Whistle in the Dark by Susan Hill Long is a realistic fiction novel set in the 1924 about a young boy who has to work in the mines but really wants a different life.

Clem's family needs money because his sister Ettie has epilepsy, which means doctor bills, and his grandfather has consumption because of working in the mines. At thirteen, Clem is considered a man and should contribute to the house. He loves to write and on his last day of school, he reads his essay aloud called “I believe.” He writes beautifully with metaphor and imagery; in fact, his teacher says that he's the best student she's ever had. Now, there's no more wasting time with education when the family is in need. He receives the latest in mining helmets from his father and starts working on his birthday. He hates it. The dark drains the passion of life, and Clem feels like he'll just suffocate down there.

Clem finds a lost dog and is miraculously allowed to keep him. He also becomes friends with Linda Jean, Lindy, who also wants something else out of life than what her father offers her, a moonshine still.

It's a good book and a quick read. You will especially appreciate modern life although struggling to find money to pay for necessities will always be a timeless truth in society. If you liked Countdown, you’ll like this book. ( )

Delightful story of a young boy and his dreams of a life outside of the mines. His schooling ends when he finishes grade school and he must go into the mines to help with the family expenses. After a mine accident, he becomes the sole provider. When finished the book, I immediately passed it on to a young boy (a friend of my waitress) that I met in a restaurant. ( )

Clem needs to leave school to earn a paycheck by working in the mines. He understands the burden of his little sister's medical bills (she has epilepsy) but he yearns to stay in school. He is a storyteller at heart. Only little sister Esther really understands his talents. The climax of the book is based on a true event - the great Tri-State Tornado of 1925. The budding friendship between outcast Lindy and Clem as well as the bond between Clem and Esther are conveyed simply and deeply. They make this book very special. It is both a heart-breaking and heart-warming story. ( )