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Listening for Lions by Gloria Whelan

Summary

13-year old Rachel Sheridan is left an orphan after influenza takes the lives of her missionary parents in British East Africa in 1919. When cruel neighbors take her in, Rachel suspects their intentions may not be honest. Soon, Rachel becomes entangled in a plot that that takes her away from her beloved home to England. Along the way, Rachel struggles with her desire to be true to herself and her desire to return to Africa.

Booktalk

Rachel Sheridan loves Africa – the hot nights, colorful birds, and the sounds of lions roaring in the distance as she falls asleep at night. But when the great influenza epidemic makes its way to Africa, Rachel's parents both die trying to treat the local Masai and Kikuyu people who come to their clinic for help. As an orphan, Rachel is unwillingly taken in by a British couple – the Pritchards – who force her to pose as their daughter, and send her to England to live with her new “grandfather.” The Pritchards caution her to be kind to Grandfather so they will receive a mighty inheritance when the sickly man dies. The old man is very kind to Rachel and she struggles with whether to tell him the truth. Each day “Grandfather” teaches Rachel about the different birds, and sends her out into the fields of his estate to report on which birds are migrating through, nesting, and raising young. Over time Rachel comes to love the old man, but dreams of only one thing… to return to Africa, and her beloved village of Tumaini, as a doctor. As an orphan, Rachel doesn't have the means to go to medical school, but as the granddaughter of a wealthy landowner, maybe her dream will come true…

Will Rachel tell the truth and risk losing her dream…? Read Listening for Lions by Gloria Whelan.

194 pages, 4th grade and up

Discussion questions

Warning! Some of the questions contain key elements of the plot. Do not read if you don't want to know what happens!

  1. Imagine the village of Tumaini – Rachel's home in Africa. Draw a picture of how you imagine Tumaini or create a map of the grounds.
  2. Imagine Stagsway – Rachel's adopted home in England. Draw a picture of how you imagine Stagsway or create a map of the grounds.
  3. Share your maps or drawings with other members of the group. What differences did you notice? Did making the drawings or maps help you remember details of the story?
  4. Put yourself in Rachel's position. Would you have told “grandfather” your true identity?
  5. Have you ever had to struggle with being truthful even when telling the truth might hurt someone's feelings? What did that feel like?
  6. What do you think of the way Rachel and Janaki were treated at Westminster Hospital? Were the doctors fair in their treatment of female students?
  7. Do the characters in Listening for Lions seem realistic?

If you liked this book, try

Snacks: For ideas of interesting snacks to share, try the book Cooking the East African Way by Bertha Vining Montgomery and Constance Nabwire.

Created in part with funds granted by the Oregon State Library under the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the Oregon State Library. Send feedback to Katie O'Dell, Reading Promotions Coordinator