*Butler, Susan The Hermit Thrush Sings
*Starred Booklist Review
"Several generations have passed since a giant meteor hit North America.
Although civilization continues, things have changed. The Rulers keep a
tight reign on the people, and their guards are especially suspicious of
people such as young Leora, who has a mutation, a defective hand. When Leora
rescues a baby birmba, a creature that is half-ape and half-bear and highly
feared by the Rulers, Leora must leave her walled village and find the rebels
who are working to overthrow the government. So begins an exciting,
engrossing adventure by first-time author Butler. She creates a world that is
both familiar and yet realistically different after a natural calamity. At
the same time, she peoples that world with fully fleshed-out characters. It
is not only Leora, part visionary, part child, who captures attention;
secondary characters-even the birmbas-also add an impressive depth to the
story. Particularly well drawn is Leora's nemesis, Wilfert, one of the
Ruler's guards, whose sadistic nature Butler makes palpable. The book has
two initial strikes against it: a boring, off-putting title, and a dust
jacket that, though well executed, has little child appeal. However,
children who open the book will find themselves caught up in a story that has
surprises right up to its breathtaking conclusion."
— Booklist
The Hermit Thrush Sings
Before the great Disaster, the country of Maynor was known as the "state of Maine." People were free to travel, and there were no birmbas (dangerous mutant animals) to fear. Now the people are walled inside their villages and forbidden to leave without armed guards. Because of her webbed hand, the young orphan Leora is an outcast in Village Three. Even though her hand enables her to draw the visions that haunt her, she fears it will land her in the Institute with the other "defectives." When she accidentally learns that the mutants are friendly, Leora ventures into the forbidden Outside. As she begins her journey of discovery, she joins a group of young rebels and uses her visions to help them. Despite its disturbing visions of a brutal society, Susan Butler's first novel sings a sweet song of hope. Much like The Moorchild, this fantasy presents gentle lessons about prejudice and the hatred and fear it engenders. Kate Forbes' narrative voice keeps listeners rapt to the very end.
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The Hermit Thrush Sings
Before the great Disaster, the country of Maynor was known as the "state of Maine." People were free to travel, and there were no birmbas (dangerous mutant animals) to fear. Now the people are walled inside their villages and forbidden to leave without armed guards. Because of her webbed hand, the young orphan Leora is an outcast in Village Three. Even though her hand enables her to draw the visions that haunt her, she fears it will land her in the Institute with the other "defectives." When she accidentally learns that the mutants are friendly, Leora ventures into the forbidden Outside. As she begins her journey of discovery, she joins a group of young rebels and uses her visions to help them. Despite its disturbing visions of a brutal society, Susan Butler's first novel sings a sweet song of hope. Much like The Moorchild, this fantasy presents gentle lessons about prejudice and the hatred and fear it engenders. Kate Forbes' narrative voice keeps listeners rapt to the very end.
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Editorial Reviews
Product Details
| BN ID: | 2940170835485 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Recorded Books, LLC |
| Publication date: | 02/27/2015 |
| Edition description: | Unabridged |
| Age Range: | 10 - 13 Years |
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