Island of Whispers
by Frances Hardinge (Author) Emily Gravett (Illustrator)
Part gothic thriller and part coming-of-age story, a new illustrated middle-grade fantasy from award-winning author Frances Hardinge and acclaimed illustrator Emily Gravett about a strange island filled with ghosts and long-buried secrets
A remarkable and ultimately heartwarming story of grief, family, kindness, and being true to yourself.
On the misty island of Merlack, the lingering dead can cause unspeakable harm if they're not safely carried to the island of the Broken Tower, where they can move on. Milo's father always told him that he wasn't suited for dealing with the dead and could never become the Ferryman of the Dead--but one day, he's unexpectedly thrust into the role. And his father is his first passenger . . .
Soon after, the teenage daughter of the Lord of Merlock passes. But the Lord of Merlock isn't prepared to give her up, and he follows Milo's boat in pursuit, in a boat filled with armed men and two sinister magicians at his command. It's a race to the island as Milo must face swarms of sinister moths, strange headless birds, and chillingly shrouded figures to carry his ghostly passengers across the secret seas.
Filled with suspense and Hardinge's signature sparkling prose, this new story--accompanied throughout by striking illustrations by award-winning illustrator Emily Gravett--will keep you on the edge of your seat.
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Publishers Weekly
Fourteen-year-old Milo sails a ship of souls to the realm of the dead in this elegiac fantasy from Hardinge (Unraveller). On Merlank, the dead linger until Milo's father, the Ferryman, can deliver them to the Island of the Broken Tower, from which they can ascend to the afterlife. The dead are drawn to the shoes they wore in life, so after the death of the Lord of Merlank's daughter, his wife gives the Ferryman the girl's favorite pair to help lead her aboard his boat. But the grieving Lord has other plans; he tries to reclaim the shoes so his magicians can attempt to resurrect his daughter. He kills the Ferryman and captures Milo's brother, but Milo escapes with both the girl's shoes and his dad's boots, determined to make the journey to the Broken Tower himself so that the girl and his father can pass on peacefully. Though the Lord gives chase, he is the least of Milo's concerns along the mystical trials separating him from his destination. Using spare, evocative prose, Hardinge weaves a nuanced and affecting tale about grief, compassion, and the importance of living life fully. Gravett (A Song of Gladness) enhances the otherworldly tone with black, white, and light blue illustrations that are by turns bold and ethereal. All characters are portrayed with pale skin. Ages 10-14. Agent: Molly Ker Hawn, Bent Agency. (Aug.)
Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.
Hornbook
Hardinge's own poetic language...brings multiple shimmering layers to both plot and imagery in this melancholic, fantastical tale.
ALA/Booklist
The moody story, with all the feel of a real folktale, deftly manages to be both a thrilling sea chase and a touching story of loss and coming of age. Sweetly macabre.
Review quotes
"[P]owerful...a compelling, engaging pace...Gravett's stylishly intricate illustrations are melancholy and eerie...Contemplative fantasy readers not ready for Hardinge's longer works will appreciate this introduction."— The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
JUV039140 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance
JUV013000 - Juvenile Fiction | Family | General
JUV039020 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Adolescence
JUV058000 - Juvenile Fiction | Paranormal, Occult & Supernatural
JUV069000 - Juvenile Fiction | Ghost Stories
Fantasy fiction
Supernatural
Paranormal fiction
Islands
Fathers
Grief
JUVENILE FICTION / Fantasy & Magic
Novels
JUVENILE FICTION / Paranormal, Occult & Super
