Hardinge, Frances. Island of Whispers. Emily Gravett, Illus. Amulet, 08/2024. 120pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-1-41977-433-1. GRADES 4–8. OUTSTANDING.
On Milo’s island the spirits of the dead must be quickly transported by his father, the Ferryman, lest they endlessly wander, leaving death and blight in their wake. When a grief-maddened nobleman takes violent action to hold on to the ghost of his daughter, young Milo is the only one able to make the dangerous journey, delivering the boatload of souls to their rest. But can his sympathetic nature resist the pleas of the dead? Sophisticated, yet spare language, rich imagery, and telling details combine with black and indigo spot art and full-page illustrations, rendered in a vintage woodcut style. Evocative and memorable, this shivery and profound legend will appeal to all who love a good ghost story or fairy tale. Review based on an ARC.
Melissa McAvoy—Retired