Review: Powerful coming of age tale for readers of all ages
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 11 4, 2013
The odds are against Alex. He lives in the ghetto in a run-down apartment with his neglectful mom and her abusive boyfriend. He's already flunked a grade in school and although he's only fifteen, his friends are pressuring him to join a gang and deal drugs. To make matters worse, he can't risk having anyone find out he's gay. This isn't the life he wants for himself but he's got no other options. Not until an outside force intervenes and things spiral out of his control. Alex is ripped from the life he knows and is placed in a group foster home against his will.Alex remains guarded and distant, but takes a liking to Seb, one of the other boys in the group home. Seb seems harmless enough. He can't speak and everyone says he's got "special needs". He can do simple tasks, but can't communicate with others. Alex feels safe enough around Seb to open up to him, since Seb can't understand what Alex says anyway. He doesn't realize how much he needs someone to talk to until he begins revealing his secrets to Seb, who just stares at him, expressionless. But then Seb begins seeking out Alex's company more and more, and Alex begins to feel more for Seb than brotherly love. And he starts to suspect that Seb understands more than he's letting on...The emotions in this story run so very deep. Alex thinks he's a tough guy who can take care of himself, but really, he's just a kid whose overconfidence gets him in over his head. He means well. He wants so badly to take care of the people he loves, and Sara Alva does a great job of portraying those feelings of invincibility so many teenagers have. It's painful watching Alex's internal struggle as he comes to realize his limitations and is forced to make some truly difficult decisions, but those growing pains are what shape him into the remarkable young man he is.Sara Alva does a fantastic job of bringing her characters to life with authentic dialogue, a vivid sense of setting, and a strong internal voice. Alex and his living situation are portrayed so realistically, the story almost feels like it could be a documentary. I have no doubt that there are a devastating number of children out there just like Alex, who are growing up in "families" just like his. The hopelessness of poverty is heartbreaking. And it's impossible not to care about this problem after reading about these boys. The saddest part is knowing that given a choice, many kids would opt to stay in their abusive environments, because it's all they know. It's their life. To the author's credit, I felt so in tune with Alex that I too balked at the nice, wealthy couple who wanted to take care of him. I never once questioned any of Alex's actions. He surprised me (pleasantly) a time or two by showing his softer side, but that too felt very right for him. He's a tough kid with a tender heart.Not only is the dialogue between characters spot on, but the silent communication that eventually develops between Alex and Seb is also thoroughly believable. In his silence, Seb speaks volumes, and he and Alex form a deep bond. I loved the special connection between these two, and I loved watching Seb slowly come out of his shell under Alex's care.The shoe metaphor is beautifully done and I love the way it's subtly carried throughout the book. It's a fitting symbol for Alex's journey. Silent is one of the best books I've ever read. Although the characters are young adults, it doesn't read like your typical YA story. It's powerful enough to move audiences of all ages, and I highly recommend it for all fans of down-on-their-luck-but-lucky-to-have-found-each-other love stories.