by Nancy Farmer
First published 1995
Tendai, Rita, and Kuda live behind the high walls of their father's compound in 2194 Zimbabwe. The General keeps his children safe from the chaos outside, but the siblings crave adventure. When they sneak out to earn Scout badges, they vanish into the sprawling city. Their father hires three mutant detectives called the Ear, the Eye and the Arm, each gifted with supernatural senses. The children stumble from one perilous situation to another. They encounter slave traders, toxic waste dumps, and ancient tribal customs that clash with futuristic technology. As the detectives track them across the country, the children discover strength they never knew they possessed. Their journey forces them to confront both the privileges of their sheltered life and the harsh realities of their world.
Genres: science-fiction, dystopia, african-literature, adventure, alternate-history
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Zimbabwe, Compound
Period: 2194
Library Binding · Bt Bound