The Whispers in the Walls (Scarlet and Ivy Series #2)

by Sophie Cleverly

Overview

The mystery continues in this spine-tingling, creepily atmospheric follow up to Sophie Cleverly's The Lost Twin! Scarlet and Ivy may have been reunited, but they are definitely not out of danger…

At the bidding of their cold-hearted stepmother, twin sisters Scarlet and Ivy are sentenced to board for a year at Rookwood School. The headmaster is cruel, the hallways are drafty, and there seems to be a thief afoot. When the finger of suspicion is pointed at Scarlet, she'll do whatever it takes to clear her name—including some late-night detective work. But in the darkness of Rookwood, mysteries of the past come to light. The walls are talking of secrets past, and it's up to Scarlet and Ivy to listen to their story…

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781492634065
Publisher:	Sourcebooks
Publication date:	05/02/2017
Series:	Scarlet and Ivy Series , #2
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	288
Sales rank:	823,361
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.90(d)
Age Range:	10 - 14 Years

About the Author

Sophie Cleverly began writing the Scarlet and Ivy series in her second year at college, where she studied creative writing. She knew she had to finish telling the story, and when she heard that the university offered a master’s program in writing for young people, she realized it was the perfect opportunity. She lives in Wiltshire, England. Visit hapfairy.co.uk.

Editorial Reviews

"The story ends with an intriguing mystery about Scarlet and Ivy’s mother that remains unsolved, paving the way for another installment." — School Library Journal

From the Publisher

06/01/2017
Gr 4–6—Twin sisters Scarlet and Ivy are reunited after Scarlet is assumed dead and Ivy follows the clues left in a secret diary to find her. The siblings are on their way back to Rookwood, their detested boarding school, and soon after they return, items begin to disappear in the middle of the night. As Scarlet and Ivy investigate this mystery, they start to learn more about the dark history of their school and realize they may be in danger. The story is told from both Scarlet's and Ivy's points of view in alternating chapters. The narrative relies heavily on the backstory from The Lost Twin, so plan to have the previous volume before purchasing the sequel. Compared with the first title, The Whispers in the Wall falls short. With the exception of Scarlet and Ivy, characters are not well developed. The mystery of items disappearing in the middle of the night reads like a mere plot device and doesn't feel all that high-stakes for the characters. The mystery's twists and turns are revealed quickly, before much suspense is developed. However, there are some moments of genuine tension. The story ends with an intriguing mystery about Scarlet and Ivy's mother that remains unsolved, paving the way for another installment. The premise of an atmospheric mystery at an English boarding school may be enough of a pull to get students interested in reading this series, despite some minor flaws in this new book. VERDICT An additional purchase for most; likely to have readers where The Lost Twin circulates well.—Celia Dillon, The Brearley School, New York

School Library Journal