Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
Ugh this is soooo good and touching and unique and important.
Would like to see a black person review this, though. Also, there was one thing that happened that was a little manipulative/unnecessary or at least a cliche.
Would like to see a black person review this, though. Also, there was one thing that happened that was a little manipulative/unnecessary or at least a cliche.
This book was a roller coaster of emotions. I felt like I was immersed in a Guillermo Del Toro movie. Eerie, bizarre, captivating. The resolution at the end was satisfying and transformed what started out as an entertaining mystery into an incredibly touching and powerful story that I can't stop thinking about. I imagine this is the kind of book someone will love or hate.
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Riley is 11 and he has issues. Two to be exact. One is wetting the bed, which shouldn't happen when you're 11 but has happened ever since his mom went missing. The other is more nebulous, and takes awhile to come out but it turns out, Riley is a boy who likes boys. His family and his town are religious, and he knows it's not right. People don't say it out loud but it's definitely not right. He knew that kissing boys behind the shed was not right.
Riley is trying to handle his issues and find his mother. Will the mythical Whispers in his mother's story help him? Riley has to go to the woods to find out and see if he can find his way.
There is a lot of stuff happening beneath the text here. There is a lot of showing, not telling and you have to put together your own conclusions for a long time, until the end comes and you're proved right or wrong, just like Riley. I'm glad to see this book so well-written with a few other things besides Riley's own coming of age in it. I think there are kids who will really connect with Riley here.
Riley is trying to handle his issues and find his mother. Will the mythical Whispers in his mother's story help him? Riley has to go to the woods to find out and see if he can find his way.
There is a lot of stuff happening beneath the text here. There is a lot of showing, not telling and you have to put together your own conclusions for a long time, until the end comes and you're proved right or wrong, just like Riley. I'm glad to see this book so well-written with a few other things besides Riley's own coming of age in it. I think there are kids who will really connect with Riley here.
Read for OBOB recs.
One of those I forgot to put on Goodreads at the time of reading.
It felt more aged for 6-8 than 3-5
One of those I forgot to put on Goodreads at the time of reading.
It felt more aged for 6-8 than 3-5
This book promised to fill a real need in middle grade fiction--a gay protagonist in a conservative rural area and a bed wetter to boot (something I've never seen discussed in a novel for kids). But the body shaming was over the top! Every chapter or so there was some disparaging comment about the Fat Bald Detective or Riley's overweight best friend. I would love to raise up a book that celebrates an LGBT character, but not at the expense of people of size.
Everyone should read this novel. It’s a beautiful story about Riley, a young boy whose Mama has gone missing. He remembers a story about the whispers that his mama told him and sets out to find them, and hopefully her.
I won’t spoil the lot for you. This should be read with an open heart and the imagination of an 11 year old (which I think is hidden in all of us)
Thank you for sharing your hear with us Greg Howard.
I won’t spoil the lot for you. This should be read with an open heart and the imagination of an 11 year old (which I think is hidden in all of us)
Thank you for sharing your hear with us Greg Howard.
This is one of those rare occasions when a book chooses the reader. I work in a bookshop, where an advanced proof copy of this book had been sitting on our dusty staff bookcase for months, ignored and probably on its way out. Luckily after finishing late one evening, I ended up with this in my hand as we left the shop for the night, I still don't quite know how it got there. I'm am so very glad it did though.
This is a beautiful and rare book, that is richly written and unique. Easily one of my favourite fiction reads for 2019. The Whispers handles really hard topics in a sensitive, delicate and heartbreaking way.
This is a beautiful and rare book, that is richly written and unique. Easily one of my favourite fiction reads for 2019. The Whispers handles really hard topics in a sensitive, delicate and heartbreaking way.
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced