Whisper

 

Whisper by Chrissie Keighery

Published 1 July 2012 Templar

 

Whisper is a YA coming-of-age novel with a difference.

 

Demi contracts meningitis as a teenager. She recovers but she is left profoundly deaf. Her life is changed forever.

 

The novel focuses on how Demi learns to communicate again, to cope with a new school and make friends in a silent world. Alongside witnessing Demi's struggle, we see the affect of this life changing event on her family and friends.

 

Chrissie is Australian and a few Aussie expressions do creep into the novel which brought back afternoons of Home & Away! I felt it helped with the setting and the character's voice. I felt an emotional tie with Demi as I read her story.

 

Whisper is a very readable novel. I would recommend this book for a leisure read but it would also work well as a PHSE tie-in in the classroom.