Review by Lily, Redland Green School, Bristol
The Whistlers in the Dark is a fiction book about a Damnonii girl on one side of the Antonine wall in Scotland, and on the other is a thirteen year old boy who is training to be a Roman soldier. I really enjoyed how this book had split narration where you get to hear the point of view of both the main characters which is something I haven't seen before.

The book starts with the death of Jinny's brother, because she was blamed Jinny can no longer become one of the older children and is stuck on her own. The others get a day where they all come of age but she is not allowed to take part until she proves to the village elders that she is more mature.

Jinny blames her brother's death on Felix the Roman soldier and envies him as she believes he has more food and supplies then them but the Roman town is struggling just as much as the Damnonii tribe. Not long after the winter has set in, Jinny and Felix are forced to set aside their differences in an attempt to save both their homes.

In my opinion the book is interesting and has an unexpected plot line, I would recommend reading it

Review by Anum, Claremont High School, Harrow, Middlesex
The book ‘The Whistlers in the Dark’ written by Victoria Williamson is an amazing book that I loved to read, and I would recommend it to other students if they were looking forward to an adventure. The main part of the book is two children from opposing tribes (Romans and Damnonii) who together awaken the stones and they must put them back to sleep before the stones kill everyone (by eating people) until they find them. This book seems historic because of the way people would speak, their slang is hugely different to what it is nowadays, and the structure of their sentences is quite different.

My favourite character from this book is a boy called Bram because he never looks at the negatives in people, always the positive. He is also a very bright and joyful boy; he is described as lighting up every room he walks into. Another reason this is my favourite character is because he is so innocent and seems really sweet.

What I like about this book is that each chapter changes from one of the two characters that awakened the stones and I find it really organising and clear.

I want to find out more about why the author describes the Romans as metal men in the book. Is it because they are wearing armours all the time? If so, why are they?