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The House That Whispers
From the author of The Best Liars in Riverview comes a subtle exploration of gender identity, family, and the personal ghosts that haunt us all, perfect for fans of Kyle Lukoff and Ashley Herring Blake.
Eleven-year-old Simon and his siblings, Talia and Rose, are staying the week at Nanaleen's century-old house. This time, though, it’s not their usual summer vacation trip. In fact, everything’s different. It’s fall, not summer. Mom and Dad are staying behind to have a “talk.” And Nanaleen’s house smells weird, plus she keeps forgetting things. And these aren’t the only things getting under Simon’s skin: He’s the only one who knows that his name is Simon, and that he and him pronouns are starting to feel right. But he’s not ready to add to the changes that are already in motion in his family.
To make matters worse, Simon keeps hearing a scratching in the walls, and shadows are beginning to build in the corners. He can’t shake the feeling that something is deeply wrong…and he’s determined to get to the bottom of it—which means launching a ghost hunt, with or without his sisters’ help. When Simon discovers the hidden story of his great-aunt Brie, he realizes that Brie’s life might hold answers to some of his worries. Is Brie’s ghost haunting the old O’Hagan house? And will Simon’s search for ghosts turn up more secrets than he ever expected?
Eleven-year-old Simon and his siblings, Talia and Rose, are staying the week at Nanaleen's century-old house. This time, though, it’s not their usual summer vacation trip. In fact, everything’s different. It’s fall, not summer. Mom and Dad are staying behind to have a “talk.” And Nanaleen’s house smells weird, plus she keeps forgetting things. And these aren’t the only things getting under Simon’s skin: He’s the only one who knows that his name is Simon, and that he and him pronouns are starting to feel right. But he’s not ready to add to the changes that are already in motion in his family.
To make matters worse, Simon keeps hearing a scratching in the walls, and shadows are beginning to build in the corners. He can’t shake the feeling that something is deeply wrong…and he’s determined to get to the bottom of it—which means launching a ghost hunt, with or without his sisters’ help. When Simon discovers the hidden story of his great-aunt Brie, he realizes that Brie’s life might hold answers to some of his worries. Is Brie’s ghost haunting the old O’Hagan house? And will Simon’s search for ghosts turn up more secrets than he ever expected?
336 pages, Hardcover
First published February 28, 2023
About the author
Lin Thompson
2 books54 followersLin Thompson (they/them) is a former children's librarian, a Lambda Literary Fellow, and the author of two books for middle-grade readers: The Best Liars in Riverview (Little, Brown, 2022), which was a JLG Gold Standard selection and appeared on the 2023 ALA Rainbow List, and The House That Whispers (Little, Brown, 2023), also a JLG Gold Standard selection. Lin grew up playing pretend games in the backyard and basement of their home in Kentucky. Now they get to write pretend stories in the backyard and basement of their home in Iowa, where they live with their wife and cat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
May 22, 2023
This is a lovely middle grade story about an 11-year-old trans kid who hasn't come out to anyone but himself yet who is also dealing with his parents' possible separation, growing up and maybe apart from his two sisters, and his grandma having early stages of dementia. He ends up kind of projecting his anxieties onto his grandma's old house, suspecting it's being haunted.
My favourite part was the sibling dynamics. I loved how they supported each other and talked things through even when they had been hurting or neglecting each other. I thought the first half could have been trimmed a bit, but otherwise, no complaints!
This had very "Now and Then" vibes (tweens researching local history, there's even a seance!), but make it queer and trans.
My favourite part was the sibling dynamics. I loved how they supported each other and talked things through even when they had been hurting or neglecting each other. I thought the first half could have been trimmed a bit, but otherwise, no complaints!
This had very "Now and Then" vibes (tweens researching local history, there's even a seance!), but make it queer and trans.
December 11, 2023
This was really fun and charming and handled Simon's trans identity in such a simple, loving, hopeful way. I would have loved to have had a story like this when I was a kid and I'm glad it exists now, especially framed in such a fun little mystery and with a really honest and age appropriate experience of Family Issues, both current and past. Simon's a great narrator and I was so glad to spend the time with him!
March 13, 2023
Absolutely loved this lyrical coming of age middle grade mystery from author Lin Thompson.
Simon is such an amazing character, dealing with parental separation, an elder with dementia symptoms, siblings growing apart, and gender identity.
I loved how Simon would "correct" internally his name and pronouns until he is ready to share his truth, and I related to the struggle with feeling emotions instead of bottling them up. I felt the mystery of the ghost in the house was a powerful metaphor for bottled emotions.
Really enjoyed this queer middle grade novel!
Simon is such an amazing character, dealing with parental separation, an elder with dementia symptoms, siblings growing apart, and gender identity.
I loved how Simon would "correct" internally his name and pronouns until he is ready to share his truth, and I related to the struggle with feeling emotions instead of bottling them up. I felt the mystery of the ghost in the house was a powerful metaphor for bottled emotions.
Really enjoyed this queer middle grade novel!
