Hum

by William David Thomas

A chance encounter with an old llama astonishingly reveals a language Allen didn’t know he could speak in this captivating and one-of-a-kind middle-grade novel.

Eleven-year-old Allen has a recurring nightmare, a persistent habit of humming, and difficulty connecting with other people. Making a fresh start, he and his grandmother move to a small village in northern New York. But when he meets an old llama at a winter festival, the encounter reveals a language he didn’t know he could speak and unveils repressed memories that contradict what he has long believed about his earliest years and his parents’ deaths.

When the llama’s life is threatened, Allen vows to free it. Together they begin a desperate trek through a snowy wilderness, a journey on which Allen must wrestle with lies about his past while struggling against the elements to survive.

Genres: Middle Grade

208 pages, Hardcover

Published July 16, 2024

Reviews

[Sophia Riley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read an ARC copy of this book through NetGalley. It’s an exciting story about a boy named Allen who can talk to llamas, leading him to uncover secrets about his past, but it’s also about making true connections with people. Overall, I loved the unique premise and the characters, but I would have done some things differently as the author.

Here are my thoughts:

What I liked:
-Short, digestible chapters—at most, five pages long. This really kept me reading, and I was able to finish the book in a couple sittings. GREAT for middle-grade.
-The premise? The combination of baseball and Upstate NY and llamas and dead scientist parents? It was so great.
-I love magical realism. Just love it.
-Vivid sense of place. Loved the descriptions of Newcomb and the mountains.
-Gramma, Allen and Max were distinct and their dialogue reflected their characterization really well.
-Builds mystery effectively (albeit a little slowly, which I didn’t mind as an adult reader, but a young reader might).
-It becomes a survival story midway through, and the author did a great job of showing the effects of hypothermia.
-Sadder than I expected! (This could be good or bad depending on the reader. One particular moment just was not what I saw coming!).



What I might have done differently:
-The pacing felt a little off to me. The beginning and end were pretty drawn out, and we don’t even meet the llama until the very middle. Even within some of the chapters, some information and descriptions felt superfluous.
-This is minor, but I didn’t like how the author handled dialogue tags. Also, when Allen had thoughts, they weren’t denoted in any way. No italics or quotations or anything. So you’d be reading this past tense scene, and suddenly there’s a present tense line, and you realize it’s a thought Allen is having. This wasn’t a huge deal, but it was enough to briefly take me out of the story.
-The writing was a little choppy at times. This writer has written lots of non-fiction, but this is his debut novel, and as someone with editorial experience, I could tell. But I don’t think the average middle-grade reader would have any issues with it. I’m just picky :)
-I didn’t quite connect emotionally with Allen. The potential was all there but something just held me back from fully empathizing with him and his story and his friends.

[Lindsay Armbruster · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you're from upstate NY and you about a story set in upstate NY, written by someone who lives in (kind of) Upstate NY, it's an instant win. And then when you dive into the story that has themes of family, found family, human and animal connection, mystery/suspense, and dealing with trauma, it's A HUGE win. I couldn't put this book down; the quick chapters make it accessible for younger readers and the balance of lightheartedness and seriousness engulfs the reader. While of course I love the main character, Allen, I really really felt a deep connection to his grandmother and his mentor, Max. They were both just so real; they could have come from my life! I was a bit turned off at first with the magical realism AND I"m not really sure if communicating with animals is really magical realism; I do think some people have that gift. This book left me thinking about that days after I finished it...and I really want a llama now!

Definitely recommend for middle grade readers AND those who love middle grade stories....especially if you're from upstate NY!

[Vicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this adventure about Allen moving to the north with gramma (parents have been gone eight years) because she’s hoping he’ll make connections. Allen loves humming and when Bridie hears it she tells him she likes his humming. Allen meets Zach and he thinks he likes these new friends, Allen wonders why he keeps having recurring nightmares and wonders if gramma has told him the truth about what happened to his parents. When Max, his mentor, takes him to a winter carnival he sees a llama, Yana, and Allen realizes he can understand what the llama is say from the humming. Allen can see his parents when Yana hums. What does it mean? Allen wonders how could I hum all this time not knowing it was llama language? When Allen finds out Yana was sold to a bad man, he steals Yana and takes her to the mountains. What happens then?

[Beatrice Tibaldini · Rating 5 out of 5]

A soul-wrenching solo journey through the mountains. This is the path of growth and self-discovery that Allen - the young protagonist of this story - must undertake. I loved every single page of this book, every emotion gently brought to the reader's attention. With a few literary quotes and an extraordinary ability to describe the characters, the novel captures your attention until the very end. There are so many scenes where you want to discover more, to reach the point where what you hope for finally comes to pass.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book with all the peace and love in the world because it engages and envelops the reader in the narrative, offering food for thought and allowing them to feel a deep connection with the protagonist, fully understanding and loving every choice - whether you agree with them or wish for a different outcome.

[Karen Reeder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I instantly liked the main character, Allen. His journey was very moving and included such a wide array of emotions and growth. I really enjoyed commiserating with him and cheering him on at various points. The story flows well, but I did often wonder, ‘when do we get to the part about the llama?’ The part with the llama was well done and I enjoyed it very much, I just had to forget about looking for that point to finally happen and enjoy the journey getting there because it really is an enjoyable story throughout. A great story with so many great discussion points if you want to use it in a class.

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley for the eARC

Allen moves with his grandmother to her former vacation home in upstate New York. This town is much smaller than where they used to live. Allen has to learn to make new friends and avoid a bully.

This book felt like it didn't know what it wanted to be. Is it mystical? Is it a survival story? Is it just a contemporary friendship and moving story? It sure doesn't know. Also there's a llama in the book summary. The llama doesn't come until over halfway through. The pacing was so off. It felt like there were so many scenes that didn't add to the story. Honestly, you probably could have deleted most of the first half of the book and wouldn't miss much.

[Deena Lipomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Allen has lived with his grandma since his parents died when he was three, and now at age 11 the two are moving to a small Adirondacks town where he finally seems to be making friends. But when a day trip leads him to a llama who he can communicate with through hums, the truth about his parents' death comes to light. This rather short novel moves from point to point, not belaboring any of them, which gives readers quick satisfaction to their questions about his past. The tone is matter-of-fact, and Allen's talent is pretty cool. Short chapters may attract reluctant readers seeking a middle grade adventure with an animal theme.

[Erica Baxter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spellbinding. This book was instantly engaging and held my attention throughout. There is great character development, lots of suspense and tension, disability representation, and there's even a fun sprinkling of Shakespeare quotes.

At its core, this is a book about self-discovery—learning how to embrace what you have and let go of what you don't, whether it's the small things, like cell phones, or world shattering things, like the death of parents.

A beautiful, moving, tearjerker of a read.

[Karol Silverstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

My thanks to Charlesbridge for an advanced look at the ARC,

Gentle and heartbreaking, Allen's tale is unusual but entirely relatable. His solo trek through the mountains was thrilling. There was a surprise half way through that was sad and unexpected, but ultimately made sense. I particularly loved Allen's high school senior mentor, Max, and how she spoke honestly to him, never down to him. The two good friends he makes at his new, small town school were a delight.

[Allison Turkish · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was intrigued at first but when the llama began to speak to the boy, I just couldn't finish the book. Llamas hum to communicate with each other but they don't speak English. They certainly don't have a llama vocabulary so intricate as to discuss the past and future and it was beyond belief to imagine a human child being able to translate his thoughts as an 11-year-old into "llama." Dnf

[Crimson Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley for an advanced ARC of this book

I was keen to read this at the beginning and it's a nice book but I just could not get invested in the story, this is an impactful book for the right person but unfortunately, that wasn't me.

[Therearenobadbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a different one, outside of the box but at the same time a call to some nature/survival classics we grew up with. It was an interesting grief story but with a fresh take on all usual elements. Easy to read, not too long, this standalone is a journey of memory and coming of age of one who must face the ghosts of trauma and trek the right path for his future. 

The author created tension by limiting the technological resources of the characters, no phone reception, no way to ask for help added to winter weather, inexperience to hike aggravating the survival conditions. But even risking his life, he doesn't quit trying to save Yana. I love the idea of a boy speaking with the llama. 

Themes: loss of parents, dealing with sadness, isolation, lack of friends, lack of belonging then finding a place to call home, finding new friends, fighting for truth, justice and what is right. Bullying (as kids and adults). Call to nature with awesome quotes and mention to Shakespeare quotes as well for wisdom. Alopecia representation. 

I am glad the author added that epilogue. 


Thank you netgalley and publisher for this e-arc.

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very enjoyable tale of finding your feet in a small snowy town, and finding your family, past and present. A young lad called Allen and an older girl student called Max hit it off after Max is appointed to stop Allen being bullied in school. A winter fair introduces Allen to a llama, and that's when his life starts getting strange and challenging.
Good for young people who like the outdoors and a touch of fantasy. There is plenty to learn and a few lessons to remember.

I read an e-ARC from Fresh Fiction and Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.