"Rachel Sheridan was born and raised in British East Africa, the daughter of British missionary parents who ran a hospital there. Africa is the only home Rachel has ever known, and she loves it. But everything changes in 1919, when Rachel is thirteen. An influenza epidemic arrives and kills her parents. Because her parents were orphans, Rachel has no family to turn to, and is caught up in the devious plans of their wealthy neighbors, the Pritchards.
The Pritchards lost their daughter Valerie, who was Rachel's age, in the epidemic. Valerie was about to leave to visit her grandfather in England, and the Pritchards force Rachel to impersonate Valerie and take her place. They hope Rachel will win the grandfather's heart and persuade him to leave his estate and money to the Pritchards. Rachel is devastated to leave her beloved Africa and travel to cold, lonely England. She finds herself coming to care for her "Grandfather," but hates living a lie, and fears the Pritchards will someday follow her to England. At the same time, she is determined to find a way to return to Africa and reopen her parents' hospital. "
Rebecca Herman, Resident Scholar
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Review Analysis of Listening for Lions
Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Tone of book?
- thoughtful
Time/era of story
- 1900-1920's
Kids growing up/acting up?
Yes
Family, loving relations
Yes
Special relationship with
- grandpa
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Age 11-14
Age group of kid(s) in story:
- high school
Parents/lack of parents problem?
- orphan story
Main Character
Gender
- Female
Profession/status:
- unemployed
Age:
- a teen
Ethnicity/Nationality
- British
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- an organization
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- wealthy
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a little/some
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings?
- 6 (an above average amount)
Europe
Yes
European country:
- England/UK
Africa
Yes
Kind of Africa:
- White Enclave
Misc setting
- fancy mansion
Style
Person
- mostly 1st
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
Amount of dialog
- significantly more descript than dialog
