Talking in Whispers (Puffin Teenage Fiction S.) - Softcover

James, Watson

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0141300795 ISBN 13: 9780141300795

Publisher: Puffin, 1998

Synopsis

Isa, the girl he loves, says Andres is a cat with nine lives - but will he live long enough in Chile under a ruthless military government? He is sixteen and has already witnessed the assassination of his mother, but his life is irrevocably altered when the driver of a car he is travelling in, is shot and his father is dragged from the wreck and taken away. Andres becomes a wanted man, a prime target for the security forces and to be seen with others is to put them in peril. Capture would mean ajourney to the dreaded House of Laughter where few survive the torture. Andres finds new friends, stubborn and courageous, who help when a chance encounter with an American journalist increases the value of his freedom.

About this title

From the Author:

Thanks to many teachers, this story has still got a life.
One of my greatest pleasures gained from responses to this political thriller is that it makes even the reluctant reader turn the pages. 'Talking in Whispers' some time ago won the German book prize, The Buxtehuder Bulle, given for teenage fiction dealing with human rights themes. I was delighted to see that 50% of the prize-giving jury was made up of young readers themselves. My main hope is that the novel will prompt young people to try later books of mine, such as 'No Surrender', set in war-torn Angola, 'Ticket To Prague', about life in Eastern Europe after the fall of the Iron Curtain and my latest book, 'Justice of the Dagger', set in East Timor and dealing with the repression of the people of that island by their Indonesian overlords.

From the Back Cover:

'In Chile, where the military Junta rules, knowing the truth is enough to put your life at risk.'

Here was terrible danger. The photographer had been snapped by the officer's eye. He turned to Andres: 'Take this – I beg you. The film in that camera...'

For an eternal second Andres stood and watched as the journalist was dragged away. He trembled as if touched by an electrified fence. Till now, he had wandered helplessly, insignificant. His brain, his heart, his passionate resolve – they were nothing in the face of the Junta's untouchable strength.

But now, a brief encounter has changed everything. All at once, he has a direction. The film is worth more than bullets. He must join those brave people who are speaking out, no longer talking in whispers.

About this edition

• Publisher: Puffin
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0141300795
• ISBN 13: 9780141300795
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 144