Whisper

Britney is a young, extremely malnourished child, who comes from a poor family with an abusive father. Her mother does everything she can to protect her daughter from her husband, receiving the brunt of the aggressive beatings herself. The girl barely speaks, afraid of being overheard by the wrong person, and the only words she knows are the few repeated words her mother uses to calm her after a fight. A total of three words in all, namely – Whisper, Britney, and Ma.There is a very private, sheltered spot in the nearby forest which Britney uses as a place to hide away if ever her mother has to spend the day walking into the nearest town to purchase supplies or to trade goods. They have discreet, non-verbal signals which they use to keep the area hidden and make sure that Britney is secure (far away from Pa’s prying eyes).On one such day, Britney hears unusual sounds and is terrified that her father has found out about their system, but the surprise turns out to be just a lonesome little puppy. The girl quickly becomes friends with the stray, instantly joining forces in their solitude, only ever meeting in the secret place where they share such a deeply silent, unspoken bond.This continues until Ma helps her only child run away for good, tearfully leaving Britney to fend for herself in the best way she knows how. The adoring puppy (promptly being referred to as Whisper) unexpectedly follows the girl, and together they set off on a journey that will forever change their lives…

Alison has been writing short stories to share with friends and family for many years and always enjoys exploring her creativity when putting pen to paper, so she is excited to have the opportunity to share her love of writing with others. Alison grew up around dogs, first Mila and then Smoky, who each went on many wonderful adventures and lived to a good old age, and she especially loves including 'man's best friend' or some other favorite animal throughout most of her stories.

Alison has been playing trombone since about 2010, euphonium from mid-2019, and always likes getting together with a few friends to ‘make a joyful noise’ sharing music. Alison also enjoys a bit of freelance photography when she gets the chance, especially if it involves taking pictures of sunsets.

Both The Bronson Escapades and The Wolf Cub are Silver Recipients of the Mom’s Choice Awards® honorary seal of excellence, with the latter being a 2nd place winner of the Royal Dragonfly Book Award Competition of 2024 in both the ‘Education’ and ‘Coffee Table & Gift Books’ categories, in addition to obtaining an Honorable Mention in several others: Best Cover Design, Children’s Chapter Books, Middle Grade Fiction, and Animals/Pets. More recently, The Wolf Cub also received a Bronze Medal in the 'EBook Pre-Teen Fiction' category in the 2025 Moonbeam Book Awards competition. Her 2024 trilogy titled Whisper, Lucas, and Escape have also been presented with the NAPPA Award winning seal.

Customer Reviews

4.9

17 reviews

Anna Griggs

A good read. Highly recommended
Shawna Blauser

Powerful storytelling through simplicity This book proves that a few words can carry enormous weight. Britney’s limited vocabulary makes the story even more moving, and the love between mother and child is portrayed with quiet strength. The relationship between Britney and Whisper is deeply touching and symbolic of survival. An emotionally rich and thoughtfully written book. I love it.
Charles T.

A quiet, heartbreaking, and unforgettable story Whisper: Book One is told with such tenderness and restraint that it stays with you long after the final page. Britney’s silence speaks louder than words, and her bond with the puppy is both heartbreaking and healing. Alison Bellringer writes with sensitivity and care, creating a story that is painful at times but also filled with hope. A beautifully emotional read.
Michael

Some books don’t just tell a story they stay with you. Whisper: Book One is one of them. Britney’s silence isn’t just a character trait; it’s the language of fear, survival, and love. The abuse in this story is handled with heartbreaking care, never sensationalized, always human. The mother’s quiet bravery and sacrifice hit me hard. And then there’s Whisper the puppy who becomes more than a companion, more than comfort. He becomes hope on four small paws. This is not a loud book. It’s a quiet ache. And somehow that makes it hurt more and mean more.
Michael Richard

This book deserves far more attention than it’s getting. Whisper tells the story of a child who has learned that silence is safety and how love can slowly teach her to live again. Britney’s world is heartbreakingly small, and yet the emotions in this book are massive. The forest hideaway, the silent signals, the lonely puppy… it all feels intimate, raw, and deeply moving. The relationship between Britney and Whisper is beautiful in its simplicity. No big speeches. No dramatic declarations. Just two broken souls finding comfort in each other’s presence. It’s rare to find a book that handles abuse, fear, and escape with this much sensitivity and tenderness. If you enjoy emotionally powerful stories with soft pacing, heavy themes, and unforgettable characters, you owe it to yourself to read this book. It’s quiet. It’s painful.
Pricillar Jane

A story that whispers straight to your soul I did not expect to be this emotionally wrecked by such a quiet, gentle book. Whisper is one of those rare stories that doesn’t shout to be heard it aches to be felt. Britney’s world is small, fragile, and terrifyingly real. The way Alison Bellringer writes trauma through silence is powerful in a way that loud stories never manage. Britney barely speaks, yet every page speaks volumes. Her bond with the puppy, Whisper, is pure, tender, and healing in the most human way possible. Their silent companionship becomes a lifeline in a world that has shown her nothing but cruelty. I found myself holding my breath through entire chapters, praying for this child’s safety. This book will break you open and then quietly stitch you back together with hope. If you love deeply emotional stories, vulnerable child protagonists, found family themes, and animal companions that feel like guardian angels do not miss this book. Read it. Feel it. Remember it.
Heena Rathore Rathore-Pardeshi

Whisper by Alison Bellringer is a beautiful story that opens softly and still manages to break your heart, and then carefully put it back together. Told from the POV of Britney, a malnourished little girl living with an abusive father, the novel traces her journey from fear and secrecy to safety, found family, and, slowly, trust. The book’s gentleness comes from an unlikely guardian: a stray puppy Britney names Whisper, whose steadfast presence changes the course of her life. From the gut-punch opening in the cottage, to the quiet, sacred ritual of a secret forest hideaway, and the puppy who finds her there, Author Bellringer writes with unshowy clarity that lets emotion land without melodrama. Scenes like Whisper fetching help and leading a kind carpenter to the collapsed child (and the warm safety of Grandma Ruby’s hearth) feel cinematic yet grounded, the sort of moments young readers cling to when they need proof that good adults exist. What I loved most is how the book treats healing as a slow, layered process. Britney’s vocabulary at first is just three words and the narrative mirrors that tentative expansion of self. As she grows, the world widens and there is the complicated arrival of people from her past. The author doesn’t sanitize trauma, but she centers resilience and community, showing how patience, consistency, and everyday kindness knit a life back together. Parents, teachers, and librarians will appreciate how the book handles tough themes with care like domestic violence, abandonment, and a nuanced strand of possible redemption, while keeping the focus on safety, boundaries, and support. The tone is middle-grade friendly, but I’d still suggest guided reading for sensitive readers; it invites valuable conversations about speaking up, trusting safe adults, and what real change looks like.
Reader Views

Britney and her Ma live in fear of Britney’s Pa. He lashes out physically, traumatizing Ma and Britney. One day while hiding from him, Britney meets a puppy whom she calls Whisper after a word her Ma often repeats to her. Slowly, Britney and Whisper bond until Ma tells Britney to take some food, walk away from their home, and never look back. Frightened, Britney heads out with a small bundle of food and only Whisper for company in “Whisper: Book One” by Alison Bellringer. After an arduous journey, Britney is found by a loving older woman named Ruby, and her son Lucas. Initially terrified, Britney slowly warms up to Ruby and Lucas, accepting them as her family and accepting that she’ll never see her Ma or Pa again. Or so she thinks. Britney’s Ma shows up unexpectedly and Ruby reveals that she is actually Britney’s grandmother. The family is overjoyed at being reunited until Pa comes looking for Ma and Britney. Gradually though, Pa changes his ways and is accepted back into the family. Author Alison Bellringer has written a compelling and clear story. The tale moves along at quite a clip, allowing readers to see a great progression of the story in a short period. However, more depth into Pa’s transformative period would have been welcome and have better allowed readers to accept he has truly changed and is truly remorseful. At the moment, the transformation is difficult to fully accept, especially as Pa’s reasoning for being violent appears to be pressure from his peers. Britney and Whisper are easy to root for. Adding an animal companion is always a great choice in books for children. Additionally, it’s great to see Britney have a constant protector when she is so often in physical or emotional peril. This peril makes a tough subject and is sometimes a bit too dark for the intended audience, in my opinion, so be cautioned that those who would be upset by a physically abusive parent storyline may wish to steer clear. “Whisper” is the first of a trilogy and is a tale of heartache, danger, and ultimately transformation, written for readers aged six to sixteen. While some depth would add credibility to the story, the main characters of Britney and Whisper will get readers on their side quickly.