The Silence of Murder

The Silence of Murder
By Dandi Daley Mackall
Alfred A. Knopf, 2011. 327 pgs. Teen fiction

Jeremy Long has always been odd. He collects empty jars and hasn't spoken in nearly a decade. But his sister Hope knows that even if some of his actions seem odd, Jeremy isn't crazy. And he certainly isn't a murderer. And yet, he's on trial for murder, and Hope is the only one who believes he's innocent. Determined to prove his innocence, Hope frantically searches for other possible suspects, even as someone is trying to keep her from investigation. As her world is crumbling, Hope finds friendship where she least expected it--with the handsome, popular Chase Wells, son of the local sheriff.

I highly enjoyed this book; I liked the mystery aspect of it, particularly the twist at the end, but the way the characters and relationships were developed is what made it shine. Hope's voice is pitch perfect; her love for her brother is beautifully portrayed without becoming sappy. This is an excellent choice for anyone who is looking for a realistic fiction title.

As an amusing side note, I actually wasn't sure whether or not to read this book; I'm pretty busy right now and needed to return some books to the library without reading them. So...I read the ending to see if I thought I'd like it. I liked the twist, but I also thought maybe I could just skim through the book, rather than reading the whole thing. But then I read a little more of the ending, and realized that there was much more going on that just the twist, so I read the whole book, and yes, even knowing the ending, I really enjoyed the book. I'm definitely glad I didn't return it to the library without reading it.

4.5 stars. There might be a little language (which I clearly didn't notice if it is there, since I can't even remember for sure if it was in there), but otherwise, it's a clean read.

Mockingbird

Mockingbird
By Kathryn Erskine
Philomel Books, 2010. 235 pgs. Middle Grade Fiction

Ten-year-old Caitlin's has Asperger's Syndrome and is she's struggling to develop social skills from small things such as looking people in the eye to larger things like actually making friends. At the same time, she's dealing with the recent death of her brother, who was killed in a school shooting, and is trying to find closure for herself and for her father.

It's no wonder this book won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature. Caitlin's voice is so real and the message of the book is inspiring and moving. Caitlin is both a naive narrator, since she doesn't understand much of what others take for granted in life, and a refreshingly honest narrator who opens the reader's eyes as much as the eyes of the other characters in the book. This would be a great choice for class discussions.

4 stars. Clean read.

Out of My Mind

Out of My Mind
By Sharon M. Draper
Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2010. 295 pgs. Middle grade fiction


Ten-year-old Melody is fascinated with words. She has a remarkable memory, is highly intelligent, and no one knows it, because Melody also has cerebral palsy and can't speak and has very limited physical capacity. However, she longs for a voice of her own, a way to share her thoughts and feelings with others and to be a "normal" kid. When Melody gets a special computer that allows her to type and speaks her words, suddenly, the world opens up for her...but not always as much as she'd like.

Overall, I really liked this one. It's a great story about a girl with a disability who wants to be seen as more than her disability. There are some heartbreaking moments as other children are unkind, but also some great moments as Melody realizes how strong she is. At the same time, there were some parts of the book where the writing had me rolling my eyes a little; for example, "...there's no one like me. It's like I live in a cage with no door and no key. And I have no way to tell someone how to get me out. Oh, wait! I forgot about Mrs. V!" Um...first, if there's no door, why would you need a key? Second, really, really, she forgot all about Mrs. V. (a very integral part of the story). Why not just say something like, "Well, except maybe Mrs. V.," or something like that? Still, it's a book worth reading. Great for kids with special needs, and also for kids who are insensitive to others, and even for adults who sometimes just don't get it.

3.5 stars.