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Hush Hush
A lonely girl gets the chance to make her dreams come true, but a hurricane is coming...
Espy Rojas lives in Whisper, Mississippi, but she has nobody to talk to except her invisible friend Sylas.
When Espy meets Tonka, a mysterious creature in a cicada husk, she is overjoyed to hear that Tonka can help her make Sylas real. After Tonka teaches Espy the secret skill of using the Lines, Espy realizes she can use her newfound power to coax her schoolmates into being her friends, too.
But just when everything should be going so well, Espy begins to wonder if Tonka's power might not be the key to friendship she thought it was.
A story that is as surprising as a river with a hidden undertow, Hush Hush is the second novel from author Remy Wilkins.
Espy Rojas lives in Whisper, Mississippi, but she has nobody to talk to except her invisible friend Sylas.
When Espy meets Tonka, a mysterious creature in a cicada husk, she is overjoyed to hear that Tonka can help her make Sylas real. After Tonka teaches Espy the secret skill of using the Lines, Espy realizes she can use her newfound power to coax her schoolmates into being her friends, too.
But just when everything should be going so well, Espy begins to wonder if Tonka's power might not be the key to friendship she thought it was.
A story that is as surprising as a river with a hidden undertow, Hush Hush is the second novel from author Remy Wilkins.
- GenresFiction
336 pages, Hardcover
Published November 30, 2021
4 people are currently reading
111 people want to read
About the author
Remy Wilkins
5 books60 followersRemy Wilkins was born on one side of the Mississippi River and lives on the other. He teaches at Geneva Academy in Monroe, Louisiana, and he writes at home where his wife paints and his five boys raise a ruckus.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 20, 2021
Pretty excited this is finally coming out next month. I often can't remember much about books I read last week, but nearly a year later, I still have strong impressions from Hush Hush. First, my dudes, this book is spooooky! It's not horrific or gross or anything that would be too much for kids (I'm a good gauge of that, because things are often too much for me), but spooky with a certain kind of...accuracy is the word that comes to mind. Wilkins nails the supernatural. He also, perhaps more surprising to me, accurately nails the natural. For a man, and one who is dad to a passel of boys, he is remarkably insightful regarding the nature of girls and their motivations. I think boys will enjoy this book, too—it's not girly in a sense that would be off-putting to them—but I'd especially recommend it for girls and for their parents to read along with them. Its not didactic in itself, but I can see it sparking some really good conversations.
Also...that cover! 😍
Also...that cover! 😍
December 18, 2021
Envy and anger destroys.
One of the most riveting books I have read in a long long time. It would be a good family read aloud with much to discuss. I couldn’t put it down.
Ephesians 6:12-13 NIV “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”
One of the most riveting books I have read in a long long time. It would be a good family read aloud with much to discuss. I couldn’t put it down.
Ephesians 6:12-13 NIV “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”
January 25, 2022
Fantastic story about something we all wish we could do a little more of - control our own fate (and that of others?). I was immediately hooked by the world and couldn’t put it down. Rather dark, but a super fun read.
April 1, 2022
Creepiest book for children I have ever, ever read. Invisible friends turn to demons, envy turns to wishing another pain, etc...
Yikes.
I appreciated the essay at the end from Wilkins on why he writes about demons.
Half of the plot you could see coming – coming like the horrible second between a swerving vehicle and the impact.
The other half was unknown, a surprise in a book for this grade level.
Oof.
I'd have to time this one right in reading it to my kids. Don't want to give them nightmares.
Yikes.
I appreciated the essay at the end from Wilkins on why he writes about demons.
Half of the plot you could see coming – coming like the horrible second between a swerving vehicle and the impact.
The other half was unknown, a surprise in a book for this grade level.
Oof.
I'd have to time this one right in reading it to my kids. Don't want to give them nightmares.
Read
March 18, 2025Did not even finish it. Was bored and could not follow the story. Wasn’t for me. Beautiful book cover though :)
January 28, 2023
Hush Hush is an enchanting middle-grade fantasy (horror?) story flavored by a blend of small town southern Mississippi and Cajun/Creole cultures with every quirky nuance you might expect and more.
I could see, hear, and even smell the characters, the river, the town, the school, and especially Espy’s little home on Alright Hill.
The story and characters open innocently enough and slowly unfold, which raised the creep-out factor for me and held it a bit at bay for my kids.
Espy, while hard to like at times, definitely draws out my compassion. Her desire is the same desire of every young girl—all she wants is a friend. Unfortunately, she can’t see the flesh and blood friend in front of her eyes, and she’s willing to traipse into darkness to gain the friendships she wants.
