October is here!  As mentioned in a previous post, scary books are popular any time of year, but with Halloween on the horizon they are especially requested.  Whisper in the Dark, although I mentioned it in the earlier post, managed to escape my reading stack until recently.  I was not disappointed; Whisper in the Dark IS another good and scary book!

Bruchac, again, successfully blends a Native American monster story/legend with a modern plot and a Native American protagonist.  This is a satisfyingly scary story:  mysterious phone calls, threats carved into the door, pets and family members endangered, and repeated whispers to the intended victim.  But into the gruesome details and suspense Bruchac weaves Native American culture and history, Rhode Island history, and a young person of resilience and character.  So there is more than “scary” to recommend with this title.

Bruchac’s writing is always good.  Not quite brilliant – but strong and solid.  Don’t hesitate to recommend this one to your students who are looking for something scary to read.  I suggest you booktalk it… in a whisper….in the dark…