Whisper: Book one

by Alison Bellringer

Britney is a young, extremely malnourished child, who comes from a poor family with an abusive father. Her mother does everything she can to protect her daughter from her husband, receiving the brunt of the aggressive beatings herself. The girl barely speaks, afraid of being overheard by the wrong person, and the only words she knows are the few repeated words her mother uses to calm her after a fight. A total of three words in all, namely – Whisper, Britney, and Ma.

There is a very private, sheltered spot in the nearby forest which Britney uses as a place to hide away if ever her mother has to spend the day walking into the nearest town to purchase supplies or to trade goods. They have discreet, non-verbal signals which they use to keep the area hidden and make sure that Britney is secure (far away from Pa’s prying eyes).

On one such day, Britney hears unusual sounds and is terrified that her father has found out about their system, but the surprise turns out to be just a lonesome little puppy. The girl quickly becomes friends with the stray, instantly joining forces in their solitude, only ever meeting in the secret place where they share such a deeply silent, unspoken bond.

This continues until Ma helps her only child run away for good, tearfully leaving Britney to fend for herself in the best way she knows how. The adoring puppy (promptly being referred to as Whisper) unexpectedly follows the girl, and together they set off on a journey that will forever change their lives…

77 pages, Paperback

Published April 26, 2024

About the author

I have been writing short stories to share with friends and family for many years and always enjoy exploring my creativity when putting pen to paper, so I am excited to have the opportunity to share my love of writing with others. I grew up around dogs, first Mila and then Smoky, who each went on many wonderful adventures and lived to a good old age, and I especially love including 'man's best friend' or some other favorite animal throughout most of my stories.

I have been playing trombone since about 2010, euphonium from mid-2019, and always like getting together with a few friends to ‘make a joyful noise’ sharing music. I also enjoy a bit of freelance photography when I get the chance, especially if it involves taking pictures of sunsets.

Both The Bronson Escapades and The Wolf Cub are Silver Recipients of the Mom’s Choice Awards® honorary seal of excellence, with the latter being a 2nd place winner in the 2024 Royal Dragonfly Book Awards in both the ‘Education’ and ‘Coffee Table & Gift Books’ categories, in addition to obtaining an Honorable Mention in several others: Best Cover Design, Children’s Chapter Books, Middle-Grade Fiction, and Animals/Pets. More recently, The Wolf Cub received a Bronze Medal in the 'EBook Pre-Teen Fiction' category in the 2025 Moonbeam Book Awards and Footprints in the Snow was named a finalist in the 2025 N. N. Light Book Awards in the ‘Children’s Books’ category. Additionally, The Bronson Escapades achieved 3rd place in the 2025 Bestsellers World Book Awards in both the ‘Children’s Books’ and ‘Humor/Satire’ categories. Whisper (Book One) achieved an Honorable Mention in the 2025 Royal Dragonfly Book Awards in an outstanding total of six different categories and The Bronson Escapades received the same placing in one other. In 2026, The Horses of Saddlers Ranch: Cloud was named a Distinguished Favorite in the Independent Press Awards in the ‘Middle-Grade’ category. My trilogy, Whisper, Lucas, and Escape, was presented with the NAPPA Award winning seal, with the first book having also received a 2026 Family Choice Award.

Reviews

[Books R&B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whisper announces Alison Bellringer as a writer of remarkable emotional depth. This debut novel tells the story of Britney, a small, silent girl who learns survival in a cottage shadowed by her father's violence—until one day, her mother whispers a command that will change everything: Keep walking. Don't look back.


What Makes This Book Extraordinary

✦ The Child's Voice : Britney's narrative is told from the perspective of a traumatized five-year-old who barely speaks. But Bellringer never patronizes this voice. Instead, she captures the raw, visceral terror of a child living in constant fear, the way trauma physically manifests in her body, and the slow, careful way trust rebuilds.

✦ The Mother's Sacrifice : Ma's decision to send her daughter away is the emotional core of this novel. It's not a moment of abandonment it's the most profound act of love a mother can make. Years later, when Kaylee finds her daughter alive, the reunion is so beautifully rendered it will break your heart all over again.

✦ The Dog Who Saves Her : Whisper isn't just a pet. She's Britney's guardian angel, her protector, her emotional anchor. The dog appears at crucial moments and the relationship between girl and animal is rendered with such tenderness that you'll find yourself tearing up.

✦ The Found Family : Grandma Ruby and Uncle Lucas are not blood relatives, yet they become Britney's true family. This speaks to a profound truth: family is built on love, protection, and consistency not just genetics.

✦ The Redemption Arc : Pa's character could have been a one-dimensional villain. Instead, Bellringer gives us his perspective: a young man who fell in with the wrong crowd, who lost himself to the culture of violence, and who after believing he killed his wife genuinely changes. His redemption is hard-earned, not handed out. We see him work for it. And when Britney finally joins him in that embrace, it feels earned.


