Whisper of the Woods by D.G. Driver

Whisper of the Woods by D.G. Driver
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Juniper Sawfeather seems to have a talent for finding mythological creatures. Or maybe the creatures are finding her.

The mermaids she saved from the oil spill are long gone. There’s no evidence of them, and she’s been branded as a liar and a fake in the media and at school. Her environmental activist parents have moved on to a protest to save Old Growth trees from being chopped down. June isn’t particularly concerned with this cause until after falling asleep at the base of a giant tree she wakes to find herself 40 feet in the air on one of its branches!

From this point on she becomes obsessed with the tree, and it appears the tree is becoming obsessed with her too. Soon, she is trapped 170 feet above the ground, and the magical spirit that resides in the tree isn’t interested in letting her go free or allowing anyone else to save her. Is the tree spirit good or evil? Will Juniper’s feet ever touch the ground again?

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I'm in awe of Ms. Driver's talent for creating characters that feel so real. If I was told that this was a memoir, I wouldn't have too much trouble believing it. June is entering a new season of her life, which is never easy, and it was nice to see the strained relationship she has with her parents slowly improving.

The mermaids have gone into hiding (for now...) so June's attention turns to an ancient tree on the local Indian reservation that may or may not have become a home for trapped human spirits. Her uncle blames the tree for the supposed death of his sister and is determined to destroy it while the tree is equally as determined to survive. What happens when June is caught in the middle?

This author has the finesse to get her message across without preaching or becoming heavy handed so even readers without any interest in environmentalism might find themselves pondering the issues she brings up. If you enjoy YA lit and appreciate strong heroines, this is a series you'll love.


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