Title: The Silent Whistle and Other Stories of Faith and Courage
Author: Johnny Miller
Major Themes: Persecution, Faith, Short Stories, Ukraine, Romania
Synopsis: A stirring collection of short stories about Ukrainian and Romanian believers living out their faith in the mid-late 20th century.
Occasionally, I find myself caught away from home without a book—a near tragedy. When that happened recently, I looked over a friend’s bookshelf, and when I saw The Silent Whistle and Other Stories of Faith and Courage, I decided to try that out. It’s one we’ve had on our shelf for a few years now, but neither Mom nor I managed to pick it up. I sat down with it and found myself caught up in these stories. I realized pretty quickly that I hadn’t read many books featuring people from Ukraine or Romania, so I found the cultural aspects of these stories fascinating. They also possessed the best characteristics of a gripping story—relatable characters and an engaging storytelling style. By the end of the evening, I’d read over half of the book, and I couldn’t wait to continue!
Publisher’s description:
The policeman put the whistle to his lips and blew hard. Nothing happened. Dumbfounded, he shook the whistle and tried again. Still nothing—and the car carrying Christians moved on past. This collection of stories from Romania and Ukraine, written especially for children, will capture your attention and strengthen your faith.
My thoughts:
On the surface, this is a very simple kind of book—a collection of short stories about Christians from different places and their experiences in living out their faith. Underneath all these stories, though, is a deep, heartfelt faith, and the further I read—and the more I experienced all of the ups and downs in these people’s lives—the more I was amazed at the Lord’s goodness in holding them up and the ways He showed up over and over in their need. He didn’t always show up in the way I’d expect Him to, and they didn’t always get the help I would have hoped for if I were in their shoes, but the Father showed Himself faithful here, and I loved reading about that.
If you’re interested in sharing stories of how God has worked in believers’ lives over history with your children, you should add The Silent Whistle to your lineup. I ended up finishing it in just a couple of days, and I only wish it were longer! These stories—spanning from happening close to World War II right up until the last 20 years—each were fascinating and uplifting, giving a peek into the lives of believers from a vastly different background than most of us. An excellent addition to any home bookshelf!
WARNING: In chapter 5, part 3, a man talks about being severely beaten and his resulting paralysis because of his faith (there are a few other mentions of beatings or torture, but nothing super detailed). In chapter 10, part 1, a woman has a mental breakdown, ties her children up, and tries to throw them down a well. In chapter 17, a man is electrocuted and almost dies.
Age levels:
Listening Level—Ages 8 – 12, 10 – 12, Family Friendly
Reading Independently—Ages 10 – 12, 12 – 15
Links to buy this book:
Amazon: Paperback
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com
Other Places: Christian Light Publications—Paperback | Milestone Books—Paperback | CAM Books—Paperback
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