The Writing

Bellringer's prose is elegant and direct. She doesn't waste words. The opening chapter(with five year-old Britney hiding under the kitchen table) is a masterclass in showing trauma. You feel her fear. The early chapters are almost unbearably tense, yet she balances this with moments of quiet beauty: Britney watching her mother work, picking wildflowers with Ma years later, Whisper's warm presence beside her.


Who This Is For

Domestic violence survivors seeking to read their pain reflected with dignity

Readers who love character-driven fiction rooted in emotional truth

Anyone seeking hope after darkness this book offers it, but never dishonestly

Literary fiction readers who appreciate nuance and moral complexity

YA crossover readers (though the content is mature and best for older teens/adults


Fair Warning

This book does not shy away from depicting domestic violence. The early chapters are difficult to read- as they should be. If you're a survivor of abuse, you may find certain scenes triggering. But Bellringer handles the subject matter with such respect and such care that it becomes cathartic rather than exploitative.

The ending, however, won't be what everyone expects. Some readers may feel that Pa's redemption comes too easily or too quickly. Others will understand it as a testament to the possibility of genuine change. This is where the book becomes a conversation about forgiveness and whether people can truly transform.


A Stunning Debut That Proves Redemption Is Possible, Even When Forgiveness Seems Impossible Whisper is a triumph. It's a rare book that handles such difficult material with both tenderness and honesty. Bellringer doesn't offer easy answers- she offers something more valuable: a portrait of what healing looks like when surrounded by people who choose to show up, over and over again. This is the story of a girl who learns to speak, a mother who finds her way home, a father who becomes worthy of his family, and a dog who was there all along. It's a story about what it means to be truly seen, even in silence. You will remember this book long after you finish. You will think about Britney, Ma, Uncle Lucas, and Whisper on random Tuesday afternoons. You will question your own capacity for forgiveness. You will believe, again, in the possibility of redemption.


A must-read debut. Bellringer is a writer to watch.

[LitPick Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whisper by Alison Bellringer is an emotional story that follows Britney, a young girl growing up in a toxic environment. Her home life is unstable and unpredictable because of her emotionally and physically abusive father. Living in constant fear, Britney learns to stay quiet and avoid drawing attention to herself. When a stray puppy named Whisper finds her in the woods, he becomes a source of comfort and support. The two form a special bond and begin a journey toward healing and new beginnings. Their connection gives Britney the strength to imagine a better future and believe in herself again. Together, their story shows the power of hope, love, and resilience even in the darkest times.


Opinion:
The story is written with a style that is emotional, direct, and accessible. It is told mostly through Britney’s perspective, giving it an authentic, childlike voice that makes the story raw and heartfelt. The descriptions carry strong imagery and emotion, I was able to relate to the pain and tribulations of the characters. The pacing is steady and provides a nice mix of both traumatic and moments of positivity and light.


I found the themes of hope and healing the most powerful ones in the story. Despite a tough upbringing initially, Britney is able to find a new start when she is found in the woods by a puppy. Her bond with Whisper shows how even the smallest connection can spark strength and courage. Being an animal lover myself, I liked how this dog was the character to push the whole story forward.


Another powerful theme in the book is the mother-daughter relationship between Britney and her Ma. Even though Ma is trapped in an abusive situation herself, she finds a way to protect her daughter and show her that she is not alone. Their relationship is portrayed with tenderness and demonstrated that love can exist even in the presence of fear and control. A mother’s willingness to put her daughter’s needs before her own is heartwarming and shows selflessness. I feel by highlighting this special relationship, the story becomes more relatable for young and older readers.


I would recommend this book to all readers looking for a heartwarming tale. Since abuse is brought up in the story, if this topic is sensitive to the reader, I would proceed with caution.

[Reader Views · Rating 4 out of 5]

Britney and her Ma live in fear of Britney’s Pa. He lashes out physically, traumatizing Ma and Britney. One day while hiding from him, Britney meets a puppy whom she calls Whisper after a word her Ma often repeats to her. Slowly, Britney and Whisper bond until Ma tells Britney to take some food, walk away from their home, and never look back. Frightened, Britney heads out with a small bundle of food and only Whisper for company in “Whisper: Book One” by Alison Bellringer.

After an arduous journey, Britney is found by a loving older woman named Ruby, and her son Lucas. Initially terrified, Britney slowly warms up to Ruby and Lucas, accepting them as her family and accepting that she’ll never see her Ma or Pa again. Or so she thinks. Britney’s Ma shows up unexpectedly and Ruby reveals that she is actually Britney’s grandmother. The family is overjoyed at being reunited until Pa comes looking for Ma and Britney. Gradually though, Pa changes his ways and is accepted back into the family.

Author Alison Bellringer has written a compelling and clear story. The tale moves along at quite a clip, allowing readers to see a great progression of the story in a short period. However, more depth into Pa’s transformative period would have been welcome and have better allowed readers to accept he has truly changed and is truly remorseful. At the moment, the transformation is difficult to fully accept, especially as Pa’s reasoning for being violent appears to be pressure from his peers.