January 26, 2026
Honestly. 0 stars. I was asked to read this book to see if it was appropriate for 5th and 6th graders. And NO. this is a book about an 11 year wanting to be transgender and she is convinced her grandmas house is full of ghost so she tried to have a seance with her sisters and when it doesn’t work she finds out her aunt ran away because she was a lesbian and her sister is a lesbian and she realized the ghosts she feels is just anxiety from hiding her secret about wanting to be a boy. When she tells her family, everyone lives happily ever after.
Child don’t need indoctrinated with this at age 11. Honestly at any age as I don’t believe in any of that. But if I can stop one book from entering the library of already confused kids, then I will.
Child don’t need indoctrinated with this at age 11. Honestly at any age as I don’t believe in any of that. But if I can stop one book from entering the library of already confused kids, then I will.
June 18, 2024
Simon chose his name a while ago, but since then, it's been a secret name, and he hasn't wanted to be a bother so hasn't corrected anyone when they call him a girl and use his old name. Well, in the meantime, Simon and his two sisters are sent to their grandma's for a week. This is a vacation, in theory, but Mom and Dad aren't coming: they have some stuff they need to "talk about" without the kids present. But the vacation isn't working out well. Grandma's house is creepier than usual, making weird sounds and smells. Additionally, the sisters aren't all getting along, and Grandma isn't quite acting like herself. Are they being haunted, or is there an even more serious problem going on?
This book has a strong sense of voice and just the right amount of spookiness. The ending was a little bit of a letdown after all the supernatural elements I was anticipating, but it concluded a lot of things well, and the queer representation was well done. Definitely an engaging read, but it's not quite what I was looking for in the middle of summer. I recommend this one for a nice autumn read that isn't too scary but has some frightening tense moments.
This book has a strong sense of voice and just the right amount of spookiness. The ending was a little bit of a letdown after all the supernatural elements I was anticipating, but it concluded a lot of things well, and the queer representation was well done. Definitely an engaging read, but it's not quite what I was looking for in the middle of summer. I recommend this one for a nice autumn read that isn't too scary but has some frightening tense moments.
February 6, 2023
A preteen trans boy spends a week at his grandma's creepy old house and has to figure out if the house is really being haunted and by who. He and his two sisters (one older, one younger) are spending time with their grandma while their parents "figure things out" between themselves.. not fun vibes for such young kids to be picking up on :(
No one knows Simon is trans, except him, and he self-edits everyone's speaking to show that his correct name and pronouns are being used, even when they aren't. I'm really happy for this decision from the author as it drives home for kids how trans people don't just see themselves a little differently, they truly do live as the gender that they've transitioned to.
Simon's older sister is spending a lot of time away from him and their younger sister, and it's upsetting Simon. But he and his younger sister start spending a lot of time trying to prove the spooky old house is haunted.
Another realistic aspect of Simon's situation is the growing rage he's bottling. Rage at being misgendered, rage at his relationship with his sister for changing, rage about his parents and their potential divorce, rage about his grandma's aging and health declines... he has no outlet for the anger and it builds up in him over the course of the week until he explodes. I hope that it's not only relatable for kids, but that it also is a cautionary tale that shows us that talking about our problems before we get to that point is so beneficial.
Simon has a lot of stressors in his life, but they all feel realistic and blend together well over the course of his time at his grandma's. He and his sister spend time learning about their grandma's sister, their great-aunt, who was maybe queer and maybe exiled from the family, and learning the family history is really soothing to Simon who finds a kindred spirit in his long-lost aunt.
A good story for middle graders about coping, about gender identity, and about how sometimes the really spooky stuff is the problems we avoid. Overall a definite win.
No one knows Simon is trans, except him, and he self-edits everyone's speaking to show that his correct name and pronouns are being used, even when they aren't. I'm really happy for this decision from the author as it drives home for kids how trans people don't just see themselves a little differently, they truly do live as the gender that they've transitioned to.
Simon's older sister is spending a lot of time away from him and their younger sister, and it's upsetting Simon. But he and his younger sister start spending a lot of time trying to prove the spooky old house is haunted.
Another realistic aspect of Simon's situation is the growing rage he's bottling. Rage at being misgendered, rage at his relationship with his sister for changing, rage about his parents and their potential divorce, rage about his grandma's aging and health declines... he has no outlet for the anger and it builds up in him over the course of the week until he explodes. I hope that it's not only relatable for kids, but that it also is a cautionary tale that shows us that talking about our problems before we get to that point is so beneficial.
Simon has a lot of stressors in his life, but they all feel realistic and blend together well over the course of his time at his grandma's. He and his sister spend time learning about their grandma's sister, their great-aunt, who was maybe queer and maybe exiled from the family, and learning the family history is really soothing to Simon who finds a kindred spirit in his long-lost aunt.
A good story for middle graders about coping, about gender identity, and about how sometimes the really spooky stuff is the problems we avoid. Overall a definite win.
March 14, 2023
A great book about a maybe haunted house and an even more haunted family history that slowly unravels as a trip of siblings stay with their grandma for a week. A lot of “ghosts” of unspoken tensions around identity, family drama and siblings aging creates a sense of dread so real that Simon believes it’s an actual ghost.
