Island of Whispers

Take a trip to the misty island of Merlank in this gothic thriller by Frances Hardinge, a coming-of-age tale, interwoven with stunning illustrations by Emily Gravett.Unexpectedly thrust into the role of the Ferryman, young Milo is tasked with taking the lingering Dead across the dark sea to the Island of the Broken Tower, where they can finally move on.On his first perilous journey, his ghostly passengers include his own father and the teenage daughter of the Lord of Merlank, who is unprepared to give her up and follows in pursuit in a bigger boat, filled with armed men and two dark magicians at his command. Milo must face untold traps, dangers and fears as he carries his ghostly passengers across secret seas . . .Swarms of sinister moths, strange headless birds and chillingly shrouded figures of death will keep you on the edge of your seat in the heart-warming Island of Whispers, from the author of the Costa Award-winning The Lie Tree, and with atmospheric artwork from the twice-CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal winner.

Frances Hardinge spent a large part of her childhood in a huge old house that inspired her to write strange stories from an early age. She read English at Oxford University, then got a job at a software company. However, a few years later a persistent friend finally managed to bully Frances into sending a few chapters of Fly By Night, her first children's novel, to a publisher. Macmillan made her an immediate offer. The book went on to publish to huge critical acclaim and win the Branford Boase First Novel Award. She has since written many highly acclaimed children's novels, including Fly By Night's sequel Twilight Robbery, as well as the Carnegie-shortlisted Cuckoo Song and the Costa Book of the Year winner, The Lie Tree.Emily Gravett has a rare talent for creating exceptional books for children. The winner of two CILIP Kate Greenaway Medals, her skill and wit are second to none. Emily first sprang into the limelight with the ground-breaking Wolves, which has been followed by such modern classics as Meerkat Mail, Little Mouse's Big Book of Fears, Monkey and Me and Again! and the fabulous Bear and Hare series for younger readers, as well as the beautiful Tidy, Old Hat, Cyril and Pat and Meerkat Christmas. Each book is unique and different from the last – and each features endearing, beautifully drawn characters that touch the heart and tickle the funny bone. Emily lives in Brighton with her family.

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