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They Whisper About Us
One tea tin
Owned by one girl
Found by another
Over half a century later.
What mysteries does it hide
They Whisper About Us is a Young Adult novel (although adults love it too). It has a dual timeline and is set in Leningrad, in the former Soviet Union, in 1962, and Lincoln, England, in the present day. It tells the story of Vera, an up-and-coming ballerina who finds herself drawn into a life she never wanted, and Fay, a teenage Pastor’s Kid, who is trying to make a life for herself as far away from her parents’ faith as possible. These two girls’ lives are connected by a small tin box. But what did it hold, and how did it end up at the back of a musty cupboard?
Owned by one girl
Found by another
Over half a century later.
What mysteries does it hide
They Whisper About Us is a Young Adult novel (although adults love it too). It has a dual timeline and is set in Leningrad, in the former Soviet Union, in 1962, and Lincoln, England, in the present day. It tells the story of Vera, an up-and-coming ballerina who finds herself drawn into a life she never wanted, and Fay, a teenage Pastor’s Kid, who is trying to make a life for herself as far away from her parents’ faith as possible. These two girls’ lives are connected by a small tin box. But what did it hold, and how did it end up at the back of a musty cupboard?
267 pages, Paperback
Published April 4, 2022
18 people want to read
About the author
Joy Vee
19 books9 followersI love books - As a child, I used to be naughty just to get sent to my room, where I'd snuggle up with another good book (Mum soon cottoned on!).
I still love reading, and think ebooks are the best invention ever - meaning I'm always reading whenever I have a spare moment and often well into the night.
I've now started writing. I write for children, but am branching out into the world of YA, under the watchful and scathing eye of my teenage daughter.
My world-view comes into my writing, and so my work is faith-based and real.
I still love reading, and think ebooks are the best invention ever - meaning I'm always reading whenever I have a spare moment and often well into the night.
I've now started writing. I write for children, but am branching out into the world of YA, under the watchful and scathing eye of my teenage daughter.
My world-view comes into my writing, and so my work is faith-based and real.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 25, 2022
This Young Adult novel is a timely, poignant dual-timeline story. From Vera’s story of teenage life in 1960s Leningrad to Fay’s story of teenage life in present day Lincoln. Fay finds an old tea tin as she clears out a cupboard in a theatre. But she has no idea of the secrets it holds and just how much it will change her life. Vera lives a life of fear and secrets in Russia, never knowing who to trust. This is a wonderful read that you won’t be able to put down.
March 5, 2024
I read this book as part of a challenge. Joy Vee is a new author to me. It was a dual timeline book with the historical storyline taking place in Russia in 1963 and the other storyline in the current day. It is the story of Vera a Russian teenager and her family and what life is like in Leningrad Russia during the early 60's. It is a wonderful and fascinating read. It was a book that took me through a full range of emotions. There is a bit of a mystery connecting the two timelines. I really liked both MC's, Vera and Faith. Christian faith and how believers were viewed during that time in Russian history plays a big role in this story. I am very eager to read the second book since it appears to be a continuation of the first.
April 11, 2022
For readers 13+, young adults and adults
A promising ballerina, dancing for the Kirov Ballet in 1960’s USSR. A modern day teenager trying to find out who she really is and what life is all about. What connects the two? A battered old tea tin full of letters written in Russian, and a pair of old ballet shoes, found deep inside a store cupboard in a theatre in Lincoln.
As the story and the mystery of the connection between the two unfolds, we are drawn into the not so distant past; a world of fear and uncertainty, where to be different is to be treated with suspicion. In the modern day the author deals well with the angst of teenage insecurities and family dynamics, as well as touching on themes of aging and dementia with sensitivity. The characters are engaging and the description of places and events believable. It is a faith based book but the Christian message is subtly done, and completely in context.
They Whisper About Us is an compelling and emotional story with themes that resonate with the world of today. A great read.
‘The Letters She Never Sent’ by the same author is a companion book, designed for younger readers
A promising ballerina, dancing for the Kirov Ballet in 1960’s USSR. A modern day teenager trying to find out who she really is and what life is all about. What connects the two? A battered old tea tin full of letters written in Russian, and a pair of old ballet shoes, found deep inside a store cupboard in a theatre in Lincoln.
As the story and the mystery of the connection between the two unfolds, we are drawn into the not so distant past; a world of fear and uncertainty, where to be different is to be treated with suspicion. In the modern day the author deals well with the angst of teenage insecurities and family dynamics, as well as touching on themes of aging and dementia with sensitivity. The characters are engaging and the description of places and events believable. It is a faith based book but the Christian message is subtly done, and completely in context.
They Whisper About Us is an compelling and emotional story with themes that resonate with the world of today. A great read.
