While I was browsing through the library the other day, a certain book caught my eye. It had the African plains as a background, with a red-haired girl staring out into the wilderness, a book and pen in hand. I was interested in it, and not having much time, I checked it out along with two other books. I held onto the book for a while, but I never read it; besides, I had a few weeks before it was due. Finally, when I was finished with my Mary Poppins books and the other two I had retrieved from the library, "Listening for Lions" caught my eye again; its cursive letters were intriguing.
I promised myself I would read it sometime the next day. However, that same night I found I couldn't sleep, so I grabbed the yellow book in hand and snapped open the cover. I scanned the texture of the page leaves and took a deep breath before indulging myself into the delicious words. I read on and on until, at last, once I hit page one hundred seventy six, I just could no longer keep my eyes open. My head hit the pillow and I fell asleep.
The first thing the next morning (I'm homeschooled, so I didn't have to go to school right away) I pounced onto the book and devoured the rest like a lion with its prey. Soon enough, my fingers flipped to the last page, and I frowned, very disappointed that it was over. But all books must end, hmm?
You must be wondering now, 'Why were you so anxious to read it?'
Gloria Whelan did a phenomenal job with this book. What was it about? I don't want to spoil it for you, but here is the condensed plot: Rachel Sheridan is thirteen years old when a spreading influenza leaves her an orphan. Her parents had been British missionaries to Africa. Some cruel neighbors brought her in and then Rachel is trapped into a vicious, dishonest plot that removes her from her beloved East Africa . . . after that, the truth sets her free. If you want to find out more, you'll have to read it for yourself!
As the book itself states (if you get hardcover; I'm not sure about paperback), this novel is wickedly delicious; Gloria Whelan, the author, as I stated before, did a great job on this amazing story. To increase your hunger for this delectable book, here is an excerpt that you may find on the back of "Listening for Lions."
When the Pritchard house came into view, Kanoro stopped abruptly, as if the house might cast an evil spell on him.
"Rachel, you are like my own child. How can I let you go into that place? The people in there are like buzzards. They will peck at you until nothing is left."
I tried to comfort him. "Tomorrow I leave for England and I'll never have to see the Pritchards again." I threw my arms around him.
Kanoro held me for a long moment and then said to me, "However far you go from Africa, Rachel, you must carry me with you in your heart. If you are lonely, you must know that every hour I will be thinking of you. If you are among evil people, you must be like the lion, gathering your strength and awaiting your time. That time will come, ad when it comes, you will come back to us."
Though I had little hope, I promised.
Now that you've heard of this book, run to your local library or bookstore and snatch it before it's too late! Well, I suppose it's never too late for a good read; but you must be itching to read it now, so go to that novel. Your meal is waiting.
-Mayonnaise
