Island of Whispers

Reach for this book when your child is struggling with the pressure to be someone they are not, or when they are navigating the heavy silence of a recent loss. It is a profound choice for a middle-schooler who feels like they are failing to meet a parent's expectations, especially if that parent is no longer there to talk things through with. On the surface, it is a gothic fantasy about a boy named Milo who unexpectedly becomes a Ferryman for the dead, but at its heart, it is a secular, metaphorical exploration of grief and the courage required to forge your own path. While it contains spooky imagery and moments of peril, the narrative provides a safe, atmospheric space for 10 to 14 year olds to process the idea that 'moving on' is an act of love and bravery. Parents will appreciate the way it validates a child's unique strengths, even those that look like weaknesses to others.