The Whisperer

McIntosh, best known in the U.S. for her historical romances and fantasy epics for adults, aims for a middle-school audience with this tale, first published in Australia in 2009. Chunky with exposition and informational dialogue, the story drags its heels, but colorful detail is abundant. Thirteen-year-old Griff has the unwilling ability to hear others’ thoughts. He works as a stagehand for a freak show and teams up with Tess, a befriender of magical creatures, to survive and—they hope—escape the exploitation of greedy Master Tyren, the showmaster. Meanwhile, Lute, 13-year-old crown prince of the realm, is driven into exile by his megalomaniac uncle, Janko, and must use stealth, guile, and friends to regain the throne. Griff begins to hear Lute whispering in his head, begging for help, though Griff doesn’t know who Lute is. Their adventures run in parallel until McIntosh eventually pulls them together near the end, but the emphasis on backstory and explanation rather than action and character development make the wait feel even longer than it is. Ages 8–12. (Apr.)