Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Riveting mystery surrounds teen who hears voice in her head.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
Walking on the beach in the summer between junior and senior years, Cass discovers a human foot that's washed ashore -- which is more than enough to rattle anybody, but the town of Oakwood, New Jersey, has a serial killer on the loose, and Cass fears the foot may belong to one of his victims. Now Cass hears a voice when no one's around, and the voice is not nice. It curses, tells her she's worthless, and, worst of all, makes her hurt herself. Eventually she's hospitalized and given drug treatments, and she finds a support group for people who hear voices. As her newly learned coping strategies are starting to help, her best friend mysteriously disappears, and Cass fears the worst. At the same time, her budding romance with a cute guy in town for the summer starts to fall apart. Afraid of losing him, Cass tries to hide what she's going through and ends up digging herself into a deeper and deeper hole. But he's the only one she wants to WHISPER TO ME, so if she finally comes clean, will he forgive all the lies and the hurt?
Is It Any Good?
Nick Lake takes on quite a lot with this story of a teen's struggle with mental illness, and he's more than up to the task. There's plenty here to keep the pages turning: mysteries including a serial killer, past trauma, a dad with PTSD, and a missing friend; the intriguing, sometimes harrowing exploration of Cass' struggle against the voice that tells her to hurt herself; and, of course, the budding romance. Lake balances all these aspects, keeping the plot moving and seamlessly shifting from one to another without short-changing any.
Cass' utterly believable narrative voice creates a likable, relatable protagonist who destigmatizes mental problems and could encourage the estimated 10 percent of teens who experience them by assuring us all that it can get better with help.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how trauma affects the mind. Notice how differently Cass and her father cope (or don't cope) with their different past traumas. What do you think of Dr. Lewis' strategies? Do they seem realistic and doable? What about drug therapies?
Cass doesn't seem to like what Paris does for a living, but she doesn't say anything to Paris about it. Should she have? Have you ever tried to talk someone out of something you thought was dangerous or bad for them? How did it go?
Do you think writing or typing a letter is a good way to explain yourself? If you were asking for forgiveness, would you rather do it in person or in writing? Why? Do you think Cass' letter will work?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Coming of Age
- Topics : Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Bloomsbury USA
- Publication date : May 3, 2016
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 17
- Number of pages : 544
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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