Author: Elizabeth George
Year Published: 2012
Genre: YA fiction
Pages: 400
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Location (my 2014 Google Reading map): USA (Whidbey Island, WA)
FTC Disclosure: I borrowed this book from my school's Library
Summary (from the inside flap of the book): Whidbey Island may only be a ferry ride from Seattle, but it's a world apart.When Becca King arrives there, she doesn't suspect the island will become her home for the next four years. Put at risk by her abiiltiy to hear "whispers"--the thoughts of others--Becca is on the run from her stepfather, whose criminal activities she has discovered. Stranded and alone, she is soon befriended by Derric, a Rwandan orphan adopted by a local family; Seth, a kind-hearted musician and high school dropout; Debbie, a recovering alcoholic who takes her in; and Diana, with whom Becca shares a mysterious psychic connection.
FTC Disclosure: I borrowed this book from my school's Library
Summary (from the inside flap of the book): Whidbey Island may only be a ferry ride from Seattle, but it's a world apart.When Becca King arrives there, she doesn't suspect the island will become her home for the next four years. Put at risk by her abiiltiy to hear "whispers"--the thoughts of others--Becca is on the run from her stepfather, whose criminal activities she has discovered. Stranded and alone, she is soon befriended by Derric, a Rwandan orphan adopted by a local family; Seth, a kind-hearted musician and high school dropout; Debbie, a recovering alcoholic who takes her in; and Diana, with whom Becca shares a mysterious psychic connection.
Review: This book was recommended to me by my school's Library Assistant and she was right, I really enjoyed it. It wasn't at all what I expected, but that's okay with me!
Becca is such an interesting character; she is only fourteen, but is mature, sensible and scared. Alone on Whidbey, she needs to find shelter, someone to take care of her, and learn how to trust people. That last part seems to be the most difficult. I don't normally like magical and paranormal novels, but Becca hearing whispers (people's thoughts) make for intriguing reading. I like that she doesn't hear complete thoughts and ideas and she cannot distinguish between various people's thoughts; they get all jumbled up together. So it's not as if she knows exactly what's going on, she just gets vague ideas that propel her along, sometimes in the wrong direction.
The band of characters that Becca brings into her circle are so varied! I like that the adults play an important role along side the teenagers in the plot, they have experiences and wisdom that are there for the younger characters to learn from if they are willing to really listen.
The setting of Whitbey Island is perfect and having spent time up in the San Juan Islands of Washington state, I could picture the scenes easily, which I like. There are forests, cliffs, nooks, and crannies in addition to small towns and isolated areas. It's just so beautiful up there and since the author lives on the island, she is able to use the location very well to the story's advantage.
At first I was a little frustrated that we don't really know the extent of Becca's stepfather's crimes, though we do have some idea. I was afraid that was going to be left hanging, but it continues to make an appearance throughout the book, giving the reader enough information to keep us going and remind us why Becca must stay "hidden." And the ending... well, I can't really say much about it except What Will Happen?!
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