Found: YA(?) Book about Boy Who Refuses to Speak
Original topic subject: YA(?) Book about Boy Who Refuses to Speak
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1Litia
I’m afraid I remember even less about this book than the one I previously posted about, but there’s no harm in asking, right?
I read this book probably fifteen to eighteen years ago, in the U.S. The main character was a girl (I think it was first person narrative), and she met a boy who never spoke and (IIRC) had some really weird behaviors. His family, teachers, and other students basically chalked it up to him being stupid or crazy, but the girl suspected that wasn’t the case. She befriends the boy, and he eventually starts talking to her. I don’t remember the specifics, but his brother had done something terrible to him when he was young (I don’t think it was SA, but I’m honestly not sure) and threatened to do worse if the boy ever talked about it, so he stopped talking entirely.
One scene I remember is the girl and boy are in the back seat of a car, being driven somewhere (I wanna say home from a school dance?) and the boy has his eyes closed and his head against the window. The girl’s having an internal monologue about (IIRC) how he’s a person and there must be a way to help him/get him to communicate.
I can’t recall enough details to say if it was middle grade or YA, but I know it wasn’t an adult novel.
Any help is appreciated; thank you!
I read this book probably fifteen to eighteen years ago, in the U.S. The main character was a girl (I think it was first person narrative), and she met a boy who never spoke and (IIRC) had some really weird behaviors. His family, teachers, and other students basically chalked it up to him being stupid or crazy, but the girl suspected that wasn’t the case. She befriends the boy, and he eventually starts talking to her. I don’t remember the specifics, but his brother had done something terrible to him when he was young (I don’t think it was SA, but I’m honestly not sure) and threatened to do worse if the boy ever talked about it, so he stopped talking entirely.
One scene I remember is the girl and boy are in the back seat of a car, being driven somewhere (I wanna say home from a school dance?) and the boy has his eyes closed and his head against the window. The girl’s having an internal monologue about (IIRC) how he’s a person and there must be a way to help him/get him to communicate.
I can’t recall enough details to say if it was middle grade or YA, but I know it wasn’t an adult novel.
Any help is appreciated; thank you!
2beyondthefourthwall
It's got to be The Only Alien on the Planet by Kristen D. Randle.
3Litia
>2 beyondthefourthwall: WHOOO! Thanks so much - that’s it!
4beyondthefourthwall
>3 Litia: No problem! I read this one in 2014 and it sure as heck stayed with me. Fascinating book.