There was so much I loved - not last of all the use of Tetris to explain how things can become overwhelming. The story wrapped up wonderfully and with such satisfaction.
My only complaint is that I figured out many of the mysteries early (but I’m an adult so I get younger audiences may so be surprised by the end!) but as a reader it was just a tad difficult to read Simon continuing to misinterpret things — and I’m only mentioning as a way to ask you to push through if you find yourself also frustrated because the ending is wonderful and validating and full of some honest family conversations that audiences deserve (Ave which truly need to become the norm!).
There was so much I loved - not last of all the use of Tetris to explain how things can become overwhelming. The story wrapped up wonderfully and with such satisfaction.
My only complaint is that I figured out many of the mysteries early (but I’m an adult so I get younger audiences may so be surprised by the end!) but as a reader it was just a tad difficult to read Simon continuing to misinterpret things — and I’m only mentioning as a way to ask you to push through if you find yourself also frustrated because the ending is wonderful and validating and full of some honest family conversations that audiences deserve (Ave which truly need to become the norm!).
August 31, 2025
The House That Whispers starts off creepy at first, but it transitions into real-life themes like gender identity, family, changing relationships, and getting older. There’s something in it that everyone can relate to.
March 21, 2023
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The House that Whispers
Author: Lin Thompson
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Trans MC with anxiety, Sapphic characters, Lesbian characters, Character with Dementia
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, paranormal, horror, contemporary, LGBT, queer
Publication Date: February 28, 2023
Genre: MG Paranormal Horror
Age Relevance: 10+ (religion, deadnaming, sexism, illness, ghosts, misgendering, divorce, anxiety, homophobia, transphobia, death)
Explanation of Above: Christianity is mentioned and shown with a scene or two with prayer. There is deadnaming mentioned, but not shown (check written review for details on that) and the same for misgendering. There is some sexism shown and homophobia and transphobia is mentioned and discussed. There are scenes showing dementia. There are mentions of ghosts. There are a couple of scenes of anxiety and anxiety attacks. Divorce is mentioned and death is also briefly mentioned.
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 336
Synopsis: Eleven-year-old Simon and his siblings, Talia and Rose, are staying the week at Nanaleen's century-old house. This time, though, it’s not their usual summer vacation trip. In fact, everything’s different. It’s fall, not summer. Mom and Dad are staying behind to have a “talk.” And Nanaleen’s house smells weird, plus she keeps forgetting things. And these aren’t the only things getting under Simon’s skin: He’s the only one who knows that his name is Simon, and that he and him pronouns are starting to feel right. But he’s not ready to add to the changes that are already in motion in his family.
To make matters worse, Simon keeps hearing a scratching in the walls, and shadows are beginning to build in the corners. He can’t shake the feeling that something is deeply wrong…and he’s determined to get to the bottom of it—which means launching a ghost hunt, with or without his sisters’ help. When Simon discovers the hidden story of his great-aunt Brie, he realizes that Brie’s life might hold answers to some of his worries. Is Brie’s ghost haunting the old O’Hagan house? And will Simon’s search for ghosts turn up more secrets than he ever expected?
Review: This has to be one of the most brilliant books I’ve read in regards to how a trans person’s true identity is displayed in the book while they are still in the closet. The book revolves around our MC who is being sent with his siblings to their grandmother’s home while their parents sort through their crumbling relationship. The MC is not out of the closet yet about being trans, but the author does not allow any of the characters to deadname or misgender him in text. They instead are written having internally processed the dialogue and, with the book as their inner monologue, is substituting their true pronouns and name for what is said to them and about them. I loved that approach to the character because it doesn’t feel right when deadnaming and misgendering occur to a trans character by the author themselves. The side plot of the story, however, revolves around the ghosts that reside in the grandmother’s home, which I really liked as a physical/mental manifestation to the anxiety and secrets that are occurring in the home that are now effecting our MC. The book touches on a lot of topics, such as coming out and being true to you. There is a particular quote in the book that goes something like “you’re allowed to have feelings. You know you don’t have to be happy all the time” and I think that particular quote resonates so well not only with middle graders but also older audiences as well. Beyond the amazing level of commentary in this book, I thought the story itself was well written, compelling, and kept me interested throughout. The book has amazing character development and world building as well.
The only issue I would have to say I had with the book is that I feel like it was a bit unresolved at the end and I wanted a little bit more of an epilogue, but beyond that it was amazing.
Verdict: I love it and highly recommend it!
Book: The House that Whispers
Author: Lin Thompson
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Trans MC with anxiety, Sapphic characters, Lesbian characters, Character with Dementia
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, paranormal, horror, contemporary, LGBT, queer
Publication Date: February 28, 2023
Genre: MG Paranormal Horror
Age Relevance: 10+ (religion, deadnaming, sexism, illness, ghosts, misgendering, divorce, anxiety, homophobia, transphobia, death)
Explanation of Above: Christianity is mentioned and shown with a scene or two with prayer. There is deadnaming mentioned, but not shown (check written review for details on that) and the same for misgendering. There is some sexism shown and homophobia and transphobia is mentioned and discussed. There are scenes showing dementia. There are mentions of ghosts. There are a couple of scenes of anxiety and anxiety attacks. Divorce is mentioned and death is also briefly mentioned.
