The Whisperer — Fiona McIntosh

In this adventurous retelling of "The Prince and the Pauper," the lives of a runaway royal and a carnival worker become intertwined as each is compelled to fight for his life and family. Fans of "The Sixty-Eight Rooms" and "Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy" won't want to miss this.

Lute is a prince, next in line to the throne. Griff is a poor carnival worker who does the heavy lifting while the malevolent ringmaster orders him about. But there's something special about Griff: he can hear the thoughts of everyone around him. And one day, he begins to connect with Lute's mind, even though they've never met and are miles apart.

When Lute must run for his very life, Griff may be the only one who can help him. In a journey over land and sea, these heroes battle deadly foes and make unlikely allies, including a host of magical creatures and their caretaker, a bitter old dwarf, and a mysterious lady pirate. When the boys finally come together, they will learn they are connected in ways they could never have imagined, ways that may save them -- or cost them both their lives.