The Whistle [Paperback]

Grade 5-9–Mary Devon, named for her great-aunt Mary, has gone to rural Canada with her mother to help her grandfather Humphrey, who has broken his leg. She soon discovers a dog whistle that she feels mysteriously compelled to use. When she blows it, she is transported back in time to Humphreys childhood days on the familys homestead and is suddenly Mary, Humphreys sister. She comes to love her family (whom she has never had the chance to know) but also becomes aware of deep secrets that have filtered down into the present. She must figure out a way to deal with them and bring her grandfather the peace he so desperately wants. Perhaps a little contrived, The Whistle nonetheless has an evocative sense of place. Lupini does an excellent job of crafting believable, three-dimensional characters whom middle-school girls will especially come to care for. The bittersweet ending is appropriate for the story and will raise important questions for readers about truth and making tough choices.–Melissa Moore, Union University Library, Jackson, TN
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"This is an intriguing and well-written story that flows well when you are reading it. The cover is captivating also. The content is appropriate for this age group and the story keeps you wanting to read and never put it down. There really is not anything I didn’t like about this book. I would definitely recommend this five-star book mostly because it is a captivating story that would be a great addition to any library."
-- Lane Education Service District

"Sooner or later, most writers of fiction for children are tempted to try their hand at time travel. Though this fantasy genre has certain formulaic elements - the travel trigger, parallel plotlines, and symbiotic connections - it nevertheless allows authors to indulge their imaginations beyond the usual scope. Rarely, however, is the finished product as marvelously crafted and downright riveting as The Whistle by Valerie Rolfe Lupini. . .

"The characters in this novel are beautifully drawn. As a result, the reader can't help but care about them, celebrating their joyous times and suffering their tragedies. As for the plot, it is a cleverly crafted weaving. Threads are pulled from one plot into the other so effortlessly that by the story's end, the result is a seamless tapestry.

"This novel is a reminder of the importance of family. It shows how good people can make mistakes, and it speaks to the healing power of forgiveness. Rolfe Lupini may have written The Whistle for young readers, but I recommend it for everyone.
Highly Recommended."
-- CM Magazine

When her grandfather injures himself in a fall, teenaged Mary joins her mother in comforting the old man as he recovers. But almost from the moment she walks in the door of her grandfather's home, Mary finds herself drawn into the vortex of her family's hidden past. A mysterious family portrait may unlock the truth but the real action begins when Mary discovers Grandad's old dog whistle and its sound sweeps her into the past where she becomes a witness to dark family secrets. Does she dare tell her family what she discovers?

As a third generation Vancouverit e, Valerie Rolfe Lupini fled the city to raise her family on Bowen and Vancouver islands. After the birth of her second son came the publication of her first book There Goes the Neighbourhood, followed by a decade of mothering and homeschooling. After that she wrote her second book, The Whistle, though fiction, developed after she delved into her family’s colourfull homesteading history.