Learning to Whistle

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

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.

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