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 336
Synopsis: Eleven-year-old Simon and his siblings, Talia and Rose, are staying the week at Nanaleen's century-old house. This time, though, it’s not their usual summer vacation trip. In fact, everything’s different. It’s fall, not summer. Mom and Dad are staying behind to have a “talk.” And Nanaleen’s house smells weird, plus she keeps forgetting things. And these aren’t the only things getting under Simon’s skin: He’s the only one who knows that his name is Simon, and that he and him pronouns are starting to feel right. But he’s not ready to add to the changes that are already in motion in his family.
To make matters worse, Simon keeps hearing a scratching in the walls, and shadows are beginning to build in the corners. He can’t shake the feeling that something is deeply wrong…and he’s determined to get to the bottom of it—which means launching a ghost hunt, with or without his sisters’ help. When Simon discovers the hidden story of his great-aunt Brie, he realizes that Brie’s life might hold answers to some of his worries. Is Brie’s ghost haunting the old O’Hagan house? And will Simon’s search for ghosts turn up more secrets than he ever expected?
Review: This has to be one of the most brilliant books I’ve read in regards to how a trans person’s true identity is displayed in the book while they are still in the closet. The book revolves around our MC who is being sent with his siblings to their grandmother’s home while their parents sort through their crumbling relationship. The MC is not out of the closet yet about being trans, but the author does not allow any of the characters to deadname or misgender him in text. They instead are written having internally processed the dialogue and, with the book as their inner monologue, is substituting their true pronouns and name for what is said to them and about them. I loved that approach to the character because it doesn’t feel right when deadnaming and misgendering occur to a trans character by the author themselves. The side plot of the story, however, revolves around the ghosts that reside in the grandmother’s home, which I really liked as a physical/mental manifestation to the anxiety and secrets that are occurring in the home that are now effecting our MC. The book touches on a lot of topics, such as coming out and being true to you. There is a particular quote in the book that goes something like “you’re allowed to have feelings. You know you don’t have to be happy all the time” and I think that particular quote resonates so well not only with middle graders but also older audiences as well. Beyond the amazing level of commentary in this book, I thought the story itself was well written, compelling, and kept me interested throughout. The book has amazing character development and world building as well.
The only issue I would have to say I had with the book is that I feel like it was a bit unresolved at the end and I wanted a little bit more of an epilogue, but beyond that it was amazing.
Verdict: I love it and highly recommend it!
February 28, 2023
Wonderfully written coming-of-age story with a ghostly twist...
Simon and his sisters, Talia and Rose, are spending their Fall break at grandma Nanaleen's house while their parents "talk" about the status of their family. Simon is known for being the easy-going, happy sibling, so he digs deep to hide his anxiety over his parents' fighting and Nanaleen's increasing forgetfulness and episodes of spacing out. He is also trying to work out why "Simon" feels more like his name that his real birthname and why the pronouns "he" and "him" seem to fit better than the ones he was born with. But when Simon starts to feel a dark presence lurking around Nanaleen's house, he tamps down his feelings and distracts himself with figuring out what's haunting his family. On the hunt for a ghost, Simon will confront his own demons and learn it's okay to feel his feelings and be who he wants to be...
Thoughts: This book is one of the few middle-grade and upper-elementary fiction books with a transgender main character, and I'm here for it. There are plenty of arguments out there as to when children should be introduced to LGBTQ+, but I'd just like to say that, as an elementary librarian and former middle and high school librarian, our children learn so much about the world far sooner than adults ever start talking about it with them. And I, for one, appreciate that there are books like this out there for students who are curious or who feel unseen. Author Lin Thompson has written an intelligent and witty ghost story bursting with what it means to be a family, dealing with life changes, and how it feels growing up and realizing who you truly are. Thompson explains Simon's transgender status in such simple terms and analogies that any upper elementary and middle school reader can understand, and that adults might even find enlightening. Love is the central theme of this book and it pours out of every page. At the core, Simon loves his family so fiercely that he doesn't want to do anything to jeopardize their dynamic, including admitting how he really feels both about what's happening around him and what's happening to him. And the ghostly plot is a book-sized metaphor for the strong feelings Simon is experiencing, which so many young readers will be able to relate to and may help them put words to their own strong feelings. Plus, the ghost scenes are so descriptive that readers will picture exactly what Simon sees, sucking them right into the story. I can't wait to add this to my library collection!
**Thank you, NetGalley and publishers, for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.**
Simon and his sisters, Talia and Rose, are spending their Fall break at grandma Nanaleen's house while their parents "talk" about the status of their family. Simon is known for being the easy-going, happy sibling, so he digs deep to hide his anxiety over his parents' fighting and Nanaleen's increasing forgetfulness and episodes of spacing out. He is also trying to work out why "Simon" feels more like his name that his real birthname and why the pronouns "he" and "him" seem to fit better than the ones he was born with. But when Simon starts to feel a dark presence lurking around Nanaleen's house, he tamps down his feelings and distracts himself with figuring out what's haunting his family. On the hunt for a ghost, Simon will confront his own demons and learn it's okay to feel his feelings and be who he wants to be...
