Book Review: Whisper by Chrissie Keighery

Reviewed by: Siobhán
Format: ARC Paperback
Pages: 272
Published: 1st July 2012 (UK)
Publisher: Templar Publishing
Source: Publisher for Review
Genre: YA Contemporary
Buy: Amazon UK I Amazon US I Book Depository UK I Book Depository INT

Description:
Fifteen-year-old Demi's world is shattered when she is left profoundly deaf by a sudden illness. Everything is different now, and Demi must learn to adapt to a new school, new friends and even learn a whole new language. Whisper is a coming-of-age tale, about discovering who you are and where you fit in life. About friendships and first love and, most of all, learning to love the person you are.



Review:
Whisper is about Demi, a teenager who goes deaf. To try and get a hold of her situation and make sure she can adapt she starts a new school, a College for the Deaf. There she meets some amazing characters and forms bonds that she never thought possible. However, Demi finds herself being stuck in both worlds. One for the Deaf and one for the hearing, her old life and one she refuses to let go off. Through this book she goes a journey trying to find herself and opening herself up to new loves, new friendships and discovering who she really is.

I started reading this late Thursday night ( I know leaving it until the last minute lol) I was worried incase I couldn't have the review up in time for the blog tour. However, upon reading this I knew within the first few pages that there was something special about this book. Something that would make it a really quick read. And I was right, I devoured the book with about 3 hours. Personally, I don't know any people who are deaf but this book really has open my eyes and gave me a better insight into what it must be like. To go about your day to day live with no noise. Not being able to listen to music, listen to the noise outside or even listen to those you love speak. It must be so hard and I can't even begin to imagine what it must be like. I for one before reading this took my hearing for granted and Demi's story just proves that one day it can be gone and in cases like Demi's it will never come back.

Demi is such a lovable character. You would expect her to angry at what has happen and in a way she was but she deals with it moves on because she realised she will never get her hearing back that she has to deal with the situation. What I really loved about her that I think make it easy to connect with is her voice. The author has created a character who is smart, funny and best of all, sarcatic. Her friends from her old life I wasn't too impressed with maybe it's because they didn't have a lot in the story but when they did I wondered why they where even in it. I prefered reading about her friends from the new school. They were all lovelies and fun and most of them where just happy teenagers. Expect for Stella, she is very political and thinks that deaf people should only be involved with the deaf commuinities and thinks that those who can hear the "hearies" they call them are the enemy. However, Demi knows that not all "hearies" are the enemy but trying to get Stella is hard for Demi.

Whisper is very much a wonderful, beautiful coming of age story. There is a bit a romance that is really sweet, some family drama, school drama the usual things you find in a good YA Contemporary read. But Whisper is one a whole other level compared to them. Chrissie has just created a story that will sweep you away and captivate your very being and not let you go. It will educate you and make you grateful for what you have. And like me it will take you one big crazy emotional rollcoaster through the ups and downs of Demi life.

So yes, I highly recommend to you all, go pick up a copy of this book now. You will not regret it. I will be telling everyone they just HAVE to read this one. It's a book that will appeal to any age from about 12 upwards. However, if you cry easily, then have some tissue because the last night of this book is the most cutest, sweetest thing in the world and had be bawling like a baby for about 10 minutes after I finished.




Rate: 5/5

2 comments :

  1. This sounds like an amazing book! Always interesting to learn more about the deaf community.

    ReplyDelete

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