The Ragamuffin Sisters: The Mysterious Mr. Whistler

De: Anita Higman, Hillary McMullen

Narrado por: Michelle Babb

What happens when four creative, slightly brilliant, misfit girls team up against a gang of bullies?

That's right. Danger, chaos, and more adventure than any middle school girl should be faced with in a lifetime!

When Jane, Elle, Dakota and Sketti band together to face The Thickheads, they land themselves in the midst of a murder-mystery that none of them is prepared to deal with. And when The Thickheads get involved, lines are drawn and accusations are flung.

But when the two opposing groups join forces, they learn that together, they can mend fences and face the giants.

This laugh-out-loud, coming-of-age mystery is a must-hear for anyone who's ever felt like a misfit, anyone who's ever been bullied, or anyone who's ever felt like they were on the outside looking in.

©2016 Armonia Publishing (P)2017 Armonia Publishing

Many Pertinent Themes in a Small Package

Any additional comments?

The Ragamuffin Sisters: The Mysterious Mr. Whistler by Hillary McMullen, Anita Higman is a great example of how bigger isn’t always better. This book is quite short, read in a mere 3 1/2 hours, and yet it not only manages to include the solving of a murder mystery but also cohesively weaves together a story that includes several socially pertinent themes including bullying, domestic abuse and industrial pollution.  The Ragamuffin Sisters are sisters of the heart; a group of girls that just don’t fit in for a variety of reason and who have bonded as much for that reason as any other. The book is told from their four distinct points of view. At first it was a bit confusing but, ultimately, it served the book well. 

The book begins with The Ragamuffin Sisters are at odds with a group of boys (ie, their tormentors), that they call the Thickheads. Over the course of the book, the Ragamuffin Sisters learn how to deal with the Thickheads instead of striking back in revenge and escalating the friction between the two groups. This growth in the characters is another example of the multiple themes in the book. 

Michelle Babb does a fine job with the narration. She is able to give each Ragamuffin Sister her own voice and keep the book moving at a good pace. 

I believe this book might be targeted for a younger audience and it’s an excellent choice for that group of readers but by no means exclusively. I am a far older reader and enjoyed the book very much and recommend it. 

I was given a free copy of this book by the narrator in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions stated are solely my own.

Fun easy listening

Where does The Ragamuffin Sisters: The Mysterious Mr. Whistler rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This book is a fun and easy listening book! I like listening to books when doing chores that don't take a lot of thought, like dusting, vacuuming, laundry or weeding the landscaped areas around the house. It makes it seem like the chores go by faster! This is a book for a younger audience, but still fun for me!

What did you like best about this story?

The mischief of the kids and the mystery that they help solve!

Which character – as performed by Michelle Babb – was your favorite?

She did great with all the different kids!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I would have if time allowed.

Any additional comments?

It was fun to listen to and I would listen to more books from this author and narrator!

A great book that is exciting and funny!

This is a book that is appropriate for middle school aged children (and up!). The story involves a group of four misfit girls and a group of misfit boys. It was hard for me to keep the characters straight at first, but as the story progressed it got easier and easier. The girls and the guys in the story are feuding with each other, but in the end they must learn to work together to solve a murder that the adults in power have ruled accidental. Along the journey there are lessons in bullying, abuse and even environmental protection! This book is entertaining, but imparts life lessons well worth our kids learning!

Fun Mystery for middle-schoolers

The Mysterious Mr. Whistler by Anita Higman and Hillary McMullen is an enjoyable story that reminded me of the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books of long ago--young teens getting mixed up in mysteries and lots of twists and turns to the plot that keeps a reader's interest. The authors touch on some very real and gritty subjects as they write about bullying, abuse, toxic waste, and murder. There is humor woven into the drama and suspense and the characters, misfit girls and bullying boys, are believable and entertaining. Michelle Babb does a great job with the narration of the story, giving voice to the characters and making an enjoyable listening experience. A delightfully good read. I received a complimentary copy of the book and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.

Wonderful pre-teen listen

If you could sum up The Ragamuffin Sisters: The Mysterious Mr. Whistler in three words, what would they be?

Engaging, Unique, Endearing

What did you like best about this story?

I loved the imagery this book had. It was reminiscent to books I read as a child like Nancy Drew, The Outsiders, Encyclopedia Brown.

What does Michelle Babb bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Michelle Babb is a fantastic narrator who has a wonderful ability to perform various characters with distinguishable voices that fit the characters.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I enjoyed it when the girls and the boys made up and worked together to solve the murder.

Any additional comments?

I requested this review copy audiobook and have voluntarily written this review. This story is age appropriate for most all ages, but geared towards elementary school to pre-teen.