The Whispers

by Greg Howard

A heartrending coming-of-age tale set in the South, perfect for fans of Bridge to Terabithia and Counting By 7s . Now in paperback.

Eleven-year-old Riley believes in the Whispers, magical wood creatures that will grant you wishes if you leave them tributes. Riley has a lot of wishes. He wishes bullies at school would stop picking on him. He wishes Dylan, his 8th grade crush, liked him, and Riley wishes he would stop wetting the bed. But most of all, Riley wishes for his mom to come back home. She disappeared a few months ago and Riley is determined to find her. So he goes on a camping trip with his friend Gary to look for the Whispers and ask them to bring his mom back home. But Riley doesn't realize the trip will shake the foundation of everything that he believes in for forever.

Genres: Middle Grade, LGBT, Fantasy, Fiction, Young Adult, Queer, Mystery

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 15, 2019

About the author

Greg Howard was born and raised in the South Carolina Lowcountry, where his love of words and stories blossomed at a young age. Originally set on becoming a songwriter, Greg followed that dream to the bright lights of Nashville, Tennessee, and spent years producing the music of others before eventually returning to his childhood passion of writing stories.

Greg is an Edgar Award nominee (The Whispers) and writes young-adult and middle-grade novels focusing on LGBTQ characters and issues. He has an unhealthy obsession with Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and currently resides in Nashville with his three rescued fur babies--Molly, Toby, and Riley.

Reviews

[Nev · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Whispers is an absolutely gorgeous middle grade novel about Riley, an eleven year old boy whose mother has gone missing. Riley believes that the key to finding her lies with The Whispers, wish granting fairies from the stories she used to tell him. Riley’s also struggling with his dad seeming like he doesn’t want him around anymore, bullies at school, and having a crush on an older boy.

Greg Howard’s writing here is so beautiful. All of the emotions and imagery jumped off the page. I appreciated how this book didn’t seem like it was dumbed down for younger readers. Even though the main character is eleven and it’s written in first person, it still feels remarkably mature. But not in a way that Riley doesn’t seem like a real eleven year old.

This is a very moving story. Once all the layers start peeling back and you realize everything that Riley has been going through, it’s hard to not shed a couple tears. All of the turmoil from his family situation on top of coming to terms with his sexuality in a conservative, Christian town in the South makes for a lot of emotional moments in this book.

I truly think this is a book that can be enjoyed by readers of all ages. To me, it feels like a pretty mature middle grade book, one that people who don’t normally read from that age range could still get a lot out of.

[fer bañuelos · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5*

No esperaba ese final y dolió.

Este es de esos libros middle grade que te cuentan una historia más profunda de lo que originalmente plantea. Es de esos que no te terminan de pegar hasta que lo terminas, y eso fue justo lo que me pasó a mí. No lo aprecié del todo hasta terminarlo. Pero una vez que lo hice quedé completamente fascinado con él.

El Bosque de los Susurros es una alegoría a algo mucho más grande. Me gustó mucho el trabajo que hizo el autor al momento de conectar los puntos, se ve que estaba muy bien planeado. Riley me pareció un prota muy puro. Me hizo sentir demasiado, además de que aprecio bastante la representación LGBT+ que se le da, incluso siendo un niño tan joven. Es simplemente una historia impactante.

Pero, como mencioné, durante la mayor parte de la novela no estaba conectando con la historia. No la sentía atrapante y, en su mayoría, me pareció muy lenta. No fue hasta el final donde todo se revela y se te muestra el panorama completo que empecé a querer al libro. Viéndolo en retrospectiva puedo decir que es una historia excelente, pero mi disfrute durante el trayecto no fue el más grande si soy completamente honesto, razón por la cual le doy esa calificación, que en general se resumió a gustos personales.

En fin, lo recomiendo mucho. Siento que a todos les va a ablandar el corazón, y me dio mucho gusto poder haber sido uno de ellos.

[Caleb Roehrig · Rating 5 out of 5]

So touching and beautiful and heartfelt. When I tell you I ugly-cried...

