Lin Thompson’s sophomore novel came out yesterday! The House That Whispers. Aka “Ghost Story” — at least that’s what they always called it while drafting.
I had read a late draft of the book before publication, but I’m enjoying the tradition of reading the finished copy in all of its hardcover glory.
The Hosue That Whispers is a middle-grade story about eleven-year-old Simon and his siblings during the week they visit Nanaleen’s old house. Ghost hunting ensues. But it’s about so much more than that: sibling love, queer joy, the power of being known by the people you love, the power of bringing hard things out of the dark and into the light.
Of course, the pros have summarized it better than I could so here’s the description for The House that Whispers:
Eleven-year-old Simon and his siblings, Talia and Rose, are staying the week at Nanaleen’s century-old house. This time, though, it’s not their usual summer vacation trip. In fact, everything’s different. It’s fall, not summer. Mom and Dad are staying behind to have a “talk.” And Nanaleen’s house smells weird, plus she keeps forgetting things. And these aren’t the only things getting under Simon’s skin: He’s the only one who knows that his name is Simon, and that he and him pronouns are starting to feel right. But he’s not ready to add to the changes that are already in motion in his family.
To make matters worse, Simon keeps hearing a scratching in the walls, and shadows are beginning to build in the corners. He can’t shake the feeling that something is deeply wrong…and he’s determined to get to the bottom of it—which means launching a ghost hunt, with or without his sisters’ help. When Simon discovers the hidden story of his great-aunt Brie, he realizes that Brie’s life might hold answers to some of his worries. Is Brie’s ghost haunting the old O’Hagan house? And will Simon’s search for ghosts turn up more secrets than he ever expected?
And you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover but for this one you can because the cover is gorgeous!
I know you’ve already stopped reading this post and ordered this book so I don’t have to tell you to get a move on. I cried. It’s very good.
With Love,
Natalie