Woman Reading

Vivienne used to say that sometimes the best you can do is to try not to be one of the bastards.

I can not stop crying! I finished this hours ago and I still, every time I let myself stop and the thoughts creep in, I can not stop the crying.

Friday Brown is emotionally lost. Her mother is gone and her world has been turned upside down. Life leads her into the city and to a ragtag group of street kids all working for the good of their little family, it appears.

Friday lacks confidence, she doubts and she pushes away anyone she feels may get too close to her. She's used to living her whole life on the move, never putting down any roots and only ever loving just one person, her mom Vivienne. But all of that is challenged when this group enters her life. Some of them she likes right away, others are more trying. But it's her relationship with Silence, the slightly younger boy that befriended her, that really penetrates her heart. This is not about romance, it's about connection.

Silence... it's been a really long time since a character has blindsided me like Silence did. I love him. I know, he's fictional, but it doesn't matter. I love him. It's not a 'oooh, i have such a book crush' kind of love, because I don't have a book crush. I love him the way I love my very best friend. I love his soul. As we readers all know, despite the fact that they are words on paper, a brilliant writer has the ability to breathe a soul into their characters. Silence has a beautiful soul. I love him.

Silence

Honestly, there have been only a handful of books that have affected me like this. I can seriously count them on two hands. This book got to me on the same level as A Fault in our Stars. It has held me in it's thrall, similar to Jellicoe Road. I wish I had this in print so I could hold it and stroke it. So I could open it and touch the pages.

Anyone who picks this book up, come back here. Send me a note. Talk about it with me. I need to talk about it. I need others to read this.

There in the silence of the hills,
I shall find peace that soothes and stills
the throbbing of the weary brain,
for I am going home again.