Silent to the Bone

Rating:
Summary: Silent to the Bone
Review: Silent to the Bone tells a tragic story of, Branwell a young boy, who is accused of dropping his sixth-month-old sister Nikki on the floor. He was sent to a behavioral center for this accusation. Ever since this tragedy Branwell has not been able to speak. When this incident happened, the family had an au pair to watch Nikki. Branwell was very often with his sister and doing things that the au pair should have done, such as changing Nikki's diaper. Branwell was told to do things by the au pair because of some things that had happened between the two of them that Branwell did not want his friends or parents to know. Branwell's best friend Connor tries to help him throughout the book by trying to communicate in different ways. I thought that it was an excellent book and that it was very well written. I really liked the way that Konigsburg tried to tie in the past of Branwell's and Connor's friendship with what is going on now, so it feels like you really know the two boys very well. I thought that this book was sad, funny, and showed you real life situations all at once. It seemed to go by so quickly. It was almost a mystery because they were trying to find out what happened to Nikki. Connor is the one who tries to talk to Branwell so he knows whom to talk to try and find out what really happened because he doesn't believe that Branwell would do such a thing. This was my favorite book by Konigsburg yet, and would recommend it to many readers. With the little twist of mystery to it mystery lovers, such as myself, would really enjoy it.

Rating:
Summary: Konigsburg writes another winner
Review: Branwell and Connor have an admittedly unusual friendship. Branwell is not an ordinary teenager. He is smart, well read, and just different enough to keep things interesting. Connor admires Bran's unique personality, and their friendship thrives because they are two unique people.

It is this strong basis of a friendship that is the focal point of Konigsburg's novel. When Bran is accused of dropping and shaking his baby half-sister, Connor is convinced that Bran is innocent. However, Bran suddenly stops speaking after the baby is hurt, and it is up to Connor to piece together what actually happened. Figuring out what happened that afternoon of the 911 call is the only way for Bran to come out of the silent world he has retreated into.

Konigsburg has created a book that is equally a detective story, a tale of a strong friendship, and a commentary on the strength of families. Although this book is very different from her last book, the award-winning The View from Saturday, Konigsburg never fails to create characters with depth and personality. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a book with some good twists and turns, or who wants to read about the strength of the friendship between two young men.

Rating:
Summary: Silent to the Bone *Contains Spoilers*
Review: ~Silent to the Bone by E.L. Konigsburg

Reviewed by R. Teng, P.1

What would you do if your best friend were accused of a terrible crime? That is the question that faces thirteen-year-old Connor Kane. Branwell Zamborska, his best friend since the two were infants, has been blamed for the coma his half-sister Nikki now lies in. Locked up in a juvenile behavioral center, Branwell has not uttered a word since the moment he dialed 911. Connor can~{!/~}t and won~{!/~}t believe that Branwell~~ would do such a thing to his sister, so he~{!/~}s determined to find the real culprit. Could it be Morris, the delivery man for J.J.~{!/~}s Pizza? Or maybe it was Vivian Shawcurt, the Zamborskas~{!/~} au pair? Or perhaps, it really was Branwell. Whoever it was, Connor will do all he can to try to prove Branwell~{!/~}s innocence, even if the accused can~{!/~}t speak for himself.
I found that this is one of those outstanding books that you literally can~{!/~}t put down. E.L. Konigsburg~~ wonderfully creates a world of mystery and suspense, with descriptive wording, hidden clues, and a surprising ending. The characters seemed like real people, each one unique and multifaceted. With each twist and turn, Ms. Konigsburg proves herself truly worthy of her two Newbery Medals (for The View From Saturday, and From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, if you~{!/~}re interested) and the many more awards she has received.
As I said before, I really enjoyed the realism~~ of the characters. The following quote from the book is a great example: ~{!0~}We [Branwell and Connor] had both turned thirteen within three weeks of each other, and at first, I [Connor] if he [Branwell] was entering a new phase of development three weeks ahead of me. Was something happening to him that would happen to me three weeks later? Had he started to shave? I looked real close. He hadn~{!/~}t. (I was relieved.) Had he become a moody teenager, and would I become one in three more~~ weeks?~{!1~} This clearly expresses how teenagers constantly compare themselves against their peers, worrying about the changes ahead, which, honestly, is something adolescents of both genders worry about. I also liked how, like all great writers, Ms. Konigsburg wrote intricate descriptions. Take this quote for instance: ~{!0~}She took off her tasseled hat. Her hair was blond, parted in the middle, and twisted into a roll on either side. The two rolls were held together in the back with a~~ plastic barrette. The strands that were held in the barrette were a lighter shade than the rest. Her hair looked the way I had always imagined a skein of flax spun into gold by the miller~{!/~}s daughter would.~{!1~}
My favorite part of the book was when Connor discovers that he can communicate with Branwell, even though Branwell is mute. When Connor begins thinking outside of the box, he remembers reading a story in a newspaper, about an author who totally paralyzed, except for his left~~ eye, which he could blink. The author wrote a couple of novels by having his friend repeatedly recite the alphabet. Each time the friend came to the letter that he wanted written down, he would blink with his left eye. So Connor alters the method used in this story to fit his needs, and cleverly comes up with flashcards, with the entire alphabet on them as well as words relating to the investigation. With that, my overall impression of the book was excellent. The plot line was interesting, and~~ the story was well written. I would recommend this book to anybody above the age of 11, as this book does contain inappropriate material for younger readers, who loves a good read.~

