The Lifters
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The Lifters
Narrated by:
Dion Graham
Buy Now for £12.99
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Narrated by:
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Dion Graham
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By:
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Dave Eggers
About this listen
What if the ground beneath your feet was not made of solid earth and stone but had been hollowed into hundreds of tunnels and passageways? What if there were mysterious forces in these tunnels? What would it feel like to know the fate of an entire town rested on your shoulders? Twelve-year-old Gran Flowerpetal is about to find out.
When Gran's friend, the difficult-to-impress Catalina Catalan, presses a silver handle into a hillside and opens a doorway underground, Gran knows that she is extraordinary and brave. He will have no choice but to follow her and help save the town (and the known world). With luck on their side, and some discarded hockey sticks for good measure, they might just emerge as heroes.
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Critic reviews
“This book is a ripper, full of all the good stuff: adventure, mystery, and lots of great jokes.”
—Mac Barnett, Caldecott Honor–winning author of Extra Yarn
"Full of surprises, magic, and heart." --Rebecca Stead, Newbery Award-winning author of When You Reach Me
"A heart-gladdening work of allegorical genius . . . brilliantly rendering the bewildering stupidity of the adult world as seen by children." —The Guardian
"Eggers performs a marvelous sleight of hand, producing a first-rate middle grade adventure that doubles as a political parable for our times." —The Buffalo News
“[A] cozy contemporary novel about lifting spirits and rebuilding community through teamwork and imagination.” —Publishers Weekly
"A warm and rewarding read . . .Eggers skillfully handles the trope of the kids who save the town, with plenty of humorous adult cluelessness but an equal measure of compassion." —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Original . . . and always intriguing. . . . Eggers's story moves along briskly thanks to mounting suspense and bite-size chapters." —Booklist
"A whimsical, fantastical story with elements of realism. . . . This atmospheric story's detailed plot moves quickly, and all the characters experience growth." —School Library Journal
—Mac Barnett, Caldecott Honor–winning author of Extra Yarn
"Full of surprises, magic, and heart." --Rebecca Stead, Newbery Award-winning author of When You Reach Me
"A heart-gladdening work of allegorical genius . . . brilliantly rendering the bewildering stupidity of the adult world as seen by children." —The Guardian
"Eggers performs a marvelous sleight of hand, producing a first-rate middle grade adventure that doubles as a political parable for our times." —The Buffalo News
“[A] cozy contemporary novel about lifting spirits and rebuilding community through teamwork and imagination.” —Publishers Weekly
"A warm and rewarding read . . .Eggers skillfully handles the trope of the kids who save the town, with plenty of humorous adult cluelessness but an equal measure of compassion." —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Original . . . and always intriguing. . . . Eggers's story moves along briskly thanks to mounting suspense and bite-size chapters." —Booklist
"A whimsical, fantastical story with elements of realism. . . . This atmospheric story's detailed plot moves quickly, and all the characters experience growth." —School Library Journal
Brilliant
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Any additional comments?
Many children's stories show the protagonist moving to a new town and finding things aren't as you'd expect. Here we have a great example, with a rather intriguing concept and some memorable characters.Gran (full name Granite Flowerpetal, I kid you not) moves 1000 miles with his family after his father cannot find work. With a mother wheelchair-bound and a father travelling far and wide to find jobs, he and his sister start at a new school in Carousel and begin to notice buildings... sinking.
There is an underground world that Gran discovers, alongside a new friend, the also interestingly-named Catalina Catalan. My favourite part of the book though, was the battle between citizens of the town, fighting over Propositions P and S, and M and H (supporting Parks and Schools or providing funds to stop Moose via a Helicopter warning system). Brilliant.
An enjoyable story for young readers, an exciting concept from an author known for his adult novels. The narrator of the Audible copy I listened to brought the story to life and it's a voice that worked well for both genders.
I wanted more about the Propositions, but overall I liked this fairly brief story.
One for ages 9-12.
With thanks to Nudge Books for providing a sample reading copy via Audible.
'New town' mystery and adventure
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