[Erin Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. The voice and beauty of this book will whisk you away to a world where you'll believe in magic, too. Loved the setting, how real the characters felt and the emotional journey that Howard takes you on with this story. Was sad to close the last page and have to leave.

[Josiah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A year after his 2018 YA debut, Social Intercourse, Greg Howard entered the realm of middle-grade literature with The Whispers. How would his skills translate to writing for kids? Riley James is eleven years old, but he was ten when Mama vanished four months ago. He tells his father and a police detective named Frank that he doesn't know where she went, but Riley is hiding a few inconvenient facts. He thinks Frank suspects him of involvement in his mother's disappearance, but he would never hurt her, regardless what Sister Grimes from the North Creek Church of God might suggest. Riley is convinced Mama is waiting to be found, but it won't be Detective Frank who does it. Riley senses his best bet is a mythical race of beings his mother told him stories about, who appear as flickering blue lights in the woods. The Whispers, Mama called them, know all things and are willing to share that knowledge with special humans in exchange for a sacrificial tribute. Could they lead Riley to Mama?

Life at home is tense with Mama gone. Daddy rarely speaks to Riley or even looks at him, their close relationship a relic of the past. Riley's fourteen-year-old brother Danny treats him even worse than he used to. Riley has regressed to wetting the bed, but cleans up the mess every morning so Daddy isn't burdened. Riley's other condition, an attraction to boys, can't be tidied up so easily, but he tries to hide it. What would Sister Grimes and the rest of North Creek Church of God say if they knew the thoughts Riley has toward boys, in particular eighth-grader Dylan Mathews, whom Riley adoringly thinks of as "My Redneck Superhero?" Dylan is quite a physical specimen, and doesn't look down on Riley for behaving differently than most sixth-grade boys. Riley only sees Dylan on the bus and at school, but at least he has Gary. Son of a mixed-race family, Gary knows how it feels not to fit in with his peers in a small South Carolina town, so he and Riley are a natural fit as friends. They go camping in the woods on a regular basis with Riley's dog, a Rottie Shepherd mix named Tucker, despite an incident a while back when a local boy disappeared. Dylan's reclusive cousin, Mordecai Mathews, was suspected of doing something untoward to the boy, but police couldn't prove it. Daddy hesitated about letting Riley camp out after that, but Riley clears that hurdle by telling him he's sleeping at Gary's house. Now, his reason for spending a night in the woods is more important than ever.

The time is at hand to seek the Whispers and offer a tribute in exchange for Mama. If Riley doesn't find her now, what hope is there she'll ever make it back? What if someone is holding her captive? Gary is skeptical about the Whispers, but he agrees to camp with Riley in the woods, and the two begin their hike accompanied by Gary's little brother Carl. Riley feels uneasy—before they left, Dylan delivered a cryptic warning about dangerous things lurking in the woods—but Riley keeps a sharp lookout for blue flashes of light that could signal the presence of the Whispers. He desperately wants to believe Mama's magical stories, but he's running out of faith. The Whispers as Mama described them were not purely good, however; they never opened the door to infinite knowledge without exacting steep payment on behalf of the individual seeking it. What will they require of Riley for even a hint of Mama's fate? Is Grandpa's vintage Swiss Army knife sufficient, a tool Riley loves to use? How about Mama's wedding ring, which Riley keeps hidden in a drawer in his bedroom, the last vestige he has of her? Will the Whispers grant his heart's wish if he sacrifices these objects to them? A night of stunning revelation and emotional upheaval is ahead, but Riley refuses to doubt the Whispers. They're his last hope to ever see Mama again.

How do you face the truth when the person you love most exits your life? The ground crumbles beneath your feet, plunging you into an abyss of heartache that seems bottomless. Riley's family and friends don't know how to help; he took it brutally hard when Mama left, and his behavior has them worried. All of them have abandoned hope that Mama will be back, but Riley needs her too much to move on. Mama believed the world was a place of enchantment, that stories of hobgoblins and Whispers were compatible with her Christian faith, and Riley models his belief system after hers. Can God be pleased with him in spite of his other condition? Riley isn't sure how Mama felt about his attraction to boys—an attraction she discovered by happenstance shortly before he saw her for the final time—but he needs to find out. Will Riley be able to live with the truth once he pieces it together?

