Silent to the Bone

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Summary: Teenage Audience for Konigsburg's Bone Book
Review: The fact that Konigsburg has written books that the pre-teen crowd enjoys is no indication that this book should be read by them. The mere reason that Branwell cannot speak is caused by .... In addition, the au pair is in such a hurry to get involved with her boyfriend with whom she is smoking and having ... encounters in her bedroom that she drops the baby. Although some young kids see these topics on television often, let's not assume that all do. Why rush these realistic top;ics into the reading of children? The topic of this book is definitely for teenagers.

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Summary: The best of the best has come!
Review: I have just finished reading the book A Long Way From Chicago and thought it was just terrific! It was about a girl, Mary Alice, and her brother, Joey, who go to visit their crazy Grandma each summer for one week. Their experiences with that lady make you laugh out loud and think how on Earth could they get into something like that. You learn throughout the book that what Grandma Dowdel does is normal. You also capture the hidden love for her grandchildren and discover that not everyone is alike.

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Summary: AN EXCELLENT PAGE TURNER!!
Review: When my friends recomended this book to me, I didn't know what to expect. What was it going to be about? Well, the mystery of the title really cleared up later on. The book started out telling me about how Branwell, one main character, was different from other kids, and how Connor, his best friend liked him for it. When Branwell was accused of dropping his baby sister, Nikki on the Jack-And-Jill bathroom floor, Branwell became silent. Connor knows something is fishy about the accusation, and he knows he has to find out a way to talk to Branwell to find out. When he creates flash cards with important peoples names on it, the story begins. Branwell starts giving Connor people to talk to, and everyones clues add up to why Branwell became silent. With the help of Morris Ditmer, Yolanda, Connors very useful sister Margaret, and other important people, Branwell is proved innocent, and Nikki turns out ok. She finally came out of ocoma 10 days after Branwells mysterious silence disapears. And Vivian Shawcut, the Au Pair from England is proved to be the bad one. She bwas sent back to England right away, and will never be an Au Pair again. What is an Au Pair? Why did Bran become silent? What did the beautiful Vivi ever do? To find out, read this wonderful, mysterious, action-packed, realistic fiction book to find out. PLEASE read this book. I want you to discover the pleasure of this book, just like my teacher, friends, and I did. You won't be sorry.

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Summary: Another brill young student?
Review: This book almost disappointed me. Although it is very humorous at points, the un-suspense didn't kill me. I really should stop reading the last chapter first. What's with the love of the town of Epiphany? The View From Saturday was set there too! The book moved too slowly for me, and the ending was terrible. Maybe a sequel to liven it up? And what happens to Vickie?

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Summary: Word Clues Show More Than A Crime...
Review: "Silent to the Bone" is one of the best Young Adult books of the year! A compelling plot, taken from today's headlines, serves as the framework for an in-depth view of the power of friendship and loyalty. Who dropped Branwell's baby sister, Nikki? Branwell's response is silence. Connor Kane, a true friend, must find the facts. In the midst of the family's crisis, Connor's tenacity and understanding navigate through Branwell's silence, revealing a young person's truth in spite of adult lies. There is sexuality in this book, and so is recommended for older readers. The bonus in "Silent to the Bone" is the excellent wordplay; a delight for all readers, encouraging us all to Summarize In A Sentence...

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Summary: Always leading to the next
Review: A book that you will never want to put down .An exciting story revolving around Connor,Branwell, and Vivian.Connor trys to relieve Branwell from his silence.You never know whats coming next in the story until you find out the whole truth. It is an exciting beginning and end .A book that your eyes are glued to till the end. Overall: 5 stars and thats the least you can give it.

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Summary: Awesome Again!
Review: This is a fantastic book! I couldn't put it down. You want to know everything that happened that fatefull night! You'll end up hating Vivian and rooting for Branwell to speak! I definitely recommend this one!

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Summary: Great book for discussion with older kids
Review: I read this book myself before reading it aloud to my 11 year-old son, primarily because Konigsburg tends to provide great material for in-depth discussion. This book is no exception. While the basis for the story is disturbing, it is also "current events". I found the family relationships thought provoking and real, and a great way to open up a "comparative" discussion about relationships in our own extended family. As the author allowed the characters to disclose the reasons for Branwell's silence, we were able to openly discuss subjects that might otherwise not be broached. I recommend this book as a read aloud for parents with kids just about to enter middle school, or who are already there. This book says a lot about how people judge others by what is not said, as much as by what is said.

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Summary: Serious themes for mature young readers
Review: As a general rule, Konigsburg's characters are gifted, introspective and mature beyond their years, and I suspect that the young readers who enjoy her work strongly identify with these characters. This book is no exception. Connor, who relates the story, is quick-witted and discerning as is Branwell, his friend, whose personal trauma has left him mute. The themes of child abuse, sexuality, divorce, and family dysfunction are serious and are probably more suitable to a junior- and senior-high audience, though the main characters are just thirteen years old. "Silent to the Bone" is definitely a page-turner; I found myself stealing moments to finish reading it. While some of the plot details may not ring entirely true, Konigsburg has written a compelling novel which is certainly worthwhile reading.

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Summary: An Interesting Book but Consider Age Appropriateness
Review: I'm writing this review because I bought this book to read aloud to my ten-year-old, based partly on the fact that it is listed as appropriate for ages 9-12 and partly on the fact that we have liked so many of Konigsburg's other books. As I read, I developed some concern about whether I had made a good choice. I do not want to give away the plot for those who will want to buy this very fine book; it has Konigsburg's typical nuanced plot and interesting characters. But I would have appreciated this kind of heads-up about the possibility my child was not ready for the subject matter.