Thoughts: This book is one of the few middle-grade and upper-elementary fiction books with a transgender main character, and I'm here for it. There are plenty of arguments out there as to when children should be introduced to LGBTQ+, but I'd just like to say that, as an elementary librarian and former middle and high school librarian, our children learn so much about the world far sooner than adults ever start talking about it with them. And I, for one, appreciate that there are books like this out there for students who are curious or who feel unseen. Author Lin Thompson has written an intelligent and witty ghost story bursting with what it means to be a family, dealing with life changes, and how it feels growing up and realizing who you truly are. Thompson explains Simon's transgender status in such simple terms and analogies that any upper elementary and middle school reader can understand, and that adults might even find enlightening. Love is the central theme of this book and it pours out of every page. At the core, Simon loves his family so fiercely that he doesn't want to do anything to jeopardize their dynamic, including admitting how he really feels both about what's happening around him and what's happening to him. And the ghostly plot is a book-sized metaphor for the strong feelings Simon is experiencing, which so many young readers will be able to relate to and may help them put words to their own strong feelings. Plus, the ghost scenes are so descriptive that readers will picture exactly what Simon sees, sucking them right into the story. I can't wait to add this to my library collection!
**Thank you, NetGalley and publishers, for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.**
March 1, 2023
This book is about Simon, an 11-year-old boy, though only he knows that that’s his name, and that he’s a boy. Simon goes to his grandmother’s house with his two sisters for a week and starts to suspect that the house is haunted.
This is a great book for kids to identify and get familiar with the trans perspective and experience from a kid’s POV. The book is mainly a family drama at its core, and Simon faces many of the family issues most other kids his age would be facing.
It does get very slightly spooky at times but nothing too scary, even for younger readers.
👍
+ I found the pressure that Simon put himself under to make it seem like he was okay, very realistic. He keeps bottling everything up: his concern over what’s happening with his parents, his worries about what’s happening to his aging grandmother, and how he’s continuously less okay and angrier with people not knowing that he’s a boy.
+ The book really drives home the concept that no one has to know you’re trans for you to be trans. You don’t have to look a certain way or do a certain thing to be the gender you are, as long as you know who you are.
+ I loved that this book handles complicated emotions and trusts that kids reading it will be able to handle it. I saw so much of my 11-year-old self in Simon and how he deals with all that is going on with his family, his sister, grandmother, parents. His confusion, anger and frustration are things I've felt at that age for similar reasons.
+ The sibling relationship in the book is incredibly sweet. I love how they understand each other on a deeper level and have each other’s back even when they might be arguing.
+ I loved the way the author handled respecting Simon’s identity despite the fact that no one outside him knows about it.
👎
- I had some trouble getting into this book. It felt like it was dragging even halfway in. Though it’s likely that the mystery around the ghost hunting would keep the younger readers more engaged.
Overall rating: 3.7⭐️ (I rate books based on how much I enjoyed them. This is not an objective quality of the book, I think this would be a very valuable read for its audience.)
Thank you to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for the eARC.
This is a great book for kids to identify and get familiar with the trans perspective and experience from a kid’s POV. The book is mainly a family drama at its core, and Simon faces many of the family issues most other kids his age would be facing.
It does get very slightly spooky at times but nothing too scary, even for younger readers.
👍
+ I found the pressure that Simon put himself under to make it seem like he was okay, very realistic. He keeps bottling everything up: his concern over what’s happening with his parents, his worries about what’s happening to his aging grandmother, and how he’s continuously less okay and angrier with people not knowing that he’s a boy.
+ The book really drives home the concept that no one has to know you’re trans for you to be trans. You don’t have to look a certain way or do a certain thing to be the gender you are, as long as you know who you are.
+ I loved that this book handles complicated emotions and trusts that kids reading it will be able to handle it. I saw so much of my 11-year-old self in Simon and how he deals with all that is going on with his family, his sister, grandmother, parents. His confusion, anger and frustration are things I've felt at that age for similar reasons.
+ The sibling relationship in the book is incredibly sweet. I love how they understand each other on a deeper level and have each other’s back even when they might be arguing.
+ I loved the way the author handled respecting Simon’s identity despite the fact that no one outside him knows about it.
👎
- I had some trouble getting into this book. It felt like it was dragging even halfway in. Though it’s likely that the mystery around the ghost hunting would keep the younger readers more engaged.
Overall rating: 3.7⭐️ (I rate books based on how much I enjoyed them. This is not an objective quality of the book, I think this would be a very valuable read for its audience.)
Thank you to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for the eARC.