I'm conflicted about The Whispers. The ending is profound, approaching the magnificence achieved by legends such as Wilson Rawls, Irene Hunt, Marion Dane Bauer, and Katherine Paterson. Some moments could not have been much better, but the plot is necessarily complicated, and certain elements don't seem to hold up under scrutiny, ones I won't elaborate on in the interest of avoiding spoilers. These implausibilities prevent me from rating The Whispers three and a half, four, or even more stars and declaring that it deserved the 2020 Newbery Medal, but I will round my two-and-a-half-star rating to three. The plot difficulties could have been a death sentence if the emotion weren't so beautiful as Greg Howard guides the story to a tearful finish. Whatever misgivings I have, The Whispers holds a permanent place in my heart. Riley's story means a lot to me.

[mina · Rating 2 out of 5]

↠2.5


While reading I listened to this book too, which may’ve been a problem; it’s read by a kid, at first that felt like a good way to go, but as I passed more pages it started irritating me for some reason.

I don’t know how to feel about this book, which is the reason I avoided writing this review. On one hand it annoyed the hell out of me and I just wanted to be done with it, but on the other hand I saw that the story was grimmer than I thought. I’m blaming the synopsis for that because I expected a story with fantasy elements; I expected fairy-like creatures and I expected some wow reason his mother disappeared. However the story is much more serious than that, and I liked that part a lot that he imagined another reality where his mother is missing instead of the truth that she passed, but most of the book didn’t sit well with me.

The explaining words thing was fun in the beginning but as it continued throughout the book it became annoying. In hindsight it makes so much sense and I understand it but still. However, his attitude towards the detective was so wrong—the kid was insulting him in his thoughts how he’s a bad and stupid—and it doesn’t send a good message.

[Harker · Rating 4 out of 5]

CW: bullying, anti-gay terminology/homophobia, child abuse, animal death, talk about segregation behavior

Riley has a strong belief in the Whispers: fairies that will grant you your heart's desire if you offer a tribute. He needs to believe in them because his mama has been missing for months now and if he doesn't believe...what then?

Greg Howard's middle grade debut novel was a well written, heart breaking example of how sometimes the belief we hold on to is all we have in the face of something far more devastating, but that processing, growing up, whatever you want to call it, is also possible.

There was an expectation I had about The Whispers going into reading it and while I might have held onto them for awhile, when Riley was telling us about his Mama singing to him, the games they would play, and the stories she would share with him, it wasn't long before a sense of foreboding took over.

While Riley has a sense of wonder and a belief in the fantastical, there's also 

This was a good, solid read that I kept wanting to pick up, even when I had to set it aside for other tasks. Even when I thought I knew where the story was going (that sense of foreboding I mentioned? yeah, it only gets stronger as you go), I had to know for sure. I had to know how Riley was going to figure things out: how he was going to handle living with his dad, who seemed to hate him since Mama vanished; his classmates, who teased him for liking stuff he "shouldn't" like; his crush on his nextdoor neighbor, Dylan. There's a lot going on beneath the surface for Riley and while he might seem single minded, there's also a lot of confusion boiling up inside that creates tension for him and whoever's reading about him.

Riley's life in a South Carolina town is complex. He's eleven years old and figuring things out, such as how he feels about those around him, particularly who he wants to kiss. This is complicated by the sermons he hears at church and what the Brothers and Sisters from church say when they think he can't hear. From an adult perspective, it was even more heartbreaking to realize what they meant and I wanted to shake these people for being so cruel to a child.

There's also an interesting method of storytelling wherein Riley sees things from a certain point of view. Some readers might be able to guess at particular plot points in advance and thereby guess as the story progresses, but if not, at the end you can look back and see how Riley's perspective and that of those around him differ and makes it almost like there were two stories going on simultaneously. 

The emotional impact of The Whispers cannot be understated. It's quite good and I think there will be quite an audience for it. I'm not sure if the writing style will be for everyone in the middle grade audience because as much as I liked it, I'm not 100% that younger readers will stick with it through the early stages. I'd certainly encourage them too, though, because it's well worth it. Provide tissues, though, for the finals scenes and readers of all ages.



