Starmer, Aaron. The Whisper. (The Riverman Book
2) Macmillan/Farrar Strauss 2015 361p. $16.99 ISBN 978-0-374-36311-6 ms/hs Fantasy VG-BN
After the
climactic conclusion to Book 1 of The Riverman series, Alistair enters Fiona’s portal and is
washed up on a shore in Aquavania. It
seems different from the descriptions Fiona had given him. He is only twelve years old and small for his age. All he wants is to find Fiona and her friends
who have disappeared and then go home. He sees that this will not be so easy as he enters
strange worlds with strange inhabitants.
He does not know whom to trust. As he travels from world to world, he must
confront his past mistakes. He discovers
that the Riverman now uses the name Whisper but has been known by other names
too. Alistair does not find answers,
only more questions.
As a sequel,
this is not what was expected. The Riverman was written in the first person, while Whisper is in
third person. It may be harder for
readers to associate and empathize with Alistair. The identification with reality and
separation from fantasy was easy in the first book. Book 2 is all
fantasy with flashbacks to reality, or are they? The story is even darker, with an active role being played by Whisper. Predictions for Book
3 are totally up in the air.
Recommended for upper middle school or high school due to the very dark nature of the fantasy worlds. This title is quite dark and except for readers who loved the first book, it will take some hard sell.
Summary:
Alistair has used Fiona’s
portal to Aquavania. It is not
completely as she described it. The
Creators are disappearing and the worlds are falling apart. Can he find the Riverman and the missing
Creators? Sequel to the Riverman.
Fantasy-Fiction --Joan
Theal
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