Britney and Whisper are easy to root for. Adding an animal companion is always a great choice in books for children. Additionally, it’s great to see Britney have a constant protector when she is so often in physical or emotional peril. This peril makes a tough subject and is sometimes a bit too dark for the intended audience, in my opinion, so be cautioned that those who would be upset by a physically abusive parent storyline may wish to steer clear.

“Whisper” is the first of a trilogy and is a tale of heartache, danger, and ultimately transformation, written for readers aged six to sixteen. While some depth would add credibility to the story, the main characters of Britney and Whisper will get readers on their side quickly.

[Heena Rathore Rathore-Pardeshi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whisper by Alison Bellringer is a beautiful story that opens softly and still manages to break your heart, and then carefully put it back together. Told from the POV of Britney, a malnourished little girl living with an abusive father, the novel traces her journey from fear and secrecy to safety, found family, and, slowly, trust. The book’s gentleness comes from an unlikely guardian: a stray puppy Britney names Whisper, whose steadfast presence changes the course of her life.

From the gut-punch opening in the cottage, to the quiet, sacred ritual of a secret forest hideaway, and the puppy who finds her there, Author Bellringer writes with unshowy clarity that lets emotion land without melodrama. Scenes like Whisper fetching help and leading a kind carpenter to the collapsed child (and the warm safety of Grandma Ruby’s hearth) feel cinematic yet grounded, the sort of moments young readers cling to when they need proof that good adults exist.

What I loved most is how the book treats healing as a slow, layered process. Britney’s vocabulary at first is just three words and the narrative mirrors that tentative expansion of self. As she grows, the world widens and there is the complicated arrival of people from her past. The author doesn’t sanitize trauma, but she centers resilience and community, showing how patience, consistency, and everyday kindness knit a life back together.

Parents, teachers, and librarians will appreciate how the book handles tough themes with care like domestic violence, abandonment, and a nuanced strand of possible redemption, while keeping the focus on safety, boundaries, and support. The tone is middle-grade friendly, but I’d still suggest guided reading for sensitive readers; it invites valuable conversations about speaking up, trusting safe adults, and what real change looks like.

[Pricillar Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story that whispers straight to your soul

I did not expect to be this emotionally wrecked by such a quiet, gentle book. Whisper is one of those rare stories that doesn’t shout to be heard it aches to be felt. Britney’s world is small, fragile, and terrifyingly real. The way Alison Bellringer writes trauma through silence is powerful in a way that loud stories never manage.

Britney barely speaks, yet every page speaks volumes. Her bond with the puppy, Whisper, is pure, tender, and healing in the most human way possible. Their silent companionship becomes a lifeline in a world that has shown her nothing but cruelty. I found myself holding my breath through entire chapters, praying for this child’s safety.

This book will break you open and then quietly stitch you back together with hope.

If you love deeply emotional stories, vulnerable child protagonists, found family themes, and animal companions that feel like guardian angels do not miss this book.
Read it. Feel it. Remember it.

[Michael Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book deserves far more attention than it’s getting.

Whisper tells the story of a child who has learned that silence is safety and how love can slowly teach her to live again. Britney’s world is heartbreakingly small, and yet the emotions in this book are massive. The forest hideaway, the silent signals, the lonely puppy… it all feels intimate, raw, and deeply moving.

The relationship between Britney and Whisper is beautiful in its simplicity. No big speeches. No dramatic declarations. Just two broken souls finding comfort in each other’s presence. It’s rare to find a book that handles abuse, fear, and escape with this much sensitivity and tenderness.

If you enjoy emotionally powerful stories with soft pacing, heavy themes, and unforgettable characters, you owe it to yourself to read this book.
It’s quiet.
It’s painful.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some books don’t just tell a story they stay with you. Whisper: Book One is one of them.

Britney’s silence isn’t just a character trait; it’s the language of fear, survival, and love. The abuse in this story is handled with heartbreaking care, never sensationalized, always human. The mother’s quiet bravery and sacrifice hit me hard. And then there’s Whisper the puppy who becomes more than a companion, more than comfort. He becomes hope on four small paws.

This is not a loud book.
It’s a quiet ache.
And somehow that makes it hurt more and mean more.

[Charles T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quiet, heartbreaking, and unforgettable story

Whisper: Book One is told with such tenderness and restraint that it stays with you long after the final page. Britney’s silence speaks louder than words, and her bond with the puppy is both heartbreaking and healing. Alison Bellringer writes with sensitivity and care, creating a story that is painful at times but also filled with hope. A beautifully emotional read.

[Shawna Blauser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful storytelling through simplicity

This book proves that a few words can carry enormous weight. Britney’s limited vocabulary makes the story even more moving, and the love between mother and child is portrayed with quiet strength. The relationship between Britney and Whisper is deeply touching and symbolic of survival. An emotionally rich and thoughtfully written book. I love it.

[Anna Griggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read.
Highly recommended