This is a story of how desire when fully grown gives birth to sin, how darkness seduces with false promises of power and knowledge, and how the only way to win against the flesh and the devil is to die.
The pacing is excellent. Every night, my kids clamored for another chapter or two, and when it was time to close the book, they expressed frustration that Mr. Wilkins was such a good writer and wouldn’t let them go to sleep in peace.
Hush Hush is admittedly scary, but I think it’s great for kids. Like Remy’s first book Strays, Hush Hush includes demons and dark magic, a clash between light and darkness, good and evil that is never confused, convoluted, or uncertain about itself and is interwoven with themes of besetting sin, sacrifice, death, and resurrection.
.
Kids these days know the world is a scary place, so they need to learn how to master the wrong kind of fear and cultivate the right kind. Stories of value can help them do that.
.
So bring on the Faints and the Boo Hag and the hoodoo and the triumph of self-denial and repentance. Teach my kids that demons are real and are full of manipulative, intimidating tricks, but only One Being in the universe is worthy of fear, submission, obedience, love, and worship.
I could see, hear, and even smell the characters, the river, the town, the school, and especially Espy’s little home on Alright Hill.
The story and characters open innocently enough and slowly unfold, which raised the creep-out factor for me and held it a bit at bay for my kids.
Espy, while hard to like at times, definitely draws out my compassion. Her desire is the same desire of every young girl—all she wants is a friend. Unfortunately, she can’t see the flesh and blood friend in front of her eyes, and she’s willing to traipse into darkness to gain the friendships she wants.
This is a story of how desire when fully grown gives birth to sin, how darkness seduces with false promises of power and knowledge, and how the only way to win against the flesh and the devil is to die.
The pacing is excellent. Every night, my kids clamored for another chapter or two, and when it was time to close the book, they expressed frustration that Mr. Wilkins was such a good writer and wouldn’t let them go to sleep in peace.
Hush Hush is admittedly scary, but I think it’s great for kids. Like Remy’s first book Strays, Hush Hush includes demons and dark magic, a clash between light and darkness, good and evil that is never confused, convoluted, or uncertain about itself and is interwoven with themes of besetting sin, sacrifice, death, and resurrection.
.
Kids these days know the world is a scary place, so they need to learn how to master the wrong kind of fear and cultivate the right kind. Stories of value can help them do that.
.
So bring on the Faints and the Boo Hag and the hoodoo and the triumph of self-denial and repentance. Teach my kids that demons are real and are full of manipulative, intimidating tricks, but only One Being in the universe is worthy of fear, submission, obedience, love, and worship.
January 3, 2022
Creepier than Strays, but just as exciting. I stayed up WAY too late reading this one! I loved the dominion vs. domination distinction in the story between the beauty of magic that is hidden in creation and the manipulation of that magic for selfish gain. I wish I’d read a book like this in middle school or high school. There is so much wish-fulfillment of making others like you, making the cute guy fall for you, getting back at the mean girl, becoming the most popular/successful… it almost started to seem like a good idea. *yikes* But then the image of Silas raising her up and offering to give her the world was so much like Satan’s temptation of Christ - it reassured me that it wasn’t going the way of all terrible teen movies. And it didn’t. Get this book for your teenager.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 18, 2025
Not for Kids
While the author is Christian this book lacks biblical realities and focuses heavily on demonic power and Hoodoo. I have no problem with looking at the evil and understanding the reality of spiritual warfare however this book doesn’t have a hero or a winner. The main character practices witchcraft and doesn’t repent, isn’t given the gospel and continues to use witchcraft for “good”. The main character ends the story in the same spiritual bondage and is left thinking her own merit will save her in the end (with personal inconvenience and penance).
Overall very Roman Catholic and very dark themes. Good story telling though.
While the author is Christian this book lacks biblical realities and focuses heavily on demonic power and Hoodoo. I have no problem with looking at the evil and understanding the reality of spiritual warfare however this book doesn’t have a hero or a winner. The main character practices witchcraft and doesn’t repent, isn’t given the gospel and continues to use witchcraft for “good”. The main character ends the story in the same spiritual bondage and is left thinking her own merit will save her in the end (with personal inconvenience and penance).
Overall very Roman Catholic and very dark themes. Good story telling though.
July 3, 2023
Overall this was pretty good. I just wasn’t a fan of the plot, and that’s my own preference, not a reflection on this author’s writing. It didn’t grab me. But regarding his writing, he did tend to “tell” rather than “show” in a lot of places, which I think took away from the story. The point I got from this book was that the devil only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. And he does a whole lot of manipulation and deception to accomplish that.