August 18, 2024
I really enjoyed reading this. It's hard to give a book written for Middle-grade kids a 5-star rating because it is necessarily written in a simplified way generally, and I don't have any of the nostalgia that can help bump it up over the edge. But, nevertheless, I did really enjoy The House That Whispers. It's a nice spooky-not-scary story about family secrets and history and the fear of things changing. Our main character, Simon, has a lot to deal with over the course of this short book. His parents are going through a difficult period, both in their relationship and financially, his grandmother is getting ill and confused, and his sister is starting to pull away from him and spend more time with her friends. Plus, on top of all that, he's just recently realised that he's trans, and is coming to terms with what that means and the changes involved with that too. He ends up dealing with everything by believing that the house is haunted, and that everything weird is explained by ghosts. Over the course of the story, he ends up learning more about his family history, and discovers stories that really resonate with him. Plus, he slowly comes to term with the changes happening in his life, and his security with changes happening give him the confidence to introduce himself to his family for the first time. I thought this was a really well-written book that has a good main story to hook onto (the imaginary haunting), with a clear enough allegory for what it really means is going on, plus some good messages and education thrown in there too. I like that Thompson writes Simon's family as Christian, focuses simply on how being called Simon and he/him bring him comfort and make him feel right in his body, and show his family being very accepting. It's a very approachable way to introduce being transgender to a young audience, in a way that can help them understand what that means for people that might be around them in their life. Additionally, it doesn't make that the only thing the story resolves around - it's just one piece of everything that goes on. Overall, this was a sweet and enjoyable book to read, and I would definitely recommend it to the actual demographic it's aimed at.
March 5, 2023
A marvelous story with the uneasy feel of a horror tale, but it turns out to be something very different haunting the Bradleys.
The House That Whispers is a marvelous story with the uneasy feel of a horror tale, but it turns out to be very different. Dealing with gender identity, family dynamics, how relationships transition over time, and even the realities of aging, the book touches on so many life changes that readers of all ages can relate to something within its pages.
Simon’s inner dialogue bounces around in much the same way as that of those struggling with ADD/ADHD. From the start, I sympathized with him, and that was just during the car ride getting to grandma’s. Readers are also privy to how his gender identity is in conflict, and middle-graders will get a glimpse into how he is affected.With Talia at 13, Simon at 11, and Rose, a precocious eight-year-old, the three siblings are quite young to carry the weight of their parents’ uncertainty about their future together. But that’s just true to life. The kids know something’s up, but both mother and father keep the truth to themselves, thinking they are preventing them from worrying. Still, the children know deep down, and their minds are working overtime, creating even more dire scenarios for what is going on.
Grandmother Nanaleen is also declining before their very eyes, and it is confusing when the children notice some of the manifestations. The author does a stellar job revealing Nanaleen’s struggles and the children’s reactions and fears.I recommend THE HOUSE THAT WHISPERS to readers of contemporary middle-grade fiction, coming-of-age, or facts-of-life stories. With its immensely relatable characters and the life changes they are witnessing or experiencing, this wonderful book kept me glued to its pages. It offers something for everyone, even after the reality of what is really haunting the Bradley family comes to light.
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author or publisher through TBR and Beyond Book Tours.
March 2, 2023
This book talked about many things and did it all too well. "The House that Wishpers" by Lin Thompson is my second book by the author. I loved the first book, The Best Liars in Riverview, but not as much as I loved this book.
Simon’s character is well-portrayed throughout the book. The story starts with a car ride to Simon’s grandmother's house for a summer break. He was an 11-year-old kid who was super good at imagining things and was so "sure" that his granny's house was haunted. No, it's not truly haunted; it's just a distraction that Simon made up in his mind so hard that he believed it was true rather than face the reality of changes happening in his family.
Simon’s sister, Talia, spends more time with her friend than with him, his parent's unusual behavioral change that he thought might end up in divorce, and his grandmother getting older; all these changes happened one by one. He couldn't process it at all. I love the author's choice of adding a horror touch to the story as a distraction that Simon needed. It makes the story more engaging.
Simon and his sisters, Talia and Rose, bonding in the story is so heartwarming near the end of the book that it made me love it so much. They are all so supportive of each other. Even though there were some misunderstandings and hard feelings at times, they ended up being there for each other. I couldn't love it more, that's all I can say.
This story touched on many topics like gender identity, sibling bonding, accepting changes, and accepting who we are. It's such a fantastic read. I highly recommend it to all.
Simon’s character is well-portrayed throughout the book. The story starts with a car ride to Simon’s grandmother's house for a summer break. He was an 11-year-old kid who was super good at imagining things and was so "sure" that his granny's house was haunted. No, it's not truly haunted; it's just a distraction that Simon made up in his mind so hard that he believed it was true rather than face the reality of changes happening in his family.
Simon’s sister, Talia, spends more time with her friend than with him, his parent's unusual behavioral change that he thought might end up in divorce, and his grandmother getting older; all these changes happened one by one. He couldn't process it at all. I love the author's choice of adding a horror touch to the story as a distraction that Simon needed. It makes the story more engaging.
Simon and his sisters, Talia and Rose, bonding in the story is so heartwarming near the end of the book that it made me love it so much. They are all so supportive of each other. Even though there were some misunderstandings and hard feelings at times, they ended up being there for each other. I couldn't love it more, that's all I can say.
