Whistling In the Dark
by Lesley Kagen
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Book Summary Information
Author: Lesley KagenEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2007-05-01
ISBN: 0451221230
Number of pages: 336
Publisher: NAL Trade
Book Reviews of Whistling In the Dark
Book Review: My favorite father
Summary: 5 Stars
I love it when a writer totally keeps a secret until the end with clues to the revelation of that secret just right there. What I mean is that the reader does not even know there is a secret. Using a child narrator as the main character is such a clever way to unfold the story without revealing that there is a true truth. This is one of those books requiring a second read to catch all the things you unknowingly missed the first time.
There is a serial killer in the Vliet Street neighborhood, a neighborhood of many ethnic families, its own little melting pot of Americana. The O'Malley sisters, Sally and Troo, 10 and 9, have their own melt-down to deal with. Their mother goes into the hospital for a long stay and is perhaps dying. In 1959 little girls were not allowed to make hospital visits. While she is gone, her third husband, a drunk, finally runs off, leaving the O'Mally sisters in the neglectful care of their older sister, who focuses on her boyfriend. The two younger sisters insinuate their way into the ethnic meals of their favorite families so they don't starve.
Sally O'Malley, a blonde with green eyes, thinks Officer Rasmussen is the serial killer--she has proof. Troo, the year younger sister, believes someone else is the killer. The picture on the cover of the book does not accurately show the personalities of the two. Normally, red-haired Troo leads the way while blonde Sally follows to protect her year-younger sister. This is something she promised her father before his death following a vehicular accident. Sally adored her father and misses not only him, but now her mother.
I found myself reading into the night, wanting to know what would happen next, what insights Sally would have. There is a treasure trove of wonderful and memorable characters, as well as horrible ones in this treasure chest of a book. One of the great ones is Ethel, the African-American from Mississippi who is the wisest, most caring person the two sisters know and love. She is the caretaker for an elderly, homebound woman, who lives next door to Officer Rasmussen. Ethel is their pillar during this time without their mother.
One of the horrible ones is Reese Latour, a bully who is cruel to everyone, especially his brother, who has a septum deviation, and sister, who is a Down Syndrome child full of life and love. Sally arranges something very special for this girl at the end of the book.
In fact, this is a book the reader will want to experience again, if not for the revelation of the secret, but for the kindness of kin and neighbors. Even their neglecting Nell becomes part of the big picture of family. Add Sally O'Malley to that pantheon of wise little girl narrators. She is something special.
Summary of Whistling In the Dark
It was the summer on Vliet Street when we all started locking our doors...
Sally O'Malley made a promise to her daddy before he died. She swore she'd look after her sister, Troo. Keep her safe. But like her Granny always said-actions speak louder than words. Now, during the summer of 1959, the girls' mother is hospitalized, their stepfather has abandoned them for a six pack, and their big sister, Nell, is too busy making out with her boyfriend to notice that Sally and Troo are on the Loose. And so is a murderer and molester.
Highly imaginative Sally is pretty sure of two things. Who the killer is. And that she's next on his list. Now she has no choice but to protect herself and Troo as best she can, relying on her own courage and the kindness of her neighbors.
Sally O'Malley made a promise to her daddy before he died. She swore she'd look after her sister, Troo. Keep her safe. But like her Granny always said-actions speak louder than words. Now, during the summer of 1959, the girls' mother is hospitalized, their stepfather has abandoned them for a six pack, and their big sister, Nell, is too busy making out with her boyfriend to notice that Sally and Troo are on the Loose. And so is a murderer and molester.
Highly imaginative Sally is pretty sure of two things. Who the killer is. And that she's next on his list. Now she has no choice but to protect herself and Troo as best she can, relying on her own courage and the kindness of her neighbors.
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