West, Carly Anne The Murmurings, 370 pgs. Simon Pulse, 2013. $13.26 Language: PG-13 (20+ swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content – PG13; Violence: PG13;
Nell was found dead a year ago hanging by her big toe in a tree in Jerome, Arizona. It is presumed she committed suicide. Sophie is Nell’s sister and she doesn’t think she was a suicide. Their mom can’t handle the loss. She has started drinking; she doesn’t get out of bed; she doesn’t go to work. Sophie has been left on her own. Sophie’s aunt tries to help but things look bad. Nell was admitted to the Oakside Behavioral Institute because she heard voices and was seeing things that weren’t there. Or were they? Sophie has started to hear murmurings too. A voice she can’t quite understand. Things are moving just out of her peripheral sight – always in reflective surfaces like mirrors. Sophie needs answers. She meets Evan who befriends her and together they follow clues found in Nell's journal in search for answers. They learn Nell escaped form Oakside with an orderly named Adam. What answers can he give them? Nell’s doctor says he needs to see Sophie and he can help her. Is he an answer to the murmurings or is he at the root of the problem?
The story is somewhat predictable and you could see a few contrived clues. I wanted to learn the ending and it made me read it straight through. There is a relationship that develops between Sophie and Evan but it doesn’t go beyond kissing. There was some swearing but not an overload. I think it could have been a bit more suspenseful.
HS – OPTIONAL. Reviewer: Warren Child, Library Media Specialist Cyprus HS
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