary tale that listeners will find unforgettable.

©1994 Nancy Farmer (P)1995 Recorded Books, LLC

Amazing premise, decent execution

I downloaded this book on the premise alone, which is delightfully creative: a detective story set in the middle of a futuristic Zimbabwe. The book is flawed in some rather odd ways, however. The titular detectives turn out to be the most undeveloped characters in the book, and feel strangely irrelevant to the plot as a whole. It's the kidnapped children who drive the plot forward, and they shine, alongside the places they visit. A good book overall, but it rides more on its unique world than its quality. Recommended for those who really want something different.

Voice performance is top notch. Gruff generals, bumbling fools, and scared children are all voiced expertly by Guidall.

Very original and entertaining

My sixth-grader was assigned this book at school. I ended up listening to the audiobook. Surprisingly original and entertaining. Good clean fun for the whole family.

love this book

I actually messaged audible to ask for this book to be put on audible. I first heard it as a young adult probably in middle school or younger and now I'm 30. very good to listen to with kids

As good as I remembered

I read this as a preteen and loved it. Sometimes things do not carry over into adulthood but this one did. The setting was great and the mix of folktale and sci-fi works incredibly well. The characters had depth and I was really invested in them.

Childhood throwback

I read this book as a child and completely forgot about it until recently. After a lot of googling I was delighted to find it on audible. The story is so unique and interesting it’s very easy to slip into it. I will definitely be listening to this one again.

A great escape for all ages

My family listened to the audio cassettes on a road trip a couple of decades ago and it was a delight to take this great story in once again. No complaints about the narration. Highly recommended for kids and adults maybe about 10 years old and up.

one of my fave books as a teen.

great narrator, engaging story. Loved it and will listen to it again. Very entertaining! Highly recommend for teens and up.

my favorite forever

my most favorite book! no matter what! I am so happy to have found it!

Cool book, great family reading

Listened as a family, ages 5-35 lol! There was a character for everyone. This is a book about family dynamics, boy becoming a man, children appreciating what they have, parents doing the same. Its about showing strength and vulnerability. About dreams and reality, ancestors and traditions, acceptance and belonging. And I'm sure there is more. It sounds surprising to have all that packed into one book but it fits with ease. The detectives as characters in the book were a bit frustrating but likeable. The ending was reasonable, not overdone.

Good for young readers

I liked this book. It dealt with many subjects that can affect kids today. The father tho gruff was only trying to keep his children safe. While many kids consider running away or sneaking out they will understand better why they should listen instead to their parents instead. It deals with poverty and the underside of life in a way that is not so frightening but informative and children will have a better understanding of the world we live in. It also deals with people who are different and special in their own ways. I enjoyed this book and finished it feeling good about it.