Listening for Lions by Gloria Whelan

Stars: *****

This book is being counted towards the Africa Reading Challenge, The Countdown Challenge and the Book Awards II. It is a winner of the National Book Award.

Summary: Listening for Lions is a breathtaking story of tragedy, deception, and triumph against all odds. National Book Award-winning author Gloria Whelan sets this richly historical coming-of-age adventure in British East Africa in the year 1918.

This irresistible novel entangles an orphaned girl in a deceit-filled plot. Young Rachel Sheridan is made to leave her beloved Africa for England, where she must pose as the deceased daughter of a nefarious couple in an effort to gain them an enormous inheritance. Her irrepressible spirit and extraordinary wit turn her from victim to heroine in a surprising and empowering tale of a remarkable young woman.

I found this book while searching for children's fiction I could read for the Africa Reading Challenge. I'm sure glad I picked it up. I had a little trouble getting into the book at first but that's most likely because I had two toddlers running around and screaming.

I really liked Gloria Whelen's writing style, I really felt as if I was in Africa when Rachel was. I like the simplicity of the three chapters. Rachel Sheriden, Valerie Pritchard, Rachel Pritchard. I like the cover art. There is a short glossary at the back to help you with the words in African languages.

I felt so mad at the Pritchards for making Rachel do something so deceitful yet I felt bad for the Grandfather. It was a great book.

Author's homepage: http://www.gloriawhelan.com/index.html

Here's the book trailer: