Listening for Lions facts for kids
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| Author | Gloria Whelan |
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| Audio read by | Bianca Amato |
| Genre | Historical novel |
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Publication date
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2005 |
| Pages | 208 |
| ISBN | 9780060581763 |
Listening for Lions is an exciting children's novel written by Gloria Whelan. It was first published in 2005. The story takes place in 1919 and is about a young orphaned girl. She gets caught up in a tricky plan to steal an inheritance.
Plot Summary
The story begins in 1919 in British East Africa, which is now Kenya. Rachel Sheridan is a 13-year-old girl. Her parents are British missionaries. This means they are people who travel to other countries to help others and share their beliefs. Her father is a doctor, and her mother is a teacher. They work with the Kikuyu and Maasai tribes.
A Sudden Tragedy
Life for Rachel changes completely when a terrible flu epidemic hits. Many people get very sick and die. Sadly, Rachel's mother passes away from the illness. Soon after, her father also dies. This leaves Rachel all alone.
A wealthy family called the Pritchards lives nearby. They bring their daughter, Valerie, to Rachel's father's hospital. But it's too late, and Valerie also dies. With Rachel's parents gone, the hospital is about to close. The Pritchards then take Rachel in.
A Dangerous Plan
The Pritchards come up with a sneaky plan. They want Rachel to pretend to be their daughter, Valerie. They tell Rachel she must travel to England. There, she will visit Valerie's dying grandfather. They claim this visit will help save his life. Rachel doesn't want to lie, but she feels she has no choice.
On the ship to England, Rachel thinks about telling someone the truth. But she doesn't. When she arrives, she meets the "grandfather." He is a kind man who loves birds, just like Rachel. They quickly become very close.
The Truth Comes Out
Just when Rachel starts to feel happy, the Pritchards reveal their true intentions. They plan to take the grandfather's property when he dies. The grandfather, who doesn't like his own son (Mr. Pritchard), sends them away.
However, the grandfather's trusted lawyer, Mr. Grumbloch, gives Rachel his address. He tells her to come to him if she ever needs help. Rachel goes to him the very next day. Mr. Grumbloch takes Rachel back to her grandfather. He tells the grandfather the whole truth about the Pritchards' plan. The grandfather had already suspected something was wrong.
A New Beginning
In the end, Rachel's life takes a wonderful turn. The grandfather officially adopts her as his daughter. She gets to go to school in England. Later, Rachel grows up and becomes a doctor herself. She returns to her father's old hospital in Kenya to help others, just like he did.
