{"product_id":"the-whistle-the-whistle-a-comin-of-age-novel-of-friendship-faith-and-letting-go-paperback","title":"The Whistle: The Whistle: A Comin of Age Novel of Friendship, Faith, and Letting Go - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eMichael G. Benningfield\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Whistle\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eby Michael Benningfield\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn a small Texas town divided by race and fear, two boys form an unlikely friendship that will shape the rest of their lives.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eElijah Johnson is judged by the color of his skin. Tommy Miller is judged for a mind that works differently-brilliant with numbers, obsessed with baseball, and mostly silent in a world that refuses to slow down for him. Together, they build a bond rooted in shared isolation, late-night radio broadcasts, and a secret hideout hidden deep in the woods.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen a mysterious stranger gives Tommy a whistle said to be a direct call to God when one is ready to go home, the object becomes a quiet presence in their lives-never used, never forgotten. As desegregation reshapes the South and cruelty grows louder, Elijah becomes Tommy's anchor, guiding him through childhood, adulthood, and a world that rarely offers grace to those who are different.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSpanning more than six decades, \u003ci\u003eThe Whistle\u003c\/i\u003e is a powerful novel about loyalty, faith, and the kind of love that doesn't demand recognition. It is a story of friendship that endures beyond memory, and of a life measured not by what is achieved, but by who is carried safely to the end.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePerfect for readers who loved \u003ci\u003eA Man Called Ove\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Body\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eTo Kill a Mockingbird, \u003c\/i\u003eand fans of \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Sandlot \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eand \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eStand By Me. \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 188\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.4 x 9 x 6 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e January 20, 2026\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47020790120587,"sku":"9781736827031","price":31.28,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0670\/2579\/7259\/files\/AMMythZz2M9781736827031.webp?v=1779205824","url":"https:\/\/thetaletrade.com\/products\/the-whistle-the-whistle-a-comin-of-age-novel-of-friendship-faith-and-letting-go-paperback","provider":"The Tale Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}