By E.L. Konigsburg
Read: July 2009
Rating: Excelsior
Ok, this was bloody good. There’s only one thing that bothered me at all, and the rest was really good.
Our narrator’s best friend, Branwell, is witness to–or perpetrator of–a horrible crime. He is so deeply affected by it that he cannot speak. The crime is the near-killing of his baby half-sister. Everyone is ready to prosecute Branwell. Only his friend is willing to sit with him and try to communicate through the silence. Slowly, over the course of a month, they uncover the real story.
Told brilliantly, wonderfully written. Unfortunately, we got to the big reveal of why Branwell won’t talk–and I was a bit let down. I can see that accounting for voluntary silence, but not a physical/mental block. Then again, I’m not a thirteen year old boy.
Definitely a book for older kids, as there are sexual and violent elements. But SO worth it. I would say it’s told in a way that’s safe for more kids–enough of the danger without enough gore to traumatize.
VERY good.
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