Learning to Whistle - by Tess Perko (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

For fans of Sue Monk Kidd and Joyce Manard, a debut contemporary women's fiction novel about a recently bereft daughter who journeys to South America to run away from her grief--and instead finds self-discovery and healing.

When she is supposed to be having the time of her life in college in California, Leonie loses her mother to breast cancer. After taking her last college course in Buenos Aires, she cashes in her return flight ticket and refuses to go home, erroneously believing that her grief will subside if she avoids her family. Narrating in her own grief-stricken voice, Leonie travels across Argentina, makes friends, and falls in love. She discovers her vulnerability and strength while working at a winery in Mendoza, riding over the treacherous Andes Mountains, and hiking the ancient pilgrimage to Machu Picchu--and, in doing so, slowly begins to heal.

Vividly rendered and full of heart, Learning to Whistle will resonate with every person who has ever been forced to venture into the world when they didn't feel ready for it--with or without the guidance of a parent.

Review Quotes

2026 International Book Awards Winner in Fiction: Women's Fiction

"Her experiences are almost magical in the way she meets people and the opportunities that open to her: friends, a year-long internship at a winery, the opportunity to climb to Machu Picchu, and love. . . . [A] pleasingly simple story of grief and resolution . . ."--Booklist

"Original, eloquent, exceptionally well written, Learning to Whistle by Tess Perko is a deftly blended novel of 'coming-of-age, travel, and fictional travelogue."--Midwest Book Review

"A beautifully rendered exploration of grief, healing, and self-discovery. From the bustling city streets of Buenos Aires to the serene vineyards of Argentina, Perko masterfully captures the restorative power of travel, friendship, and culinary delights. Rich with heart, sensory detail, and insight, this story is both tender and uplifting--a celebration of resilience and the many ways we can be guided back to ourselves."--Suzanne Simonetti, USA Today best-selling author of The Waves of Time

"A beautifully written novel about a daughter's journey through grief via a transformative year-and-a-half of self-discovery in Buenos Aires, the vineyards of Mendoza, and Machu Picchu. With a colorful cast of unforgettable characters, Learning to Whistle celebrates cultural and historic treasures of Argentina and Peru. A travel novel to savor!"--Debra Thomas, author of Sarton Award-winning Luz and Josie and Vic

"Perko masterfully takes us on a journey from sorrow to hope as a grieving young woman travels through South America in search of consolation and guidance. Amidst vivid descriptions of Leonie's trail to Machu Picchu, readers will embrace the compassion and wisdom of the women who foster her self-discovery."--Rebecca D'harlingue, author of The Map Colorist and The Lines Between Us

"Tess Perko empathetically explores the universal themes of grief, identity, and belonging in the face of a major loss of a mother by a young adult daughter, on the cusp of beginning her own life. Ultimately, despite her unforgettable adventures and relationships, Leoni learns that she must face her underlying grief and begin to process it, a life lesson for us all."--Susan Weissbach Friedman, author of Klara's Truth

About the Author

Tess Perko grew up in Sacramento and Suffolk, England. Formerly a journalist and English professor, she is the author of several short stories and poetry. Learning to Whistle: A Novel is her debut novel. In addition to writing, Tess raises money for scholarships for college and vocational students; teaches essay and journaling workshops to emancipated foster youth; studies French and Spanish; and enjoys growing roses. She lives with her husband, Robert, in the San Francisco Bay Area.