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About the Book

Title: Whispers of Trees
Author: Ben Woodard
Genre: Children’s Multicultural Adventure
Number of Pages: 57
Publisher: Miller-Martin Press
Publication Date: March 15, 2016

Synopsis: An ancient forest, a dark night, a strange woman—and whispers.

What is going on in this eerie Irish forest? Ten-year-old Declan has to find out. His brother is missing and only he can solve the mystery. But why him? He doesn’t even like his always-yelling brother who his sister says was eaten by wolves. But there are no wolves in Ireland.

Then a witch-like woman tells him the two of them have to go into the spooky woods to save his brother. But from what? The strange trees only whisper the answer and he must discover what they are trying to tell him. But he will learn much more than he ever dreamed.

Whispers of Trees is a fun, page-turning thriller hinting of myth that delivers a multicultural adventure.

This is the second book in the Mythic Adventures Collection. The first book is The Boy Who Flew With Eagles. You can preview it here:
The Boy Who Flew With Eagles

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My Review

Whispers of Trees really is a page-turner, a beautifully penned tale of fantasy, mystic folklore and thrills. I actually read it twice, to make sure to be as objective as possible for this review. I love the eerie ambiance and the descriptions of the woods of Ireland. I’ve been there, and it’s not hard to know how the idea of faeries and magical folk came about. The tale, infused with the green-magic of ancestral Celt Druids, is a very enjoyable read. However, I feel that having the entire story told from a narrator point of view takes away from the inner realizations of our lead character, Declan — a 10 year-old boy who is trying to understand himself and his family too. I also believe my main problem with the book is the fact that the main conflict doesn’t seem too dire, and its solution too easy and abrupt. A teacher of mine used to say, “Give your audience what they want, but not the way they expect it,” and this is exactly the problem with this particular story.  We have characters saying what is happening to them, but I can’t see or feel the change in them, if that makes sense.

Whispers of Trees is a good read for kids 9 to 13. I’m sure they’ll be drawn to the spooky descriptions and initial mystery of the disappearing brother, without the book ever being too scary for them to lose sleep.

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About the Author: Ben Woodard

Ben is an adventurer and storyteller who has traveled the world including climbing on Mt. Everest. He now writes adventure stories for boys and girls. Tales of lost gold and river caves, and flying with eagles. Stories of friendship that endure through adversity and danger. Adventures that inspire and educate and, most of all, entertain.

For more information about Ben, please visit BooksByBen.com.

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