Simon Packham

After the death of his best friend, Chris finds himself unable to speak a word, or even let out a sound. Everyone around him thinks his muteness is due to his unspeakable grief, which is partly true. But it's also because he is carrying a secret – a secret so ugly and vile that he doesn't dare to even think about it – about the death of his best friend.

But when he befriends Ariel, who apparently was together with Chris' best friend for three weeks before he died, it becomes hard to keep mute. He wants to come clean to her so badly, especially as he grows more attached to her. As a defense mechanism, he accepts the friendship of the new kid in their class; a rich boy whose only hobby seems to be causing trouble for others. But will it be enough to keep it all inside? Because Chris is certain he'll explode if he doesn't speak soon... but who would ever be able to look at him the same if he did?

This book piqued my interest as it deals with muteness. I don't have any personal experiences with muteness but that only makes me feel more responsible to actually try to educate myself on the subject. And that part of the book was beautiful and sad and just very good.

But I had such trouble liking any characters; well except for Ariel who is constantly slammed by everyone. Even Chris throws some rude remarks at her interest in feminism, but I'm not entirely surprised as he feels much like ”I'm anti-sexism but feminism is so lesbian and gross lol” is something he'd say. It felt very much like a book meant for white cishet boys age fourteen to sixteen in that way, and I feel like at least half the book was completely irrelevant to me because it didn't interest me at all, or it bothered me so much.

I will give the book a four anyway, though, as Chris' struggle with the loss of his best friend is so raw and beautiful and just splendid. Okay.… (more)