The Listener

by Maris E. McCambley

Seth never thought he was special. True, he can Read minds like his dad, and Listen to animals like his mom. It's only when those abilities start to merge that the thirteen-year-old realizes he's no ordinary Reader or Listener. Seth has no time to enjoy the novelty of his evolution, though, because he is marked for extinction in a deadly animal world conflict.The conflict begins when T.C.-the-Cat learns that Listeners still survive after centuries of persecution drove them into hiding. In that time, human roads have made the world an increasingly dangerous place for animals. They need a Listener's help to build a Deflector Device that will warn animals away from cars and trucks on highways.Not all animals agree with this plan. Led by coyote chieftains Kendrick and Kendar, the tormented creatures of land and sky join forces as The Enemy, and vow to thwart T.C.'s mission and silence the Listeners forever. .The pitched struggle that ensues reaches a climax when The Enemy executes an ambush on the plane in which T.C. and Seth are traveling. Only the teen's new and surprising abilities can save the mission and keep the friends from plunging to earth in a giant fireball--if he can master those abilities in time! .

186 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 11, 2011

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine discovering one day that you have the ability to communicate with animals, and that the animal world has sent emissaries to ask for your help to prevent millions of needless deaths each year--not just animal deaths, but human as well. Imagine further that a very small but influential percentage of animals don't want your help, and they're determined to stop you.

Any child-or adult-who has been saddened by the site of a dead animal by the side of the road will feel good about this book. Any child or adult that has ever felt a special bond with a dog or a cat or any other household pet will relate to this book. Twenty pages into this novel you will believe that animals have spoken to you your entire life, and you just haven't been paying attention. The author has a wonderful ear for dialog, and seems to know exactly how a dog, or cat, or hawk, or rat, will respond to any given situation. I haven't "heard" animal dialog this good since I listened to ee E.B. White read Charlotte's Web. 8 - 12 year-old kids will love this book, but I would not rule it out for adults, especially those who have a warm place in their hearts for small, furry animals.

[Gordon Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

O.M.G. If you love fantasy, action, adventure, and animals, you HAVE to read this book. There are a lot of books (like Warriors) in which the animals "talk" to one another. In The Listener, the author really makes you believe that certain humans were always able to communicate with animals, but that those "Listeners" were forced to hide their ability during/after the Salem witch trials.

In The Listener, some of the animals who have kept alive the story of those special humans, seek out one of the last surviving Listeners to ask for help in making roads and highways safer for both animals and humans. These animals are opposed by coyote led scavengers who want to keep the roadkill producing situation exactly as is.

If you've ever been saddened by the sight of a dead animal on the side of the road, you will want to read this book. If you've ever had a special bond with a dog or a cat or any other household pet, you will relate to this book. If you've ever wanted to be part of a fast-paced adventure, you will want to experience the exhilaration of this book.

[John Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the funniest "serious" book I've ever read! You'd think that a story about a kid who loses his parents when their car crashes after trying to avoid a deer in the road would be really depressing. In the case of The Listener, you'd be wrong. From the opening scenes in which you learn that certain animals can Communicate with humans called Listeners, through the story of how the animals and Listener work together to stop the slaughter of animals on roads and highways, you'll find yourself laughing at the animal/human and animal/animal interactions. But since the author does a great job of making all the characters believable, you'll also find yourself tensing up and tearing up when the creatures who are working against the Listener execute a series of deadly ambushes.

If you love both well-written science fiction/fantasy and animals, you'll really enjoy reading this book.

[Andy D'Alessandro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story. Lots of action. Love the human-animal friendships.

[Pete Grissom · Rating 5 out of 5]

If animals could talk, this is the story they'd tell. Great action, characters, and "science."

[Ross McDonough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Love both the animal and human characters and how they interact. One of the best books with "talking" animals I've ever read!