The Whisper

Clayton, Emma     The Whisper       

 Scholastic/Grolier/Childrens Press/Watts  2012  309p  $17.99      978-0-545-31772-6       ms     VG-BN     Science fiction

The Whisper is the sequel to The Roar, but it stands alone quite successfully.  The Roar transmits emotion, The Whisper sends thoughts.  Eleven-to-twelve-year-old children from all over the North are recruited to be fighter pilots via arcades of video games.  Twins Mika and Ellie are reunited and speak to the entire army of children through the Whisper.  Led by the twins and six other mutant leader children, the army takes control of the fortress, where they wait for the start of the War.  Then they take over the Wall that separates the poor, crowded, and devastated North from the rich, sparsely populated, verdant South.  The twins have briefly visited the South, and they explain their plans to the army.  The children plan to take over the world and force the adults to listen to them and seek peace.  They want to stop the War before it starts.
With the help of one adult, and hindrance from others, the children succeed, and the reader sees the glint of hope for a peaceful world.  Middle-school students will be intrigued by the children and understand their plan.       

VG-BN Joan Theal        Fantasy, Science fiction, Mind control