From School Library Journal Gr 7 Up—Sophomore Stella, to everyone's disbelief, earns the coveted lead in the school musical. She comes alive on stage—knowing with her entire being this is what she was meant to do. But then, Stella's ability to hear is taken away in a freak accident one night at a party. Along with her hearing, she loses her identity as a singer. Hayden has his own scars—physical and emotional. A stutterer, he does not have any friends and yet, he feels strongly connected to Stella from the time he first sees her in the hallway at school. After her accident, Hayden is the only one of her peers who can understand and relate to what she is experiencing. The teen lives in a world of complete silence, having to learn how to cope in a hearing world. Hayden helps her to embrace the new Stella and see that life can go on, despite her disability. When she has the chance to gain her hearing back, will Stella forget about Hayden? This bilsdungroman covers a relatively short time period, during which the protagonist reconciles the possibility of never making it to Broadway and eventually comes to realize that there is more to her than just her voice. Hayden is an enigma to readers and isn't as fully developed as Stella. A light romance develops between the two. VERDICT Recommended for libraries in need of romances for younger teens.—Stephanie Charlefour, Wixom Public Library, MI Read more Review Lytton's tender tale will tug at the heartstrings. Romance fans will hang on the teens' poetry, tears, texts, and...insights about life. --BooklistA touching story...Lytton creates believable backstories for her characters to explain why they are both wary of love...Teens who enjoyed The Fault in Our Stars and Gracefully Grayson should find plenty to relate to in this novel about different forms of communication and finding confidence despite setbacks. --Foreword Reviews Read more See all Editorial Reviews
L**G
A beautiful story!
Loved this book! Deborah has a beautiful, lyrical style of writing . . . not pretentious, but rather soft strokes of color that paint a story on your heart. The book reminded me (in tone, not story line) of Anna and the French Kiss, another YA book I loved. Deborah captures the sweetness of finding love in unexpected places, of learning more about yourself than you ever thought possible, about second chances, forgiveness (and sometimes not forgiving), changing friendships, moving on. It's the type of book that reminds me why I love reading.
C**Y
A novel of self-discovery, romance and resilience…a story beautifully written.
“Silence” is an unforgettable novel that will hit readers with so many emotions. This story drew me right in. Deborah Lytton’s writing style is extremely unique. Readers will laugh, smile and cry along with Stella and Hayden, characters that I fell in love with and I just know that countless other readers will too. I was extremely impressed with how distinct Lytton made each point of view, covering Stella and ’Hayden’s lives. Each voice is finely and realistically crafted, giving this novel a sense of authenticity and beauty, two souls learning to communicate despite their disabilities.A novel of self-discovery, romance and resilience…a story beautifully written.
S**D
Tender YA Romance
Such a tender and innocent YA romance! I loved how this story avoided all the usual cliches found in this genre--through dynamic and complex characters. The story really makes you think about the narrow ways in which we define ourselves, yet life circumstances often force us to change. Read it with a tissue handy!Sweet enough for young teens, complex enough for all ages!
D**.
is a sweet romance, beautifully written
Silence, by Deborah Lytton, is a sweet romance, beautifully written. Ms. Lytton captures the innocence of young teens exploring the depths of friendship and skimming the surface of a budding love. The language in this book is lyrical and full of imagery, which enhances the poignancy of the story. Overall, this is a heartwarming tale, well-crafted and worth the read…even if you’re not a young teen.
A**R
This started as me reading it to see if it ...
This started as me reading it to see if it was appropriate for my middle school daughter. What it turned out to be was enjoyable for me too. I found myself not wanting to put it down because I wanted to know what happens next. I gave my daughter a summary of the book and now she is interested in reading it. My daughter is very difficult to find books that interest her, but she is excited about this one... Here it goes... I am excited for more books from this author.
L**S
Loved the dynamics of it
Ordered one for most of the girls in our family. Loved the dynamics of it. A "must read."
M**6
great atory
great story for youth and those who are put down by their peers.
K**N
Very informative. Fast moving.
I would recommend this book for the purpose of learning what silence is like. I could feel Stella's pain a understand Hayden's. Response.
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