Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Listening for Lions by Gloria Whelan


Here it is: my first book review on my book blog! How exciting! I finished Listening for Lions in two days. That is one of the highest compliments I can pay a book because I have never read a book any faster than that! Not only did I read it in two days, I was actually re-reading it. The first time I read it was a few years ago.

The book follows the life of teenager Rachel from Africa to England and back again during the early 1900s. She and her parents are missionaries in Africa until influenza strikes. Events unfold, and Rachel ends up in England, a million miles from her beloved Africa.

Gloria Whelan deserves praise for a job well done. Her book is beautifully written with symbolism and imagery. I applaud the way she was true to Rachel's first-person narrative. I felt like Rachel was telling me the story and not an adult author telling a story through a teen character.

From a spiritual perspective, it is always nice to read a book about Christianity that presents the faith positively. The missionaries are shown as selfless, non-materialistic, faithful, and devoted people.

It is a novel aimed at middle school readers, but one that adults can enjoy as well.

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