March 26, 2023
Are you tired of YA books that have the sole purpose of trying to indoctrinate kids into gender ideology? Hush Hush is a story that is still enjoyable for adults while being solidly aimed at the YA audience. The main character, Espy, faces relatable circumstances that put serious ethical choices in front of her. The subject matter is dark but so is the world. Heads up for parents: there is a short article at the end of the book on why the author writes these types of stories. This can help you walk through the books events with your YA reader. I enjoyed the book. Hush Hush is a recommend.
January 8, 2022
"Winning should be hard, and sometimes losing makes winning better. People don't just want to win. They want to sometimes win, and they want it to be hard because it isn't worth it if it's easy"
I’m not really a horror movie/book guy. Often, they are made up of a paper-thin plot, underdeveloped characters, and an unhealthy fascination with gore and vice. As such, the idea of presenting scary stories for young readers would seem to be an odd, even harmful choice. However, In Hush Hush, Remy Wilkins shows us how a healthy sense of fear can actually cultivate an appreciation of the good and revulsion of evil.
Espy in her struggle to establish real friendships reaches out to the imaginary – or so it seems at first. She spends the majority of her time with her invisible friend Silas along the banks of the Mississippi, free from the fear of rejection from others. If only he could talk back. Upon the arrival of the mysterious Mr Tonka, Espy is introduced to a remarkable new power that has the potential to make her imaginative creation a reality – but at what cost?
Many of us can recall our own fear and insecurity of starting High School, and I think it is brilliantly captured here. Reading this, I recalled periods in my life where I felt tremendous pressure from my peers (kids can be quite savage to each other). More than this, the story explores how these very natural fears, coupled with the desire for popularity, respect, and friendship can, if we are not careful, lead us to be very susceptible to temptation. The promise of power is enticing, and it is enough to turn the susceptible into cunning and deceptive manipulators.
The novel has a real cinematic feel to it. I've never had the pleasure of experiencing the culture of the American South in person, but part of me now feels like I have to some degree. I felt absorbed into the richly described small-town of Whisper, situated on a small island along the Mississippi. Remy also vividly constructs a complex yet fascinating power system that is used quite creatively in both the slower moments and the more intense action scenes. Think of the Force from Star Wars if it was rooted in the culture of the American South.
I do think some parents might be a little turned off by this book, but I would recommend sticking with it. The first act is steeped in a subtle feeling of dread and a deep sense that something is not quite right. Without giving too much away, a wicked and supernatural threat is slowly unraveled leading to some pretty terrifying scenes. Some Brave New World themes are also explored, highlighting how many would give up their will for continual comfort. There is no gore or sadistic violence - rather, we are presented with a heart-pounding story that points to the very real spiritual warfare that Christians must daily face.
Hush Hush scares, captivates, and challenges.
I’m not really a horror movie/book guy. Often, they are made up of a paper-thin plot, underdeveloped characters, and an unhealthy fascination with gore and vice. As such, the idea of presenting scary stories for young readers would seem to be an odd, even harmful choice. However, In Hush Hush, Remy Wilkins shows us how a healthy sense of fear can actually cultivate an appreciation of the good and revulsion of evil.
Espy in her struggle to establish real friendships reaches out to the imaginary – or so it seems at first. She spends the majority of her time with her invisible friend Silas along the banks of the Mississippi, free from the fear of rejection from others. If only he could talk back. Upon the arrival of the mysterious Mr Tonka, Espy is introduced to a remarkable new power that has the potential to make her imaginative creation a reality – but at what cost?
Many of us can recall our own fear and insecurity of starting High School, and I think it is brilliantly captured here. Reading this, I recalled periods in my life where I felt tremendous pressure from my peers (kids can be quite savage to each other). More than this, the story explores how these very natural fears, coupled with the desire for popularity, respect, and friendship can, if we are not careful, lead us to be very susceptible to temptation. The promise of power is enticing, and it is enough to turn the susceptible into cunning and deceptive manipulators.
The novel has a real cinematic feel to it. I've never had the pleasure of experiencing the culture of the American South in person, but part of me now feels like I have to some degree. I felt absorbed into the richly described small-town of Whisper, situated on a small island along the Mississippi. Remy also vividly constructs a complex yet fascinating power system that is used quite creatively in both the slower moments and the more intense action scenes. Think of the Force from Star Wars if it was rooted in the culture of the American South.