Rating:
Summary: An Amazing Book!
Review: Once again, E.L. Koningsburg has pulled off a thoroughly astounding book. The whole book is about a task assigned to Connor involving his very best friend, Branwell Zamborska. In the end, this mission proves to be much more difficult than it first sounded. After being accused of dropping his baby half sister, Nikki, Bran suddenly stops talking. He is sent to a Behavioral Center where Connor visits him every single day in an effort to make his buddy speak. With the help of Connor's half sister, Margaret, as well as some hints dropped along the way, Connor tries to put the mystery together. He is constantly wondering what really happened that Wednesday afternoon. However, this didn't come without some hard work and major dedication. Piece by piece, he plugs along with very little complaining.
I have to admit that it took a chapter or two for me to fully get into the book. From there on out, I was reading a mile-a-minute. Koningsburg uses her remarkable talent in writing to suck us into the story and keep us glued. In an effort to solve the mystery, Conner thinks of ingenious ways to persuade Branwell to talk and to somehow communicate with him. This was just one of the qualities that I loved about the book.
All in all, Silent to the Bone was amazing. I highly recommend it to readers older than 11 or 12. This is due to some mature content in the story. As with all of E.L. Koningsburg's books, this one always left me hanging. I could not stop my fingers from creeping to the bottom of the page to flip it.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing book
Review: I'll freely admit that this is one of the best books I've read in a long time--YA novel or otherwise. All the reader knows at first is that Branwell, a junior high student, is institutionalized because he is unable to speak after a horrible accidnet involving his baby sister. As the book progresses, Branwell's best friend devises a way to communicate with the silent Branwell and slowly figure out what happened to baby Nikki that fateful night.

This is another great example of an author that refuses to write down to the young reader. He hooks that reader in the first chapter and takes him along on a great mystery novel. The reader is forced to consider how important new information is, who's lying, and, at the same time, wonder about the fate of Nikki. This book does have some mature content, so I wouldn't recommend it for readers under 11 or 12 (and they've got to be a mature 11 at that), but the small amount of mature content does not detract from this masterfully crafted novel.

Although I read YA novels because I'm a junior high literature teacher, I have a new respect for the YA novel, especially after reading this book. Whether you're 11 or 111, you would do very well to treat yourself to this book. HIGHLY recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Interseting Reading
Review: The novel Silent to the bone by E.L. Konigsburg was a novel about two friends who learned how to not take things for granted. Branwell, a red headed teenager, is having problems with his home life involving his parents' divorce and his new step mom and younger sister. He feels very ignored within his family, until the hire an au pair named Vivian. Branwell falls in love with her, and practically becomes her slave relieving her from all duties as an au pair while she just relaxes and hangs out with her boyfriend, Morris. Connor, Branwell's best friend, starts noticing that Branwell is acting differently and has become sensitive about girls. The two friends slowly start drifting farther and farther apart, until one day the unexpectable happened, Nikki, Branwell's baby sister, was dropped by someone, and taken to the hospital. Vivian took no responsibility for what happened and blamed it on Branwell, and because of this, Branwell became a mute, he could talk, but he chose not to. He did not know what to do so the best thing was to keep his mouth shut, until when he really needed to speak up he couldn't. Connor tried getting through to Branwell, who was placed in a facility, and had to come up with ways to communicate with him without talking. When Connor needed help with talking to Branwell, he got it from his friend and stepsister, Margaret. After months of stress, Connor finally got Branwell to speak, and he spilled the whole story of how Vivian had dropped Nikki. Vivian was fired as the au pair, and the whole incident has brought Connor and Branwell closer. Reading this book made me think about how many simple things in my life, like being able to talk, I take fore granted. It also taught me the importance of speaking up when you have something to say.

