The Whispers in the Walls (Scarlet and Ivy, 2) - Softcover

Cleverly, Sophie

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1492634069 ISBN 13: 9781492634065

Publisher: Sourcebooks Young Readers, 2017

Synopsis

When the walls begin to speak, it is unwise to ignore what they have to say...

At the bidding of their cold-hearted stepmother, twin sisters Scarlet and Ivy are sentenced to board for a year at Rookwood School. The headmaster is cruel, the hallways are drafty, and there seems to be a thief afoot. When the finger of suspicion is pointed at Scarlet, she'll do whatever it takes to clear her name―including some late-night detective work. But in the darkness of Rookwood, mysteries of the past come to light. The walls are talking of secrets past, and it's up to Scarlet and Ivy to listen to their story...

About this title

About the Author

Sophie Cleverly began writing the Scarlet and Ivy series in her second year at college, where she studied creative writing. She knew she had to finish telling the story, and when she heard that the university offered a master's program in writing for young people, she realized it was the perfect opportunity. She lives in Wiltshire, England. Visit hapfairy.co.uk.

From School Library Journal

Gr 4–6—Twin sisters Scarlet and Ivy are reunited after Scarlet is assumed dead and Ivy follows the clues left in a secret diary to find her. The siblings are on their way back to Rookwood, their detested boarding school, and soon after they return, items begin to disappear in the middle of the night. As Scarlet and Ivy investigate this mystery, they start to learn more about the dark history of their school and realize they may be in danger. The story is told from both Scarlet's and Ivy's points of view in alternating chapters. The narrative relies heavily on the backstory from The Lost Twin, so plan to have the previous volume before purchasing the sequel. Compared with the first title, The Whispers in the Wall falls short. With the exception of Scarlet and Ivy, characters are not well developed. The mystery of items disappearing in the middle of the night reads like a mere plot device and doesn't feel all that high-stakes for the characters. The mystery's twists and turns are revealed quickly, before much suspense is developed. However, there are some moments of genuine tension. The story ends with an intriguing mystery about Scarlet and Ivy's mother that remains unsolved, paving the way for another installment. The premise of an atmospheric mystery at an English boarding school may be enough of a pull to get students interested in reading this series, despite some minor flaws in this new book. VERDICT An additional purchase for most; likely to have readers where The Lost Twin circulates well.—Celia Dillon, The Brearley School, New York

About this edition

• Publisher: Sourcebooks Young Readers
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 1492634069
• ISBN 13: 9781492634065
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 288