Island of Whispers
core novel 2023 Island of Whispers
Record
| First published | 2023 |
|---|---|
| Original language |  EN |
| Work type | novel |
| Canon status | core |
| Reader rating | 4.21 (1,073 ratings, collected 2026-10-29) |
| Page count | 120 |
| First-edition ISBN | 9781529088076 |
| Internal chronology | 1 |
Synopsis
On the misty island of Merlank the dead must not be allowed to linger, because the very sight of a ghost can kill. It falls to the Ferryman to carry the newly dead across the sea to the Island of the Broken Tower, where they can move on. When Milo’s father, the Ferryman, dies suddenly, the untrained and reluctant boy has to take his place. His first voyage carries a cargo of ghosts that includes his own father and the teenage daughter of the Lord of Merlank, who will not let his child go and gives chase in a larger ship, crewed by armed men and two sinister magicians. Milo must find his way through mist-bound seas full of traps and dangers, and find the courage to finish the journey. The short novel, a gothic fairy tale about grief and kindness, is illustrated throughout by Emily Gravett.
Where it sits
- Universe: Island of Whispers
- Series: Island of Whispers core; position 1 of 1 in the series' recorded order
- Author: Frances Hardinge
Awards (verified)
- Mythopoeic Award (Children's Literature), 2025: won; Credited to Frances Hardinge (author) and Emily Gravett (illustrator).
Notes
- Illustrated by Emily Gravett. UK first edition Two Hoots (Pan Macmillan), 21 September 2023; US edition Amulet (Abrams), 27 August 2024, ISBN 9781419774331.
- From the series record (Island of Whispers): Standalone illustrated novel.
Sources
- Pan Macmillan: Island of Whispers
- Kirkus Reviews: Island of Whispers
- Mythopoeic Society: 2025 Mythopoeic Awards
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