‘The Letters She Never Sent’ by the same author is a companion book, designed for younger readers
April 3, 2023
Although this title is listed as being suitable for youngsters aged between thirteen and eighteen, I believe it would appeal to readers of all ages. My previous experiences of so-called young adult fiction left me disappointed by their use of childish language and weak storylines, but this book made me eager to read more.
They Whisper About Us is a fictional tale of two young girls, one living in modern times, and the other residing in Russia in the nineteen-sixties, who share more than just a name. When Fay finds an old tea tin in a store cupboard at the theatre, she has no idea of the secrets it will disclose. The Christian faith she grew up with as a legacy from her parents and grandparents no longer seems to make sense, and the teenager needs some proof that the God she’s always heard about is real, and not just a figment of her family’s imaginations.
Meanwhile, the story of the Russian ballet dancer Vera told in flashbacks introduces us to a world of secrecy and suspicion. The walls have ears, and Christians are seen as a threat to the people. Yet a visit to her grandmother shows Vera a glimpse of life as she never thought it could be and is the catalyst for a string of events that will change her family’s lives forever.
Fay and Vera grow up decades apart in seemingly opposing worlds, but some of the issues they face are not so different. Fay is mistreated and ostracised by her drama group, while Vera experiences similar treatment at the ballet. Both girls are devoted to their families, although vera acts as primary caregiver for her younger siblings, while Fay’s concern is for her elderly grandfather who suffers from dementia and resides in a care home.
As Fay and her parents uncover the secrets hidden in the tea tin, we wonder if many decades of prayers are about to be answered.
I truly loved this book, and was moved to tears, particularly at the end. The story is totally believable and evidences the power of God to make the impossible happen. However, although it is a story of faith, I would happily recommend it to those who do not profess to be Christians, as I believe no one could fail to be drawn in by the author’s powerful and empathetic story-telling technique. I also found it fascinating from a historical perspective, as it gives a vivid insight into life in Russia during the time period in which it is set. It is a real page-turner.
I loved all of the characters, not just the two main protagonists. This is another aspect I admired, as by the end of the book, I felt I knew them all as friends. Even the lesser characters like Fay’s parents and Vera’s younger brother and sisters were vividly brought to life. I was fully invested in them too and was disappointed at the end when not all of my questions were answered.
I look forward to reading more books by this author, especially the Letter She Did Not Send, which is a companion to They Whisper about us. I am aware that this second book was written for younger children, but having already read the first chapter, I am already convinced I will enjoy it.
They Whisper About Us is a fictional tale of two young girls, one living in modern times, and the other residing in Russia in the nineteen-sixties, who share more than just a name. When Fay finds an old tea tin in a store cupboard at the theatre, she has no idea of the secrets it will disclose. The Christian faith she grew up with as a legacy from her parents and grandparents no longer seems to make sense, and the teenager needs some proof that the God she’s always heard about is real, and not just a figment of her family’s imaginations.
Meanwhile, the story of the Russian ballet dancer Vera told in flashbacks introduces us to a world of secrecy and suspicion. The walls have ears, and Christians are seen as a threat to the people. Yet a visit to her grandmother shows Vera a glimpse of life as she never thought it could be and is the catalyst for a string of events that will change her family’s lives forever.
Fay and Vera grow up decades apart in seemingly opposing worlds, but some of the issues they face are not so different. Fay is mistreated and ostracised by her drama group, while Vera experiences similar treatment at the ballet. Both girls are devoted to their families, although vera acts as primary caregiver for her younger siblings, while Fay’s concern is for her elderly grandfather who suffers from dementia and resides in a care home.
As Fay and her parents uncover the secrets hidden in the tea tin, we wonder if many decades of prayers are about to be answered.
I truly loved this book, and was moved to tears, particularly at the end. The story is totally believable and evidences the power of God to make the impossible happen. However, although it is a story of faith, I would happily recommend it to those who do not profess to be Christians, as I believe no one could fail to be drawn in by the author’s powerful and empathetic story-telling technique. I also found it fascinating from a historical perspective, as it gives a vivid insight into life in Russia during the time period in which it is set. It is a real page-turner.
I loved all of the characters, not just the two main protagonists. This is another aspect I admired, as by the end of the book, I felt I knew them all as friends. Even the lesser characters like Fay’s parents and Vera’s younger brother and sisters were vividly brought to life. I was fully invested in them too and was disappointed at the end when not all of my questions were answered.
I look forward to reading more books by this author, especially the Letter She Did Not Send, which is a companion to They Whisper about us. I am aware that this second book was written for younger children, but having already read the first chapter, I am already convinced I will enjoy it.
