Details
Premise
Quinby Clark, a young girl living in a harsh household in Sydney, suddenly discovers she can converse with animals—her first encounter is with a singing magpie. A talking dog soon invites her to a secret Australian boarding school for “Animal Listeners,” where she’s thrilled to escape her abusive family and dive into her newfound abilities.
The Adventure Begins
The school, nestled in the Australian bush near a sandy beach, becomes Quinby’s refuge and a place to hone her powers. She soon realizes she has an extraordinary talent: she can speak with more types of animals than any other listener. However, her gift must be kept under wraps, as there are covert factions that could exploit—or destroy—the Animal Listeners.
Conflict & Stakes
When a local council member wants to relocate a colony of flying foxes (fruit bats), these aerial animals strike back—and Quinby is blamed for inciting them. Quinby must prove her innocence, protect the bats, and discover who’s the true instigator. Meanwhile, the school community and the world at large hinge on her powerful abilities.
Themes & Highlights
The novel weaves in environmental and ethical themes: the school serves vegan meals not just for health, but to protect the planet. The story champions animal welfare and awareness of climate change.
The creature cast is rich and vibrant—from dogs, cats, hens, and alpacas to native Australian species like currawongs and fairy-wrens. Readers also connect with the diverse human characters—fellow students and staff from varied backgrounds—and root for Quinby’s strength and resilience.
Reception
Critics and readers alike have praised the novel’s depth and charm. Kirkus Reviews called it “engaging,” highlighting the “insightful and diverting” multispecies characters. Community reviewers echo this enthusiasm. One Amazon reviewer shared that they “laughed, cried, and fell completely in love with the world of Quinby,” while another called it “a phenomenal read, and not just for kids!” Animal Listeners UPPAA Kirkus ReviewsBarnes & Noble
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1 Review on “Animal Listeners: The Awakening of Quinby Clark”
My friend Dr Tim Radak met the author recently at Vegan Summerfest and received a copy of this book. Soon after he was on vacation in Nevada and in his respite decided to give this book a read. He shared with me how much he enjoyed the book and recommended I share it. He “got a lot out of it” and said that it has a “beautiful and heart-warming vegan message, explores the importance of the rights of animals, filled with adventure and inspiration in introducing the reader to the wonderful and complex animal world etc… ” and would be great esp. for kids “11 through teenage years, or even as an adult. It was refreshing.”