This story touched on many topics like gender identity, sibling bonding, accepting changes, and accepting who we are. It's such a fantastic read. I highly recommend it to all.
January 23, 2023
*Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for providing me this arc in exchange for an honest review*
The House that whispers is a book about accepting who you are.
Simon, decided that he wanted to be named Simon. See, he wasn't always a boy. But that's ok. When he goes with his sisters to his grandmother's house he thinks her house is haunted. But he later realizes, that the house isn't haunted. He is..
He is haunted by his former self. See, he was born as a girl. But he didn't feel like it. And through his fear of admitting it even to himself, he got sad. So he decided to take the matter in his own hands.
Throughout this book they keep referring to Simon as a girl, with the she pronouns but you get the feeling that he's just Simon. And it's so overwhelming, and frustrating most of the times.
It's a great book about the power of family, and love and accepting not the self you think you are but what you truly are.
I cried a lot in this book. Grab tissues. You'll need them.
PS I do so love Rose.
The House that whispers is a book about accepting who you are.
Simon, decided that he wanted to be named Simon. See, he wasn't always a boy. But that's ok. When he goes with his sisters to his grandmother's house he thinks her house is haunted. But he later realizes, that the house isn't haunted. He is..
He is haunted by his former self. See, he was born as a girl. But he didn't feel like it. And through his fear of admitting it even to himself, he got sad. So he decided to take the matter in his own hands.
Throughout this book they keep referring to Simon as a girl, with the she pronouns but you get the feeling that he's just Simon. And it's so overwhelming, and frustrating most of the times.
It's a great book about the power of family, and love and accepting not the self you think you are but what you truly are.
I cried a lot in this book. Grab tissues. You'll need them.
PS I do so love Rose.
August 2, 2023
Just because this book is middle grade fiction, that doesn’t mean I’m gonna go easy on it. I strongly believe that middle grade and children’s stories should still be good stories, and this was barely a story at all. It read more like an educational pamphlet on transness. I like the concept very much but the characters and the setting lay completely flat on the page, devoid of soul and dimensionality, as if any potential mote of interesting uniqueness had been pummeled out of them. Meanwhile, the plot was nearly non-existent with only one major event happening the entire time. If there’s not going to be any plot, the internal world of the main character better be fascinating, and it wasn’t. The prose, too, was uninspired. I feel bad for going so hard in this review, but I think it’s because I feel the author may have been restricted in some way or simply over-editing themselves. It had potential! And it did not live up to that potential.
January 14, 2023
Tender, funny, and gently haunting, The House That Whispers is yet another Lin Thompson novel sure to be considered a middle grade classic. I was so moved by Simon's thoughtful, curious way of viewing the world. His voice feels so true for his age, and yet so many of his fears and challenges are universal to people of all ages. I loved the setting of dear Nanaleen's house, the carefully chosen details about this family's world, and the queer love of years past whispering out of necessity. I also loved the nuanced portrayal of parents struggling in their marriage. It wasn't written as a ghastly tragedy but a tricky knot to untangle as a family, with love and understanding.
By the end of the book, I was, of course, in tears. Lin Thompson is a wonder, and I love this book so, so much.
By the end of the book, I was, of course, in tears. Lin Thompson is a wonder, and I love this book so, so much.
February 23, 2023
This says for fans of Kyle Lukoff which is almost overly true! I'm grateful for the rep of more trans kids in MG books, and the family dynamics of a kid dealing with parents fighting, siblings pulling toward and away from each other, and an aging grandmother. This is how i want all "OMG IS IT A GHOST???" stories to end, also, though no spoilers bc you don't know me enough to know what i hope for! I always want a little more character progress or things that i can't guess than i find in middle grades books, but mostly that's the name of the game with them so i can't be too disappointed.
I think this would be good to have in elementary school libraries, and i think it wouldn't be out of place in middle school libraries either, content wise, for readers who need this reading level there.
I think this would be good to have in elementary school libraries, and i think it wouldn't be out of place in middle school libraries either, content wise, for readers who need this reading level there.
May 17, 2023
The House That Whispers is a middle grade mystery that explores gender, family dynamics, and change. Change can be very hard on anyone, especially kids who do not know why it is happening, so I think many kids will relate to Simon’s struggle. I love the way Simon tells the reader about his gender, how he realized, and how important it is to him. I thought that Simon changing his name and pronouns internally was a really clever way to avoid dead-naming him.
I loved this book so much that I devoured it in one day. I recommend this to anyone but I think kids will find a lot to relate to about Simon. I’m hoping this book will find its' way into the hands of young transgender children and make them feel a little less alone.
I loved this book so much that I devoured it in one day. I recommend this to anyone but I think kids will find a lot to relate to about Simon. I’m hoping this book will find its' way into the hands of young transgender children and make them feel a little less alone.
