Whisper of the Woods by D.G. Driver (Do YOU believe in Tree Spirits?)

Review by MCCBD Project Manager, Becky Flansburg

Yet another awesome book from D. G. Driver…

That truly was my first thought when I finished the final page of Whisper of the Woods and sat for a moment with my thoughts whirling. I connected with D.G. several years ago during the very first Multicultural Children’s Book Day. From the start, Cry of the Sea intrigued me and once I settled in to read it, it hook from from beginning to end.

From the first book, Cry of the Sea, I loved Juniper’s character. I especially loved that not only was the protagonist a strong female teen, but she was Native American as well; two things that aren’t always easy to find in YA. Her pride and fiery character that had me hooked to the story and her struggles as not only a teen, but a teen of high-profile parents who were often under fire for their activist ways. Whisper of the Woods keeps the mystery, intrigue and action rolling with a surprise ending that I didn’t see coming (but LOVED)!

Book Summary

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?

What People are Saying

“(June) is a young woman of substance and holds firm to who she is despite heavy pressure from her parents and peers at school. She’s the kind of role model for girls that I love to see in YA books… If you’re looking for a book with a strong heroine and something fresh and unique to offer, [Cry of the Sea] is for you.” Rachel Poole, Cullen House Book Reviews

“The story behind the tree is laced with Native American legends. Combining with the legends, Driver gives us a story that is entertaining and thought provoking. Driver takes a risk in writing a story that is about environmental awareness. She does a great job with it by mixing it with the entertaining storyline.” – Avid Amy Reviews

As book two of the Juniper Sawfeather Novel series, this book does a great job of being able to stand on its own. Any reference to occurrences and happenings from the first book in the series, titled Cry of the Sea, is described in gentle reminders without a rehashing of book one. In Whisper of the Woods, Juniper finds herself struggling with issues of romance, family differences of opinion, and fighting for what she really believes in…” Lisa’s Kid Book Reviews

Where You Can Get D.G. Driver’s Books

Lulu
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
If you’d like a signed print copy, you can order one from Parnassus Books, a Nashville independent bookseller. Just put SIGNED in the order comments. If you put PERSONALIZED, they will have me come by the store and sign it specifically to you!

Connect With D.G. Driver

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest, Goodreads, Amazon Author Page

**We were gifted a copy of Whisper of the Woods. Opinions expressed are purely our own.

**Some of these links are affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, MCCBD will get a very small commission. This money will be used to get more multicultural books into the hands of parents, teachers and librarians.

Authors & Publishers: Sponsorship Info for 2017