I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Quotes included are from an advanced reader copy and may not reflect the finalized copy.

[Melissa Chambers · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Whispers is a sweet and tender story that takes place in small town South Carolina. While the plot is rich and layered, you'll find yourself getting lost in the everyday-ness of life in the country with gems like Riley's grandma's 5-4-3-2-1 fruit salad, "country neighbors", and the Pentecostal Corn Choir. You are guaranteed to be transported to another world with this very special, very extraordinary story about a boy who's navigating a difficult path. Highly recommended for middle grade novel readers of all ages.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A 5th grade student asked me why there wasn't more lgbtq+ representation in our school and library. I thanked her for pointing it out to me and showed her a bunch of books we've acquired and some signage I made since taking over the library position this summer. She liked them but basically said it wasn't enough. She and a friend offered to help make pride art and displays and I pledged to add more lgbtq+ content to the library. This endearing and clever read is a result.

This book is a mystery, a tragedy, a love story and everything else. I love main character Riley and his dog, Tucker. It hurt to read the fear and shame and projection Riley endured due to his closeted homosexuality. It hurt to see that tragic pain of existence on several other characters. But it was wonderful to see his relationships and how they all endure grief and mental health and life together. I can't wait to read the next new book in my stack.

Here's a great review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Adam Sass · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is not just a wonderful, sweet, moody mystery, it's also one of the rarest examples I've ever read of taking the point of view of a gay person at the moment they're starting to understand who they are. At 11 years old, Riley is dealing with not just the sudden disappearance of his mother, but also the guilt that his "condition" may be responsible. It's full of wonderful, charming voice and remarkable insights into grief and early gay confusion. This book is priceless!

[Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a little bit to get into the book, mostly because the setting was very rural American, something I'm not particularly knowledgeable about, and haven't read a lot of. Once I adjusted to the setting and language of the book though, I was utterly drawn in.

Initially I was a bit undecided on how I felt about the author clearly putting vocabulary in with explanations to encourage children to learn; on one hand it was clevely woven into the story, but on the other hand I was worried it would start to feel a bit forced. It didn't. The natural and very funny explanations for each word kept it fresh, and tied into the story very smoothly.

One of my favourite parts of the story was the main character Riley; it's very rare to see a gay character portrayed younger than a teenager and so... accurately. Obviously everyone is different, but I could definitely relate to some of the things Riley was going through, because I remember going through them myself. It's also nice to see a gay character where romance isn't the main point of them, although he did have a crush (and it was super cute, and far too relatable), it was in no way the main point of the story.

I won't say much about the ending because I don't want to spoil anything; all I'll say is that it ended both how I thought it would, and it didn't. It was very moving, but very sad in a lot of respects too.

If you want an easy read that will make you laugh, cry, and appreciate the world around you a little more, I'd definitely recommend giving this a go.

[Nico · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Whispers was what I expected it to be, and not.
I love Riley. I love Dylan. I love best boy Tucker and the calendar of daily words and how Riley is such a mama's boy.
Despite the weight of the situation, the grief weighing down the family, Riley's voice was fresh and bright and I loved my gentle boy and watching him navigate his life. I wasn't a fan of the homophobia present in this book due to the very Christian undertones. But I appreciated seeing how damaging it can be to a child to hear such vile things - and also that everyone who mattered accepted and loved Riley.
I spent the last chapter of the book bawling my eyes out and with tears streaking down my cheeks, and I'm still a little teary now. I don't think Riley's story will leave me for a long time.

[Dreximgirl · Rating 2 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook of this while sorting out my spare room and honestly if I hadn't I would have DNF'd it.

While I understand what the author was trying to do and the rep that he was trying to give it just totally missed the mark. I was very uncomfortable with the religious overtones and the language used was just too much sometimes. Continual use of 'condition' started to really get on my nerves.

Also the unreliable narrator aspect was just irritating. You go in expecting a fantasy element and it is non-existant.