Rating:
Summary: Silent to the Bone
Review: Silent to the Bone by E.L. Konigsburg had many interesting twist. I found it hard to put down in the begging, but towards the end it was a little dry. The most interesting part, I thought wad at the begging where the book starts with a 911 call.
"Operator: Epiphany 911. Hobson speaking.
SILENCE
Operator: Epiphany 911. Hobson. May I help you? SILENCE [voices are heard in the background]
A Women's voice: [screaming in the background]: Tell them. Tell them.
Operator: Ma'am, I can't hear you [then louder] please come to the phone]"

I found this part of the book very interesting. It was hard to understand, but it made you want to read more. It was definitely catchy. I kept on reading until I found out what happened.
My favorite part was around the middle where Branwell was at the Juvenile detention Center-where he was sent after he stopped talking- and his best friend came and tried to help him. He did this because he thought if Branwell wasn't going to speak he was the only other one to figure it out. His friend tried to help by making flash cards that had different things on them like, SIAS, VIVIAN, or THE AINCESTORS. These were thing that Branwell and him talked about often.
If I were to write this book I would have written it differentially. I would of made it clearer about Branwell's family and there finds and introduced them more. Then I would have had the bigger incident with Branwell dropping Nikki. Then I would have continued it the way it was.
Overall I would give this book a rating of 4, because it is catchy at first and then it gets a little dull.

Rating:
Summary: Silent reader
Review: This book is very interesting and intense. It is about a boy named Branwell. Who is accused of dropping his baby sister ,Nikki, on the floor. When Branwell makes the 911 call he suddenly loses the ability to speak. She immediately goes into a coma, and is transferred to the nearest hospital. Branwell is taken to the Juvenile Delinquent center. Branwell's best friend ,Connor, develops a way to communicate with Branwell using flash cards. With the help of Connor's older sister Margaret they slowly work on solving the mystery of what made Branwell stop talking. Connor knows that Branwell would never drop his baby sister on purpose, so what or who caused Branwell to drop Nikki? Was it ,Vivian, his English au pair? Or the mysterious man who works at the pizza place down town? As Nikki slowly recovers from her vegative state. Connor and Margaret listen to the 911 call made on the day of the incident over and over again. They start to hear a mans voice cutting in, and begin to wonder, who else could have been there? Will they be able to find out what happened before Branwell's court? Will Nikki ever be ok again? Read the awsome mystery by E.L Konigsburg to find out.

Rating:
Summary: Another Very Good book by a Very Good Author
Review: Something has happened to Branwell Zamborska. This boy who loves not only words, and their power, but the sound of his own voice has gone mute. Accused of dropping his sister, Branwell, or Bran, has been taken into custody. Branwell's best friend Connor takes it upon himself to find out what happened on that fateful day, convinced that this will allow his friend to start talking again. Alternating between flashback and present day events Connor is a likable, but admittedly not perfect, narrator. Konigsburg does an excellent job of tackling some of the deep and powerful issues revolving around adolescence in a serious manner, but avoids making the book feel like a downer. Through his investigation Connor discovers as many things about himself as he does about Bran leading to a satisfying conclusion.

McGillin does an a mostly good job of giving each of the characters a distinct voice, and especially, and surprisingly so, with the female characters. His narration makes for easy listening and adds definite value to the already very good book.

Rating:
Summary: OK, but not great.
Review: You should know the plot by reading the other reviews so I won't explain that to you. Anyway...

This book was only OK. The goods parts were that it wasn't boring even though one of the main characters was silent and what kept me reading was that it was by E.L.K. and that I really wanted to know why the main character was silent to the bone.

However, there isn't anything particularily special about this book, and I did not like the ending. As for the problems about suitability for children, which again you should know from other reviews, speaking AS a child there is nothing there I didn't see on TV or on the internet anyway. However, I was a bit uncomfortable reading it and I'm pretty lax about sexuality. Parents should read this book first and then decide wether or not to read it to your children. However, just because it's PG-13 book doesn't mean it's a bad book, most parents were just angry about that because they weren't expecting it-it was marketed towards middle schoolers.