Sweet Whispers, Brother Rush facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | Virginia Hamilton |
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| Illustrator | Leo and Diane Dillon |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Children's literature, ghost stories |
| Published | 1982 (Philomel Books) |
| Media type | Print (hardback, paperback) |
| Pages | 217 (unpaginated) |
| ISBN | 9780399208942 |
| OCLC | 8112549 |
Sweet Whispers, Brother Rush is an exciting children's novel written by Virginia Hamilton in 1982. This book tells the story of a young girl who discovers secrets about her family's past. It explores themes like ghosts, growing up in a single-parent home, and dealing with family challenges. Like many of Virginia Hamilton's books, this story takes place in the state of Ohio.
Contents
How the Story Was Made
Virginia Hamilton wrote Sweet Whispers, Brother Rush in two different places. She worked on the book in Ohio during the colder months of winter and spring. She also wrote parts of it while on an island in the sunny Caribbean.
Hamilton included a special health condition called porphyria in the novel. This condition can make people feel very tired and confused. She decided to add it because a close friend of hers had this illness. Hamilton had wanted to write about porphyria in a book for nearly twenty years before finally using it in Sweet Whispers.
What the Story is About
The main character is a smart teenager named Theresa "Tree" Pratt. She lives in Ohio and often takes care of her older brother, Dab. Dab has a developmental disability and a mysterious illness that makes him very tired and confused. Their mother, M'Vy, is often away from home working.
One day, Tree sees a well-dressed man after school and feels drawn to him. The next time she sees him, he is standing on a table in a closet in their apartment. He is holding an oval mirror. Tree quickly realizes that this man is a ghost named Brother Rush.
Through Brother Rush's special mirror, Tree can see moments from her family's past. These visions show her difficult truths, including how her mother treated her brother when they were younger. When Tree's mother, M'Vy, comes home, Tree talks to her about Brother Rush and the family's past. All of this happens as Dab's mysterious illness gets worse.
Who Are the Characters?
- Theresa "Tree" Pratt is the main character of the book. Tree looks after her brother Dab while their mother, M'Vy, is often out working.
- Dabney "Dab" Pratt is Tree's brother. He has a developmental disability and a strange illness. This illness makes him very tired and confused all the time.
- M'Vy is Tree and Dab's mother. She works as a practical nurse and is often away from their apartment.
- Brother Rush is Tree's uncle. He appears as a ghost through a table in the family's apartment. He shows Tree visions of her family's history.
- Miss Pricherd is a friend of the family and helps them with their home.
- Silversmith is M'Vy's boyfriend.
Awards and Recognition
Sweet Whispers, Brother Rush won several important awards for children's books.
- It received the 1983 Coretta Scott King Author Award. This award honors African American authors and illustrators of children's books.
- It also won the 1983 Boston Globe–Horn Book Award. This award recognizes excellence in children's and young adult literature.
The novel was also a finalist for the 1983 National Book Award for Young People's Literature. It was also recognized as a Newbery Honor book. The Newbery Medal is one of the most famous awards for children's literature in the United States.
