Whispering Alaska by Brendan Jones - ESSENTIAL

 Whispering Alaska by Brendan Jones, 274 pages. Delacorte Press (Random), 2021. $17 

Content: G

 BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Nicky and Josie are twin sisters. Not just twins, but mirror twins. Their mother, an ER doctor, has just died from Covid-19. Their dad decides what they all need is a fresh start, closer to family – in Alaska. Nicky and Josie have drifted apart and are each dealing with the grief of losing their mother in different ways. In the part of Alaska they settle in, the main livelihood are logging and fishing. Nicky and Josie instantly get drawn into the high drama at the island - a huge debate of whether a large tract of huge, old trees should be cut down or preserved. However, they end up on different sides of the issue. Will this break the sisters apart, or will they be able to work out their differences?

I liked how the family pulled together for support and how the girls were included in what was going on. This is a very realistic, beautiful story. The forest and trees are so realistically described that I felt like I was there with the characters. Through what they learn about the forest, life on the island and the people there, the girls are able to work out their differences and help out the community at the same time. 

Ellen-Anita , LMS