Whispers in The Alders by H.A. Callum

This is a book about the unlikely friendship that develops between a boy and a girl in their early teens in a town filled with prejudice and the threat of poverty. Refuge from stress and abuse in their homes is found in a hideout among a group of Alder trees that frame their neighborhood.

Deep and engrossing, I found myself both fearful and entranced at this tragic tale. It was hard to put down, but I had to take breaks from the almost overwhelming storyline. It pulls you in with anxiety and sadness, but also gives you much insight into teenage angst and the sorrow shared in this unusual friendship. Expertly written, H.A. Callum is a master of creating suspense in a way that has you pulling for this couple that you know is going to end in tragedy.