I do think some parents might be a little turned off by this book, but I would recommend sticking with it. The first act is steeped in a subtle feeling of dread and a deep sense that something is not quite right. Without giving too much away, a wicked and supernatural threat is slowly unraveled leading to some pretty terrifying scenes. Some Brave New World themes are also explored, highlighting how many would give up their will for continual comfort. There is no gore or sadistic violence - rather, we are presented with a heart-pounding story that points to the very real spiritual warfare that Christians must daily face.
Hush Hush scares, captivates, and challenges.
January 27, 2023
Beautifully written book, with a very interesting plot. Normally I wouldn’t be interested in reading about literal demons, but, this author is a Christian and he presents them as they should be presented: truly evil. He parallels them with the good and the light, and shows how easy it is for them to whisper in our ear and wiggle into our lives, and how we don’t see what they truly are until they are destroying us. This book, while well done and well presented, was just really strange in general, but I guess when you write about demons and the supernatural you should expect that XD. Also, in the last couple chapters, things were wrapped up WAY too quickly for my taste. It seemed like everything went back to normal, and all was perfect and well, even after everything that had happened, which is, frankly, just not realistic. All in all, I did enjoy reading this book.
January 19, 2022
Hush Hush was an amazing read. Just the right amount of creepy supernatural I’ve come to expect from Remy Wilkins. This is the kind of book where you want to get to the end because you want to know how it ends but at the same time you want to stop and savor each page, peeling back the layers. Hush Hush is a story about a girl, Epsy, moving to the small town he mom grew up in and has trouble making friends; so she talks to her imaginary friend and one day that friend talks back. It’s a story about friendship and souls, lies and truth, and sometimes the biggest lies are the ones we tell ourselves.
February 4, 2022
I pre read this before handing it to my younger kiddos.
Maybe I should simmer on this longer. Wilkins writes creepy books and he does it fairly well.
I stopped reading and researched the hoodoo magic described in the story. My more sensitive children will not enjoy the creepy body snatcher vibe. I will have to read it aloud to them.
The main character, Espy, lives out the consequences of her choices and they are severe. She eventually exhibits bravery and grows in virtue. I loved this part of the story.
I wasn’t satisfied with the ending. Maybe there is a sequel in the works.
Maybe I should simmer on this longer. Wilkins writes creepy books and he does it fairly well.
I stopped reading and researched the hoodoo magic described in the story. My more sensitive children will not enjoy the creepy body snatcher vibe. I will have to read it aloud to them.
The main character, Espy, lives out the consequences of her choices and they are severe. She eventually exhibits bravery and grows in virtue. I loved this part of the story.
I wasn’t satisfied with the ending. Maybe there is a sequel in the works.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 2, 2022
Very good. Enjoyed his writing. Loved it
October 11, 2022
Creepy. And good.
June 12, 2024
I really wanted to like this as much as Strays but the spooky factor had me putting the book down for a break. Wilkins hits the nail on the head when describing how spiritually lazy Americans are.
“Deep down, they just want to be happy, and they don’t want to have to work for it. Deep down, they just want life to be easy.” Pg. 280
Overall good defeats evil but I did get a little lost. Apparently Bondye (God) doesn’t come to help at all? It’s just simply a girl and she can decide whether or not to let the town be overrun with demons. Also a little confused on if using the lines is a good thing or a bad thing. She continues to use them for good but I feel like that is just playing with fire.
“Deep down, they just want to be happy, and they don’t want to have to work for it. Deep down, they just want life to be easy.” Pg. 280
Overall good defeats evil but I did get a little lost. Apparently Bondye (God) doesn’t come to help at all? It’s just simply a girl and she can decide whether or not to let the town be overrun with demons. Also a little confused on if using the lines is a good thing or a bad thing. She continues to use them for good but I feel like that is just playing with fire.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 30, 2023
While I agree with the author's premise and intent in this book (of teaching the kids the dangers of toying with demons and darkness), I feel like it majorly missed the mark. Things were alluded to vaguely and unclear, which came across confusingly. I felt like the story lacked depth and character development. It was a hard book for my kids and I to get through for various reasons, and I almost quit several times. The pace did pick up more as you neared the end, but not enough to really redeem the read.
May 28, 2022
While I did enjoy the story and the creep factor, a lot of it fell flat to me. Some characters and plot lines were lacking and others were built and then just dropped. The ending felt quick and left me unsatisfied. However it left an impression on me.
January 17, 2026
final fight was a tiny bit shorter then I'd like but otherwise a fantastic and frightening book.
September 13, 2024
Want a good clean horror story? Here you go.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews