Review: Whistle "Will Keep Readers on the Edge of Their Seats"

Book review: The Whistle, the Grave, and the GhostWhile on a Boy Scout camping trip, Lewis Barnavelt discovers a silver whistle with a strange inscription and a large rock with the words, "Hic Iacet Lamia," Here Lies-. Lewis takes the whistle to his friend Rose Rita and together they translate its inscription, "Whistle and I shall come," and the word "Lamia," vampire witch. Suddenly Lewis discovers that the instrument appears just when he needs it the most, to scare the town bullies. However, the boy no longer feels like himself, and it takes the magic of his uncle, Mrs. Zimmerman, and Father Foley to save Lewis's soul from eternal damnation. Once again, Strickland has produced a book that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. The action is fast paced and the characters are well developed. A riveting addition to the series started by John Bellairs.

Kim Carlson
for School Library Journal
Monticello High School, IA