Whisper

Whisper introduces Joy, a fifteen-year-old who possesses the unique ability to hear people's innermost thoughts and desires, a gift she uses to bring happiness. Her older sister, Jessica, shares this psychic ability but wields it destructively, causing pain and misery. When Jessica expresses a desperate desire to eliminate her power, even at the cost of her own life, Joy feels compelled to save her. This leads Joy on a perilous journey, involving deserting friends, stealing a car, and running away with a mysterious boy. The book explores complex sibling relationships, the responsibility of power, and the challenges of navigating dangerous situations to protect a loved one. It's a suspenseful read for middle-grade and early YA readers.

I'd love a cup of coffee. . . . I wish she didn't hide how pretty she is. . . . I hope she didn't find out what Ben said about her. . . . I wish I knew how many calories were in a bite of muffin. . . .Joy is used to Hearing Whispers. She's used to walking down the street and instantly knowing people's deepest, darkest desires. She uses this talent for good—to make people happy and give them what they want. But for her older sister, Jessica, the family gift is a curse, and she uses it to make people's lives—especially Joy's—miserable. Still, when Joy Hears Jessica Whisper I want to kill my Hearing dead, and kill me too if that's what it takes, she knows she has to save her sister, even if it means deserting her friends, stealing a car, and running away with a boy she barely knows—a boy who may have a dark secret of his own.Whisper is an exhilarating debut novel from talented newcomer Phoebe Kitanidis.