May 27, 2023
This book does such a good job of describing how difficult it is to figure out when the best time is to tell anyone that you are a boy instead of a girl. The story has many different stressors in it, and it’s very helpful as a window, and as a mirror to the reader, depending on who they are because it is so sensitive to the struggle that goes on in 11 year old Simon as he figures out how to tell everybody that he is Simon and not a girl. The book is very considerate because they never even tell what Simmons birth name is. The story is healthy in that it emphasizes that everything in life may feel like a mess, but as long as you are communicating about the messes, things may turn out OK.
October 10, 2023
This is such a worthwhile addition to a middle grade collection. Wrapped up in a haunted house ghost story is a tale about finding yourself, letting others in on who you are, the anxiety that can cause, family relationships, the challenges of siblings growing apart, the stress of seeing your parents struggling with their relationship, and the worry when you start to see adults you love needing more and more help. I'm probably missing something because this book so full of relatable struggles for readers without being an after school special about it. Plus, the ghost story element will keep readers turning the pages to see what happens!
June 9, 2024
This book was not what I was expecting. I was expecting a paranormal mystery with a main character that was also exploring their gender. Instead, the story was really focused on Simon and all the feelings he was having not only about his gender, but other life issues...his relationship with his sisters, his parents' marital issues, and growing concerns about his grandmother showing signs of her age. I'm not particularly fond of stories focused on feelings and emotions because they tend to be very slow moving. But, still, this was a touching story with loveable, relatable characters. I would definitely recommend this one to students at our middle school.
May 30, 2026
The house. Did not whisper. Once. This entire book.
But I enjoyed myself anyway. I was hoping the house itself would be magical or cursed or hauting, but it's more a "normal" ghost story. I really liked the set-up and queerness, though this story is a lot more depressing than I was expecting.
I loved loved loved Simon as a main character, watching him push through his struggles and grow. Very relatable. I also loved reading about sibblings coming together, whatever hurdles they might face. I did feel the sibblings where a bit too wise / mature for their age sometimes. Would definitely recommend!
But I enjoyed myself anyway. I was hoping the house itself would be magical or cursed or hauting, but it's more a "normal" ghost story. I really liked the set-up and queerness, though this story is a lot more depressing than I was expecting.
I loved loved loved Simon as a main character, watching him push through his struggles and grow. Very relatable. I also loved reading about sibblings coming together, whatever hurdles they might face. I did feel the sibblings where a bit too wise / mature for their age sometimes. Would definitely recommend!
December 3, 2022
Normally going to stay at Nanaleen's is fun for Simon and his family, but this time his parents are staying home to "talk", Nanaleen has been acting a bit strange, and it's getting harder for him to keep pretending to be a girl. Now there might be a ghost living in Nanaleen's house, and it's up to Simon and his sisters to figure out why. The House That Whispers is an earnest story of finding yourself and doing your best to get through what life throws at you-- and that you don't always have to go through the hard times alone.
January 1, 2024
This book touches on the topic of gender identity with a spooky twist. Simon and his sisters go to stay at their grandmother's house. Simon starts to experience spooky sounds and experiencing paranormal activity. He believes all the spooky events he has experienced are related to a long-lost great-aunt. The reader learns that Simon's parents are going through a rough patch and that Simon hasn't come out to anyone in his family. All the fear has built up and caused Simon to imagine all the spooky things happening in the house. The book was nicely written.
February 19, 2024
It's a middle grades level book about a kid that is a.) trans and figuring that out, and also b.) having a lot of stressors in his family. I feel like there are so many people I know that I will recommend this book to, and I will be lending my copy out. That being said, I was not the audience, which is why it got 4 stars instead of 5. Because, obviously, I can't just hand five stars out all willy-nilly. :P
Read this as part of Book Riot's Read Harder 2024 Challenge, middle grades book with an LGBTQIA+ protagonist.
Read this as part of Book Riot's Read Harder 2024 Challenge, middle grades book with an LGBTQIA+ protagonist.
December 31, 2022
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. This book took a different turn than I thought it would take. I, at first, thought it would be about finding a ghost but it was more than that. It was about figuring yourself out as you grow up and sometimes I think it takes a lifetime. All families go through difficult times. I liked that Simon got the courage to open upto his siblings and then to his family.
April 27, 2024
This is the story of three siblings who are spending the week with their grandmother so their parents can have some time to talk and "reset" their relationship. Simon is an eleven-year-old who's questioning his gender identity and it's through his eyes that the story is told. Unable to deal with some of his fears, he imagines the house is haunted, which leads him and his younger sister to delve into family history and secrets.
August 8, 2025
A charming sophomore novel from Lin Thompson! I really liked this book for the most part, the plot moved along nicely, Simon was a great narrator, and the resolution was satisfying and a nice end to a lot of the story’s arcs. I did wish there was a bit more Simon and Rose interactions, particularly to show off the similarities and differences between the Simon and Talia interactions. However I did love what we got and overall this was another good book from Thompson!
March 2, 2023
The Hosue That Whispers is a middle-grade story about eleven-year-old Simon and his siblings during the week they visit Nanaleen's old house. Ghost hunting ensues. But it's about so much more than that: sibling love, queer joy, the power of being known by the people you love, the power of bringing hard things out of the dark and into the light.
I loved this book. You will too.
I loved this book. You will too.
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