Just really a total miss for me. I liked the narrator which was what stopped this being a one star.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Greg Howard does it again!
He is fantastic at what he does...
Riley's mother has disappeared. Riley believes the stories his mama told him about the "Whispers", mysterious spirits who live in the woods. Riley believes that the whispers can tell him what happened to his mother.
A conservative South Carolina town sets the stage for this story of friendship, family and discovery.
Full of mystery, diversity, and unique family dynamics unite the story!

[Ben Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an enjoyable novel. filled with whimsy and deeply emotional moments.

Riley's mother has gone missing, and he feels like he's the only one invested in finding her. He believes that a story about The Whispers, that his mother told him, is real and that they know where she is.

With his dog Riley sets out to find The Whispers, a seemily fairy like creatures misted in blue.

I really didn't expect this book to get to me the way it did. I didn't go into it expecting to cry but I did. I shouldn't have been surprised, it seems like middle grade media always has really emotional moments (looking at you Pixar!).

[Marie the Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Urgh this book!! I cried and laughed and all the feels!

[lostinpages.dontsendhelp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rated 3.5 Stars:
I was hesitant and nervous to read this book because it had some mixed reviews, the mixed referring to some bad things happening to children.. They weren't wrong, there were a couple. One implied. This is not a book that has real magic as implied by the overall introduction, but Howard writes this well. This is not a book for grade schoolers. If it is, they're much more desensitized than I remember being. I'd rate this book as teen because of the content, though he does write an eleven year old voice well. The unsolved case of Peetie Munn irked me, but it wasn't the point.
This book was very up and down. I was unsure, intrigued, creeped out, brought to tears/almost cried three times, loved Tucker the dog, hated Sister Grimes, was proud of/really liked Dylan, was sad, a bit happy, and then relieved. I stayed up til 2:30 in the morning to finish this book in one read. I don't doubt that this book will be banned someday, though it just came out last month. I won't be surprised if it is already. This book is going to create a lot of conversation, especially as Riley, is struggling with his 'condition' of being gay. I thought that was beautifully written and will be quite helpful for some, as was the line about God 'being-color blind'. There's strong religious overtures in this book (as it's written in the South), a smidge of racism, and a plus a word-a-day theme that weaves well into the story. It's rare I find myself aligned with a 'villain', but I found myself agreeing with the hobgoblin Mordecai in this one, about the world and how he doesn't care much for how people treat each other.
The Whispers is full of grief, perspective and imagination, and gentle hope/hard reality beats them all in the end.
Overall, I was uncomfortable. But that just means this is a growing book and that Howard has done pretty much everything..right. It's like eating a vegetable you don't like. Bad texture, but super good for you.
Who knows, I may have some heart/head protecting memories that I'll unlock someday.
This may be the most powerful book I read this year.

[Jack Powwidge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone rating this with less than three stars, as far as I can see, has not read the end or has really weird complaints about Frank. Lmfao.

Yeah so. Where do i even get started?
This was amazing. It wrapped up so well from start to finish, explained everything that went on in the course of a few pages, made me sob like a little baby at everything in the end. The writing style perfectly fit to explain what was going on with Riley. Everything was just amazing I don't know what to say. The characters were fleshed out. They had their flaws and backstories and that in a relatively short book. Even Tucker. I just. Loved this very very much and the more sinister tone it went for in the end caught me totally off-guard but also made so much sense and it handled the topic of losing someone incredibly well in my opinion.

One star goes missing for the one thing that happened towards the end but I want to stay spoiler free. Basically the thing that made me sob like a baby I hate it every time it happens in books. Ok, ok, no. One star goes missing because I'm a very picky person and in comparison to my five star books, this is only a four star one. It's still an incredible book though.

[Jessica Calla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautifully written, middle grade novel that made me smile throughout, but sob cry at the end. Riley is determined to solve the mystery surrounding his beloved mother’s disappearance, and turns to the Whispers for help. Mr. Howard takes the reader along with Riley through every step on his journey and shows us Riley’s Southern roots, his family, and his friends all through a perfectly written, middle grade voice. My heart is full after reading this thoughtful, emotional, hopeful story. Beautiful.

[Mike Oaks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Greg Howard puts a human touch on the loss of a parent. Young Riley's mom has been missing for 4 months and he's searching for her. He's convinced if he offers a tribute to The Whispers, he'll be able to find her. The audio book is narrated by Kivlighan de Montebello. So that'll give you extra feels if you choose to listen to Riley's story. 4.75 for kisses on the forehead.

[Sarah Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a sweet story about growing up, finding yourself, and forgiveness. Fair warning, get the tissues ready. I was not prepared for the emotions.

Thank you to the publisher for providing this book through Netgalley and putting me on the blog tour.

Read my full review at bookishbugblog.com

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was reading this book for a Read Harder challenge but found the writing tedious and dull. I’m sure I can find a more interesting book to fill the challenge category!

[CorniHolmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beim erstmaligen Durchstöbern des neuen dtv-Programms ist mir „Ein Flüstern im Wind“ sofort ins Auge gesprungen. Bei dem wunderhübschen Cover war es bei mir Liebe auf den ersten Blick und da mich auch der Klappentext umgehend überzeugen konnte, stand für mich sehr schnell fest: Das Buch muss ich unbedingt lesen!

Vor vier Monaten ist Rileys Mutter spurlos verschwunden. Was ihr mit ihr geschehen ist und wo sie sich aufhält, weiß niemand. Auch die Polizei tappt im Dunklen. Da Riley wenig Vertrauen in den dicken Kripo-Glatzkopf hat, fasst der 11-jährige den Entschluss, sich alleine auf die Suche nach seiner Mutter zu machen. Er möchte sie unbedingt zurückhaben und würde alles dafür geben, um sie finden. Vielleicht können ihm ja die Flüsterer weiterhelfen? Als Riley klein war, hat ihm seine Mutter oft die Geschichte von den Flüsterern erzählt: Kleine feenhafte Wesen, die im Wald hausen und jeden Wunsch erfüllen, wenn man ihnen ein Opfer bringt. Riley ist sich sicher, dass es die Flüsterer wirklich gibt und beschließt sie zu suchen. Eine abenteuerliche Reise beginnt...

Hui, okay. Irgendwie war „Ein Flüstern im Wind“ ziemlich anders von mir erwartet. Mit was genau ich eigentlich gerechnet hatte, kann ich im Nachhinein nur gar nicht mehr sagen. Mit einer Fantasystory? Oder einer packenden Abenteuergeschichte mit Krimielementen? Vielleicht. Aufgrund des Klappentextes könnte man doch annehmen, dass so etwas in dem Buch schlummert, oder?

Ehe ihr jetzt denkt, dass ich enttäuscht von „Ein Flüstern im Wind“ bin: Nein, bin ich nicht. Ganz im Gegenteil, ich bin richtig begeistert von meinem ersten Werk aus der Feder Greg Howards! Mir hat gerade diese überraschende Anders so unheimlich gut gefallen. Die Handlung war viel tiefgründiger, ernster und berührender als von mir anfangs angenommen. In meinen Augen ist Greg Howard mit „Ein Flüstern im Wind“ ein wundervoller Kinderroman gelungen, der auf eine ergreifende, feinfühlige und zauberhafte Weise viele wichtige und schwierige Themen behandelt wie Familie, Freundschaft, Verlust, Homosexualität und Selbstakzeptanz. Die Geschichte ist lustig und traurig zugleich, sie ist mitreißend und wunderschön geschrieben und sie zerreißt einem am Ende richtig das Herz. Ich war von Beginn an völlig gefesselt von der Handlung und wollte das Buch am liebsten gar nicht mehr aus der Hand legen, da ich unbedingt wissen wollte, wohin mich die Story wohl führen wird. Was ist nur mit Rileys Mutter geschehen? Wohin ist sie verwunden? Warum verhält sich der Polizist so seltsam? Was meint Riley damit, wenn er von seinen zwei Problemen spricht? Was hat es mit diesen mysteriösen Flüsterern im Wald auf sich, von denen die Mutter Riley früher immer erzählt hat? Existieren sie wirklich? Oder sind sie nur ein Märchen?
Fragen über Fragen. Und auf viele erhält man erst einmal keine Antwort.

Ich hatte wirklich eine lange Zeit keinen Plan, worauf alles hinauslaufen wird. Vermutlich werden einige viel eher dahinterkommen, wie die Auflösung lautet, sodass sie am Schluss nicht so verblüfft sein werden wie ich es war. Mich jedenfalls hat das Ende sehr überrascht und aufgewühlt zurückgelassen. Genauer ins Detail gehen werde ich allerdings nicht, da ich euch ansonsten ziemlich den Woweffekt nehmen würde. Ich rate euch zudem ganz dringend, bloß nicht das Nachwort des Autors zu lesen, ehe ihr das Buch beendet habt. Ihr würdet euch sonst sehr um dieses außergewöhnliche Leseerlebnis bringen.

Erfahren tun wir alles aus der Sicht des 11-jährigen Riley in der Ich-Perspektive. Riley fand ich einfach nur bezaubernd. Ich mochte seine süße und humorvolle Art vom ersten Moment an wahnsinnig gerne, ich habe mich sofort in seine hinreißenden Lexikon-Erklärungen verliebt und für seine große Vorstellungskraft habe ich ihn richtig bewundert. Rily ist ein total lieber Junge, der sich für sein Alter schon erstaunlich erwachsene Gedanken macht, der aber trotz seines reifen Verhaltens wie ein absolut authentischer 11-jähriger wirkt. Riley war einfach so ein Protagonist, wie ich ihn in Kinderbüchern besonders liebe.

Mit den Nebenfiguren konnte mich Greg Howard ebenfalls vollends überzeugen. Rileys liebenswert-verrückte Mutter, die ihm einfach alles bedeutet; sein Vater und sein Bruder, die auf uns Leser zunächst einen etwas merkwürdigen und unsympathischen Eindruck machen; Rileys herzliche Großeltern; sein Freund Carl; der charmante Dylan, der für Riley ein wahrer Superheld ist; der Familienhund Tucker, zu dem unser Buchheld eine sehr innige Beziehung hat – all diese Figuren und auch die weiteren wurden meiner Meinung nach hervorragend ausgearbeitet.

Mit dem Setting konnte der Autor ebenfalls vollends bei mir punkten. „Ein Flüstern in Wind“ nimmt uns in eine Kleinstadt in South Carolina mit und dank der bildhaften Beschreibungen ist es mir jederzeit spielend leicht gelungen, mir alles genau vorzustellen. Besonders klasse fand ich die Stimmung, die die Kulisse verströmt. Leicht düster irgendwie und fast schon beklemmend, aber niemals zu dunkel oder bedrohlich. Und obwohl wir es mit einer realistischen Geschichte zu tun bekommen, haben die Orte dennoch etwas Magisches an sich.

Empfohlen wird „Ein Flüstern im Wind“ ab 11 Jahren. Also ich muss gestehen, dass ich mit dieser Altersempfehlung ein bisschen hadere. Obwohl unser Ich-Erzähler elf Jahre alt ist, bin ich mir etwas unsicher, ob das Buch wirklich schon für jüngere Leser geeignet ist. Ich persönlich würde es eher Teenagern und Erwachsenen empfehlen, da die Story doch recht komplex ist und teils sehr schwierige Themen aufgreift. Vielleicht unterschätze ich die Zielgruppe aber auch, keine Ahnung. Älteren Lesern kann ich „Ein Flüstern im Wind“ jedenfalls wirklich nur ans Herz legen.

Fazit: Ein herzerwärmend schönes Buch voller Feingefühl, Humor und einer Prise Magie! Greg Howard hat mit „Ein Flüstern im Wind“ einen Kinderroman aufs Papier gebracht, der mich unglaublich überrascht und zutiefst beeindruckt zurückgelassen hat. Ich bin hellauf begeistert von der Art und Weise, wie der Autor ungemein wichtige und schwere Themen behandelt. Die Geschichte ist witzig und herzzerreißend zugleich, sie ist spannend, einfühlsam und bewegend und so ganz anders, als man aufgrund des Klappentextes annehmen könnte. Wenn ihr gerne in Kinderbücher abtaucht, die euch zum weinen, lachen und schmunzeln bringen, sehr zum nachdenken anregen und voller emotionaler Momente stecken, dann kann ich euch nur nahe legen, „Ein Flüstern im Wind“ zu lesen. Ich habe wunderbare Lesestunden mit dem Buch verbracht und vergebe volle 5 von 5 Sternen!

[Eliza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yup i read this book and liked it.

Tiny voice inside my head: *does ghost voice* Doooo a bettttterrr reviewwww
Giant voice inside my head: *beats up tiny voice* nahhhh



Conclusion: Good book yay for unreliable narrators

[Arla · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sucker punch of emotions just hit me at the end. I saw it coming, but it still made me cry

[Sergio · Rating 5 out of 5]

pff final devastador...

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a fantasy novel or a fairy tale - I just want to make that clear. It's a coming of age story with a strong LGB theme. I found it well written and hard to put down. Although the main character's witty sense of humor provides some comic relief, the story is quite weighty and sad. The emotions I experienced reading this book were similar to those I felt while reading "A Monster Calls."

"The Whispers" is about an 11-year-old boy, Riley, who is looking for his missing mother. The events take place 4 months after her disappearance. Riley's interest in boys is prominent throughout the story and provides insight into his emotions regarding the way others perceive his "condition" - as he calls it. Riley's sexual preference and treatment are not side notes - they tie expertly into the missing mother plot line.

I previewed this book for Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB) - under consideration for the grades 3-5 category. Based on my own experience with a third grader, I recommended this book not be selected for the grade school category. I feel it is more age appropriate for middle school readers. For those who don't normally read LGB literature (me) I'll mention that I don't feel this book promotes sexual experimentation in young kids/teens, but instead encourages empathy and compassion for those who are bullied or made to feel "different" due to factors beyond their control.

I listened to the audio book for this novel and felt the reader did a very good job capturing the main character's voice.

[Jenni Frencham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Howard, Greg. The Whispers. G.P. Putnam's Sons BYR, 2019.

Riley believes in the old tales of the Whispers, forest creatures who can grant wishes if you bring them tribute. He also thinks they know what happened to his mama and how he can take care of what he refers to as his "other problem," aka his crush on an older boy. But he's having difficulty convincing anyone else that the Whispers are real.

This is a whimsical story of a boy who still believes in miracles and fairy creatures, but who is also struggling with a family with a missing member and who hasn't yet come out to anyone and is relentlessly teased. This mashup of contemporary fiction and fantasy makes for a few awkwardly written transitions between the two, and Riley's inner monologue doesn't always read true for a junior high student. Nonetheless, the fantasy element will draw readers in, particularly those who have enjoyed fairy tales in the past.

Recommended for: tweens
Red Flags: some homophobic commentary from Riley's classmates
Overall Rating: 3/5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Edelweiss for the purpose of review.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Whispers by Greg Howard, 229 pages. Putnam (Penguin), 2019. $17.

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Riley loved the stories his mother told him of The Whispers; mythical creatures who lived in the forest, came out at sunset and granted wishes. More than anything Riley wants to find his mother and to stop wetting the bed. He also wants his dad to love him again. We go with Riley on his quest to find the Whispers and to have his wishes granted. He brings tributes to The Whispers when he goes on his quest to find his mother. Riley is keeping a secret and he thinks his mother knows and that is why she is gone.

We go with Riley on his quest and get a glimpse into how tormented he feels. Riley has some good friends and his best friend and his dog goes with him into forest at night to find the Whispers, and hopefully his mom.
This is a good story about self discovery and doing hard things even if you are scared and frightened.

Ellen-Anita, Librarian
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2019...

[Laura Sibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

So grateful to have read an ARC of this middle-grade novel, which will be released January 2019. Greg Howard creates a setting so lush that I felt as though I were in the magical woods of South Carolina with Riley, his dog Tucker and Riley's friends. Riley is a believable 11-year old boy who worries about his family, wants to find his lost mother and isn't always perfect to his best friend. He's also struggling with guilt that the fact that he's more interested in boys than girls is what caused his mother's disappearance. I eagerly followed Riley through all of his adventures (and misadventures) to the surprising conclusion. I was sorry for the story to end and I look forward to reading more by this author.