Speechless

3.5 Funny and touching middle school story. Jimmy's cousin Patrick has died, and Jimmy is tasked with saying something at the funeral. Never mind that Jimmy hates public speaking, doesn't have appropriate clothes that fit, and most importantly doesn't even like his cousin. Through the course of the wake and a bit of the funeral, we get snippets of Patrick's story through Jimmy's eyes as he sweats over his speech and tries to come up with just one positive memory about his cousin. It's not an easy job. Patrick is portrayed as a impulsive, out-of-control brat who doesn't know limits - if he's ever had any. He borders on violent, and while Jimmy knows something is wrong, he doesn't fully understand what that is. Worse, Patrick's parents, show more Aunt Rose and Uncle Mike also know something is wrong but try to manage it and deal with it without getting Patrick proper help. Aunt Rose is Jimmy's mother's twin, so the two families are together constantly and it always seems to end with Patrick in some sort of trouble. Super wise and sensitive for his 13 years, Jimmy comes up with a list of 10 observations about his first wake and funeral and these comprise the book's chapters. Everything builds to Jimmy's speech and he is honest but thoughtful, hopefully ending a family history of secrets and avoidance. Definitely a good pulse on middle school angst and the challenges that come with family embarrassment and shame. Kudos to this local author (Oswego, IL) for creating a realistic, sincere hero. show less

Jimmy is told he'll be giving a speech at his cousin Patrick's wake. The whole book is told in a series of flashbacks about the relationship between the two boys as Jimmy struggles to figure out what to say. He is at the wake and the funeral in a too-tight suit feeling awkward and a little angry about the position his parents have put him in. However, as we learn about his past they have been putting him in these bad positions for years as he is expected to be a companion to his cousin who is a deeply troubled kid that no one seems to do anything to help. The family has a "don't interfere" policy. With each memory, it starts well enough by Patrick somehow has a meltdown or acts out in a way that is destructive to himself and others. It show more seems to have cost Jimmy friendships, activities, and pretty much every nice thing he has ever gotten. As the book unfolds Jimmy is forced to think deeply, tell truths, and take a stand for himself, his family, and his deceased cousin. show less

A touching story of a young boy, Jimmy, who is told he must deliver the eulogy for his cousin's funeral. He never got along with his cousin Patrick, the often out-of-control boy who seemed bent on ruining things for Jimmy--whether his birthday or any other special moment. However, as Jimmy considers Patrick's life and all their many interactions growing up, he comes to see something else about Patrick and the family circumstances he contended with at home. Patrick's little sister Sophia is an especially well-drawn character with a sensitive portrayal of her hearing loss. Overall, this is a book that leads one to think about how well we really know others and to consider the burdens others may carry.

I received this book as part of the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.

And I'm so glad I did!

Speechless is the sort of book that everyone should read.....middle readers, young adults, and adults.

The voice telling this story --- that of Jimmy --- is so strong. Jimmy, who is 13 years old, has been told that he has to give the eulogy at his cousin Patrick's funeral. Patrick was also 13. Jimmy spends the evening of the wake and the morning of the funeral trying to figure out what to say about Patrick. They were not close, even though they spent a lot of time together. The boys' mothers are twin sisters, and the two families are together for birthdays and holidays and all types of gatherings.

I will not give the plot away ---but I will say show more this. This is a book that you will pick up and read through. You may not have a sibling like Patrick, but you will know somebody who is like him. You willl feel for Jimmy, who is facing a personal struggle (above and beyond the fear of losing the button on his pants before the funeral.) You will feel for Patrick's little sister, Sophia, and his folks.

And you will set the book down, wipe a tear from your eye, and realize that this Middle Grade book has taught you a very important lesson, and perhaps made you a better person, too.

Read it! show less

Literary Merit: Great
Characterization: Good+
Recommended: Yes
Level: Middle Grade

In "Speechless" the reader follows a young boy named Jimmy who has to give a speech at his cousin's funeral. His parents tell him to just think of a fun story of when they were younger. The problem is that Jimmy was not very close with his cousin Patrick. Really, Patrick made Jimmy's life pretty miserable. He had a way of making disasters out of any kind of scenario. To make matters more complicated, Jimmy has a lot of anxiety about giving a speech in front of a lot of people.

This book does a great job of examining grief and the numerous ways that people go about the grieving process. Jimmy is a relatable character who learns to navigate his emotions and show more comes to terms with the speech he must make, while also coming to a revelation of his own. One really cool aspect of this book is the chapter titles. Each one is a "lesson" that Jimmy is about to learn. This is a neat way of representing the chapters that I found very endearing. show less

This book is for middle school age but it was still a good book. It's about a young boy who is told by his family that he is going to give a speech at his cousins funeral.A cousin that he did not like. It also covers the disability of hearing impairment and speech in another cousin though that is not the obvious part of the story. And it's a story about listening. I would also add that perhaps this is a story of the harm of family secrets.

Jimmy is requested to give the euolgy for his cousin, Patrick, with a one day notice. What do you say when everything was ruined by Patrick while growing up? Jimmy has to deal with his memories of often unpleasant behavior by Patrick to try to come up with a flattering tribute for a troubled cousin. This is where the book starts getting interesting, although I would have liked to have seen more of a backstory as to why Patrick did what he did. I liked that the author did not take the safe road and the end result (euolgy) is spot on-and will leave you thinking that he actually said what most people think but are too afraid to say. Great read for grades 5-8.