May 12, 2022
Joy Vee’s ‘They Whisper About Us’ is quite a fascinating, interesting and a thrilling read from the beginning to the end. It is the first in the Petrov series and I will eagerly read the next book, ‘THE LETTERS SHE NEVER SENT’! The prologue hooks the reader in with promise of an absorbing read. The writer uses her marvellous skill to bring her relatable characters to life in an enthralling plot and a very moving story line. It is a story that unravels years of silence, secrets, sadness, tragedy, mysteries from the aftermath of a war. Vera and Fay’s story run side by side in a plot that shows how they both got their faith in unusual circumstances and how they are crucial in unlocking a big mystery and secret in the story. Vera’s brother, Artyom, mentions the title of this story for the first time and readers at this point will be so saddened at how a loving family became tainted and separated because Vera visited family in the village to get healed of an injured ankle.
This is a book that reminded me of Anne Fine’s Diary. Its themes of strong family bonding, relationships, Dementia, pain, loss, separation and reunion are evident as the story was written to reflect the reign of terror during the Russian Revolution. Christians were seen as ‘An enemy of the people’! This is a story that shows that God has a purpose in our lives even when we have setbacks. A well written story and powerfully told bringing out the subtleties of life, the evil of human nature, the power of love and the faithfulness of God who makes all things work for our good. Definitely worth its 5 stars.
This is a book that reminded me of Anne Fine’s Diary. Its themes of strong family bonding, relationships, Dementia, pain, loss, separation and reunion are evident as the story was written to reflect the reign of terror during the Russian Revolution. Christians were seen as ‘An enemy of the people’! This is a story that shows that God has a purpose in our lives even when we have setbacks. A well written story and powerfully told bringing out the subtleties of life, the evil of human nature, the power of love and the faithfulness of God who makes all things work for our good. Definitely worth its 5 stars.
March 10, 2024
They Whisper About Us is a March read for the 2024 International Reading Challenge (50 Books minus One). Joy Vee is a new to this reader British author, who writes books to inspire young people to have the greatest adventures in life and eternal truths. The dual time line and setting story is well crafted and easy to read and follow. The story is NOT just for YOUNG Adults. The main character VERA lives in Leningrad (originally St. Petersburg), Soviet Union (Russia) in the early 1960s, while FAY lives in modern day England. While Fay is cleaning out the theater closet (storage area), she discovers a tea tin and ballerina slippers. They whisper About Us is a mystery and has some romance. In her author's notes Joy Vee gives a concise history of Russia and the Soviet Union, Stalin, gulags, KGB (Secret Police), suspicion of neighbors. Also included is an explanation of Russian names and pronunciation guide of Russian words. They Whisper About Us is inspiring, emotional, and educational. Also enjoy Book 2 in the series The Letters She Never Sent (continuing Vera's story).
July 16, 2023
It's no secret that a well written YA book can appeal to adults just as much as teenagers. This is one such book - I loved it. The historical Russian backdrop was poignantly brought to life without making me feel I was in a dry history lecture. And I found the modern day faith of Fay's family to be realistic and refreshingly un-cliched. The whole story is beautifully told and I would gladly recommend this book to anyone, young or old.
December 5, 2022
I love this book. It is such a delicious read, with a dual timeline plot that comes together in such a satisfying way. Although it is a YA novel, it will be enjoyed by anyone who loves stories set in different cultures and who loves stories of relationships against a background of political fear and suspicion in Russia and in the UK.
May 23, 2023
A time slip, historic novel set in Russia and modern day England.
Two girls connect through an old tea tin, producing a link between two opposite girls.
Full of emotion, heart-wrenching and beautiful, it’s a perfect read for all girls.
Two girls connect through an old tea tin, producing a link between two opposite girls.
Full of emotion, heart-wrenching and beautiful, it’s a perfect read for all girls.
March 13, 2024
Gripping
Joy is such a good story teller. She had me gripped from beginning to the end. A wonderful story of faith and love, across the generations and continents. Now to read the sequel.
Joy is such a good story teller. She had me gripped from beginning to the end. A wonderful story of faith and love, across the generations and continents. Now to read the sequel.
March 23, 2024
unique duel time line, Unique setting
I loved reading this engaging and well written story. I particularly like that it is Christian fiction set in Russia and England. A pleasant change from the usual.
I loved reading this engaging and well written story. I particularly like that it is Christian fiction set in Russia and England. A pleasant change from the usual.
March 22, 2024
excellent story
I’ve learned a lot about some of Russia’s history reading this book. I loved how the stories intertwined and eventually everything became clear.
I’ve learned a lot about some of Russia’s history reading this book. I loved how the stories intertwined and eventually everything became clear.
March 24, 2024
Joy Vee is a new to me author. I really enjoyed reading They Whisper About Us. It is a story of a young woman discovering faith behind the Iron Curtain in the 1960s and also a tale of a young woman looking for her faith in modern England. I look forward to reading more books by Mary Vee.
So make some Russian tea and settle back to read a good book!
All thoughts are my own.
So make some Russian tea and settle back to read a good book!
All thoughts are my own.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews