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

19 reviews

The Children’s Book Review, 2025

In Whisper, readers will be inspired by the bravery of a little girl, whose courageous adventures set the stage for a story that will connect three families over three generations. Britney leads a life of pain and fear with an abusive father whose drunken moods and constant violence toward her mother have led her to spend most of her life in hiding… Her one comfort is an unexpected friend—a black and tan puppy who shares Britney’s secret hiding place. The two become fast friends, and when Britney’s mother finally decides she must send her daughter away for safety, Whisper the Puppy and Britney find they have only each other to rely on… Britney is a vulnerable character, but as readers watch her grow in trust and strength, they will come to understand that even the worst situations can be escaped and healed from. Whisper, steadfast and loyal, shows readers the profound importance of the love of an animal in surviving hard times. The story shows there is a great deal of cruelty in the world, but hope and kindness can prevail. Whisper is the first installment in a trilogy exploring family, friendship, resilience, and healing from trauma—it offers a poignant and inspiring narrative that will surely resonate with readers.
Charlotte: City Book Review

Whisper is one of the best books I’ve ever read! The story is exciting, sad, and sometimes even scary, but it also has moments that make you feel hopeful. The beginning of the book grabbed my attention right away… The writing is really good because it makes you see and feel everything so clearly… the descriptions pull you right into the story. It’s not just a sad book, though—there’s adventure, friendship, and moments of happiness that make it really special… I would recommend Whisper to anyone who loves stories about courage, animals, and finding hope in tough situations. It’s an unforgettable book, and I think a lot of kids my age would love it…
Holly Smith: Reader Views

Whisper is the first of a trilogy and is a tale of heartache, danger, and ultimately transformation… Adding an animal companion is always a great choice in books for children and Britney and Whisper are easy to root for...