The Whispering Road

This is a story about story-telling and the power of stories themselves. The main character, Joe, is a story teller himself who lives through adventures worthy of the fairy-tales he tells and learns to come to terms with the power of truth and the power of tales. While that may sound confusing, the book itself is not. With its short chapters and straight-forward tone, this is a book that begs to be read aloud. It is the story of two young children, Joe and Annie, abandoned by their mother in a workhouse and how they flee the terrible farm they've been sold to in order to find freedom and possibly their mother herself. Along the way they encounter of a rich and varying cast of characters whose capacity for kindness and cruelty is reminiscent of Charles Dickens. Annie disappears for a great deal of the novel, but Joe remains a rather interesting character with a refreshingly honest voice. There is a not-so-subtle subtest to this novel: recognition of the plight of the poor and the injustices suffered by the downtrodden, but it is a worthy lesson to learn. In fact, this book might be a good antidote to kids' complaints about modern life. I was attracted to the wonderful artwork on the book jacket of THE WHISPERING ROAD and was only occasionally disappointed by the story. I wanted to see more of Annie, for example. While I would definitely hesitate to call this book a "fantasy novel", I would not hesitate to call it a true adventure and, in general, recommend it to readers young and old alike. Yes, it does have fantastical elements (for example Dog Woman or Annie's ability to see and speak to the dead), but its setting (Manchester, England and surroundings in the mid 19th century) is rooted in reality. And this reality is neither polished nor white-washed. In fact, some of the historical elements (disease, abandonment, quasi-slavery, death, street gangs, disfigurements, etc) are presented in a very realistic manner and I tend to agree with the reviewer who suggested that this might be "too much" for some kids. For older children and adults, however, this book could be a grand adventure and I rather imagine than boys might especially love it. I would also recommend reading this book aloud with children for there are many elements that might require explanation or could lead to further discussion.

Joe and Annie escape from the cruel farmer who's been treating them as little more than slave labor, and they begin tramping their way to Manchester, where they hope to find their lost mother. They are not ordinary children --- Joe is a gifted storyteller while Annie has the ability to speak to the dead. When they join a traveling fair, Annie becomes the center of attention, leading to Joe feeling left out and alone. These feelings prompt him to flee the fair and join a gang of street kids, leaving Annie behind. Guilt and shame follow him through subsequent adventures on the streets of Manchester, but he never forgets Annie and soon begins a new quest to try to find her. Set amid a poverty and inhumanity that is truly appalling, THE WHISPERING ROAD nonetheless contains a spirit of kindness and hope. While Joe, the first person narrator, can be thoughtless and immature, his love for his sister and determination to find her makes him a character the reader will care about. Most of the other characters in the book come across as three-dimensional as well, even those who appear only briefly. THE WHISPERING ROAD takes elements from historical fiction and fantasy to offer a unique reading experience. The historical details are accurate and interesting, evoking Dickens and other 19th-century authors as Michael describes the living conditions of the poor in sometimes frightening detail. However, the narrative also contains fantasy elements that lift it into the realm of the unusual: Annie talks to the dead and the children meet up with some other-than-human characters. This combination works well in the story, integrated with a fast-paced plot and a lot of dangers. The book may have too much real life for younger readers, including death, disease and abandonment. Still, it's leavened with enough hope that it should be a satisfactory read for both younger and older teens. The ending, in particular, will encourage readers to think, both about the fate of the characters and the ways in which the world has changed in the last century. Overall, THE WHISPERING ROAD is an interesting and worthwhile read. --- Reviewed by Paula Jolin

I loved this book so much that I read it non-stop for a whole day! The Whispering Road is a fantasy book which you won't want to put down.It is full of adventure and magic. Joe and Annie were in the workhouse but they escaped.They found themselves on the road and thought they would never survive.It's hard for Joe because the only talent he has is telling stories, and he's got to look after Annie,who sees and hears things.Will they find their mother and will they cope with whispers and lies........? Follow Joe and Annie on a journey you will never forget.