Whisper

This debut novel introduces a powerful new voice in YA paranormal fiction. Whispers is an excellent twist on the young-woman's-passage-into-adulthood theme. Joy is every teenager, but with something extra: the ability to hear the mental 'wishes' of others. All her life she's heard their best thoughts and hopes; now turning sixteen, she begins to hear their ugly wishes too. Juxtaposing the blossoming awareness in a young adult of the frailties of her own family and friends with the paranormal ability that prevents her from evading the sharp realities around her provides Kitanidis with an intriguing platform. I enjoyed Kitanidis' humor and her ear for young people's voices.

I was captured immediately by this protagonist (Joy) and her amazing powers. "Whispers" took me on an exciting adventure and I liked that. But most of all I loved the subtle developments that happened as Joy struggled with her gift of hearing; how she wrestled with her family relationships, friends, and the wisdom and responsibiltiies that come with growing up. I felt her heartbreak, confusion, and rejoiced in her happiness. This is a great book for a young girl. I hope there will be a sequel, for I fell in love with Jamie and would like to see more of him.

Joy and Jessica Stefani are unlike any teenage sisters their age: they were born with the ability to Hear others' Whispers, their secret desires. Jessica loathes this "curse", and is friendless and bitter as a result. Joy thinks of the ability as a gift, and is very close to her mother, from whom she inherited Hearing. As the years go by, Joy and Jessica grow further apart, and Joy gets more and more frustrated with her sister. But then one day, Jessica disappears, and Joy's powers begin to change. Then, she Hears a terrifying Whisper from Jessica, propelling her on a search for her sister with an unfamiliar boy, Jamie, with a strange ability of his own. Interesting and intriguing, Whisper is a different take on paranormal fiction. There isn't an evil plot to overthrow or some enemy to beat, but rather Kitanidis's debut focuses on the complexity of Hearing desires, and its affect on the relationships that Joy and Jessica have and their emotions. Joy and her mother believe that Hearing can help them make the world a better place, but Jessica is more cynical, and their father cannot Hear at all, making for some very interesting family dynamics. But as Joy's ability changes, she also learns quite a bit about her parents; her mother isn't the perfect saint she thinks she is, and her father isn't distant on purpose. This knowledge forces Joy to stand on her own and make her own decisions, and readers will be happy to see that she rises to the occasion. It would have been nice to have some more details on how and why Joy's Hearing changed, and how Jessica tried to rid herself of hers, but the lack of that information doesn't really detract from the story. In fact, the mystery and suspense of it propel the plot along, and introduce Joy to Jamie. They are both bold and determined to find Jessica, though their actions do make them seem very mature and independent for their age. Nonetheless, their resourcefulness and perseverance lead them to the truth, with many heart-pounding moments along the way. Whisper wraps up nicely, without demanding a sequel, and with a lot of optimism for the future. This is an excellent coming-of-age novel about love and the complexity of relationships with a paranormal element that will hook teens from the beginning.

Whisper, by Phoebe Kitanidis, is a psychologically-astute novel about the consequences of a fourteen year old girl's unusual gift for "hearing" other people's unspoken wishes and yearnings. As the novel opens, we learn that Joy Stefani uses her ability to hear wishes in order to please other people, but her older sister Jessica, wields her own similar gift like a sword to hurt and disturb others. Embarrassed by Jessica's inability to fit in, Joy wants to get as far from Jessica as possible. And then Joy's "hearing" starts acting up! Perhaps the gift is really a curse? From an intriguing premise of paranormal flavor and metaphorical heft, the novel takes its readers on a realistic ride through the hearts of teenage girls growing up everywhere. On the way, Joy grapples with complex, human questions of love and empathy. The novel gains momentum and exhilarating speed. We're pulled toward a dark crash of a climax, before coming to a surprising and satisfying stopping point- I'm excited by the possibility of a sequel! Kitanidis's clear, witty prose and unerring ear for dialogue make this book a pleasure to read -- but it is the development of Joy's character from start to finish that truly makes this novel sing. In Whisper, Kitanidis gives us a spellbinding and moving story for readers of any age. It has everything you could ask for.

Whisper is another one of those breath-of-fresh-air kind of paranormals. Although it features no monsters or sinister villains, it still managed to capture me and take me on a suspenseful, fast-paced ride. I really love the plot and how it's set up. Hearing people's desires is something that most would wish they could do. Kitanidis plays on both the positive and negative side of this power by creating the happy-go-lucky protagonist, Joy and her complete opposite older sister, Jessica. The book shines light on both of their struggles with this ability as it enhances and begins to take a turn for the worst, and I was really pleased with the creativity of it all. I think the characters could've been a bit more smoothed out. Joy seemed to stay in the same place, figuratively, throughout the length of the book. Jessica's hatred of their ability and the extreme danger she leads herself into because of it came as quickly as it ended. I would've preferred to see a bit more development in those areas. And more Jamie, the misunderstood loner whom takes an interest in Joy both romantically and ability-wise. I really loved his character, but I would've loved to see a lot more of him. Perhaps in book two? If there is a book two. I certainly hope there is! Overall, Whisper is a fantastic debut from Phoebe Kitanidis. Packed with action, suspense, paranormal elements and even a bit of romance, I definitely recommend it to anybody in the mood for something dark and fast-paced.