The Whisperer

February 16, 2015
McIntosh, best known in the U.S. for her historical romances and fantasy epics for adults, aims for a middle-school audience with this tale, first published in Australia in 2009. Chunky with exposition and informational dialogue, the story drags its heels, but colorful detail is abundant. Thirteen-year-old Griff has the unwilling ability to hear others’ thoughts. He works as a stagehand for a freak show and teams up with Tess, a befriender of magical creatures, to survive and—they hope—escape the exploitation of greedy Master Tyren, the showmaster. Meanwhile, Lute, 13-year-old crown prince of the realm, is driven into exile by his megalomaniac uncle, Janko, and must use stealth, guile, and friends to regain the throne. Griff begins to hear Lute whispering in his head, begging for help, though Griff doesn’t know who Lute is. Their adventures run in parallel until McIntosh eventually pulls them together near the end, but the emphasis on backstory and explanation rather than action and character development make the wait feel even longer than it is. Ages 8–12.

Starred review from February 1, 2015
Two 13-year-old strangers living in the land of Drestonia find themselves communicating through their minds as their perilous lives become surprisingly intertwined. A laborer in Master Tyren's Marvels of Nature Traveling Show, Griffin can hear people's thoughts. Discovering Griffin's talent, greedy Tyren forces him to perform a mind-reading act. When Tyren also exploits an orphan girl named Tess and her magical creatures, Griffin convinces Tess to escape with him. Meanwhile, Lute, Drestonia's crown prince, finds his sheltered life shattered when his ruthless uncle, Janko, deposes the king and attempts to kill Lute. As Griffin flees Tyren and his paid Stalkers and Lute evades Janko and his mercenaries, Griffin hears Lute's cry for help in his mind, and soon they are connecting. Inexplicably drawn together, they realize each faces grave danger and discover how connected they truly are. The rapid-fire plot alternates between Griffin and Lute as their lives become increasingly linked, the danger surrounding them mounts, and the mystery unfolds. Cunning villains and diverse helpers, including a clever girl, a loyal guardian, a wily dwarf, a feisty lady pirate and a brave centaur, add dimension to this adventure. A gripping, first-rate tale of a prince and a pauper. (Fantasy. 8-12)

COPYRIGHT(2015) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

February 1, 2015

Gr 4-7-On the surface, Lute and Griff have little in common. Lute is the Crown Prince of Drestonia, while Griff works behind the scenes at a traveling carnival. Griff has a secret: he can hear the thoughts of others. Most of the time, he has to be nearby to hear those thoughts, but one day he hears a voice that's little more than a whisper, from far away. It sounds like a boy who seems to be in trouble. In fact, though Griff doesn't know it, it is Lute's voice that he hears, on the day that Lute's uncle stages a coup and attempts to have the prince killed. The boy escapes, but suddenly nowhere in the country is safe. Meanwhile, Griff also goes on the run when his cruel master uncovers his mind-reading abilities and plans to use them for profit. Accompanied by his friend Tess and her menagerie of magical creatures, Griff escapes in order to seek out the owner of the voice he's been hearing. The two boys' stories start to merge as they discover that they may have more in common than either of them could have suspected. The writing is characterized by more telling than showing, and the pacing lags in places. Moreover, the major plot twist is obvious from the beginning. VERDICT This book may serve as an additional purchase for libraries where fantasy proves perpetually popular.-Misti Tidman, Licking County Library, Newark, OH

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2015
Grades 4-7 Like Tom and Prince Edward in Mark Twain's The Prince and the Pauper, 13-year-olds Griff and Lute are worlds apart but share a common bond. Griff works as a hired hand for Tyren, the greedy owner of a traveling circus. Lute is the crown prince, although rumors swirl in certain circles that his origin holds secrets. Both boys are in trouble. Tyren wants to exploit Griff's ability to hear people's private thoughts, but when Griff hears cries for help from one clear voice, he sneaks away to rescue whomever is calling him. Meanwhile, Lute is on the run from his uncle Duke Janko, who tries to kill Lute in a riding accident. Lute later learns as he runs for his life that Janko has seized the throne. The well-paced tale is filled with wondrous magic, dark intrigue, and abundant action. Interesting characters abound, including a tattooed dwarf bandit, a lady pirate, and Pilo, Lute's constant companion about whom little is known. Despite the predictability of its outcome, the journey of the tale is an enjoyable frolic for those who crave worlds ruled by kings and where magic is special.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)