The Whistling Season quickly won my heart. The story is delightful and captivating, but the writing is absolutely stunning. Wallace Stegner came to mind more than once as I read. Doig somehow inherited Stegner’s genius for storytelling, particularly in writing about the West, but he adds his own fresh, witty style. I couldn’t put the book down.

Rich, full characters with high moral standards and the ability to meet all challenges with integrity make this story even more compelling to read. We follow a young man through a critical teenage year as he shows maturity and depth of character that are not unrealistic but truly impressive. He makes his share of mistakes too, which are often hilarious. Flash forwards to a present-day dilemma that is solved by reflecting on the past are poignant and compelling.

The exciting denouement at the end of the book is icing on the cake. I’m recommending The Whistling Season to everyone I know!

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  12 mild obscenities; 1 derogatory name.

Violence/Gore:  Two teens fistfight; a student accidentally hits a teacher; a character’s foot is crushed by a horse; a character kills an animal brutally; a character has severe nightmares; a character finds another character dead of causes incident to age; two characters are physically threatened but left unharmed.

Sex/Nudity:  Two unmarried characters are alleged to have had sexual relations.

Mature Subject Matter:

Death of a family member, gambling, theft.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

None