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Silent
2014 Rainbow Award Best Gay & Lesbian Young Adult NovelAlex’s life as a teenager in South Central LA is far from perfect, but it’s his life, and he knows how to live it. He knows what role to play and what things to keep to himself. He’s got it all under control, until one lousy pair of shoes kicks him out of his world and lands him in a foster care group home.Surrounded by strangers and trapped in a life where he could never belong, Alex turns to the only person lower on the social ladder than he a “special” mute boy. In Sebastian, Alex finds a safe place to store his secrets—those that sent him to foster care, and the deeper one that sets him apart from the other teenagers he knows. But Sebastian has secrets of his own, and when tragedy rips the two boys apart, Alex will stop at nothing to find the answers—even if it means dragging them both through a past full of wounds best left buried.It might just be worth it, for the slim chance at love.
383 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 27, 2013
About the author
Sara Alva
8 books273 followersSara Alva is the author of best-selling New Adult novel Social Skills and Rainbow Award Winner Silent. Always a daydreamer, Sara finally decided to sculpt the thoughts banging around in her head into stories of self-discovery, heartache, personal growth, friendship and love. Read them as an escape, or as a window into understanding your own world.
When she isn’t writing, Sara is pursuing her other passions in teaching, music, and dancing.
When she isn’t writing, Sara is pursuing her other passions in teaching, music, and dancing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 245 reviews
March 9, 2021
* ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I HAVE EVER READ. PERIOD. *
The main characters in this story reminded me a lot of those in Sara Alva's other AMAZING read, 'Social Skills'. The characters truly brought out the best in one another. They held one another up when it seemed like there was very little reason to hold onto any hope that things might ever get better.
The main difference in the characters in the two books was while the Social Skills MC's dealt with awkwardness and good grades in college, Silent's boys' focus wasn't on thriving in the world, but about surviving it. Quite literally.
As the story begins, Alex is ripped from his abusive home when a teacher reports a suspicious burn on his arm to the authorities, which lands him in a group foster home, where he actually begins to slowly fit in and feel more safe. Until it burns to the ground. Talk about one gut punch after another.
The fire separates Alex from Seb, his confidant when his relocated existence becomes too much to bear.
Why not tell the mute 'retard' your problems? Who's he going to tell, right?
Except their relationship becomes much more than a place for Alex to unload his burdens and he can't imagine living without Seb, even if it's ever just as a friend. After all, Seb is mentally challenged, isn't he?
Enter the hooker sister, her daughter and life on the lam for Alex and Seb. This is where things take an amazing turn for the better for both Alex and Seb. Until it burns to the ground. (Not literally this time, but it does involve a brutal attack on the streets and a retreat to familiar ground.)
The rest of the story is a battle for and an unwavering commitment to remain together through some extremely tough situations. I couldn't put this one down from start to finish, as every page felt relevant to the story and completely engrossing.
If I had to sum the story up in one line, I'd probably have to say the book is about knowing when to hide to keep yourself both safe and sane, then learning to trust and reveal your innermost self when someone proves themselves worthy.
Another highly-recommended, great read from Sara Alva.
25 1/2 stars -- out of 5, of course. : )
October 9, 2013
I’m…sh*t…I’m depressed. This book KICKED. MY. ASS. Hard to read, but really worth it.
This is not a rainbows and roses book. It’s…well…it’s gritty, and raw, and ugly, and it is TRUTH in text…it’s EXPOSED reality of how tough life can be for an actual percentage of our population.
I felt sad…and helpless…pretty much for most of this book. I was frustrated and wanted to scream for anyone to DO SOMETHING! I felt handcuffed to the realization that this is actually happening in our world today…and I felt desperate to help in some way.
There are kids out there being abused by their parents. There are kids going hungry every day. There are kids w/o shoes or clean clothes who barely get to school and live in shame. There are kids being woo’d into drugs and gangs as an only way of survival.
I find this situation devastating.
But, there’s a review to be written.
Now, in the midst of all of this madness…this sadness…this helplessness…there is actually a sweet coming-of-age love story. Alex is a toughened street kid from some of the worst projects in LA. He’s also only 15. He finds himself in foster care and meets Seb, a kid with “special needs”. Without telling you much more lest I spoiler this, their friendship is something they both NEED and it fills deep longing for companionship and love in each of the boys.
Their journey takes them from foster home to group home, separation, the streets, the beach, a dance studio, a dumpster…and in the end…into each others arms – the safest place to be. Alex’s FIERCE devotion to Seb…god, it both warmed me and stabbed me. There was SUCH a desperation there. And for someone so young…
So, in truth, I felt uncomfortable with the fact that these kids are only FIFTEEN years old. I just can’t imagine what it’s like to be 15 in this day and age, but especially not in these circumstances. It was the one thing I couldn’t shake while reading this…all the bad stuff, and even the good stuff with the relationship quite frankly…was clouded by the fog that screamed “They’re only FIFTEEN!!!!”. I think this is what will continue to haunt me.
What makes this book special…what makes it essential reading as a YA book (though the subject matter is admittedly not your “yay let’s be boyfriends and hold hands” YA), is that the author does NOT shy away from or sugar coat the realness of it. These situations exist all around the world….and now even in our books.
If you’ve read Sara Alva’s “Social Skills”…well, you’re in for a shock. This is a COMPLETELY different turn for her. But, man, the writing remains excellent and the characters so very memorable.
This book…It’s in your face. It’s uncomfortable. And it feels…important.
PS – fucking awesome cover by Dani Alexander. Loved it. And…it fits perfectly.
PPS – I’m obsessed with Sara Alva. That is all.
January 17, 2021
4.35 stars
It is really hard to find good YA stories, this one exceeded my expectations. Took me long to get here but I finally read it.
Wherever I ended up in life, they’d end up, too. Maybe they’d always be in a dark drawer somewhere, but even if I never laid eyes on them again, they’d be a part of me. The part that said I’d had a mother…who’d tried and failed. That I’d had a sister who’d lost her way. That I’d had a childhood in the ghetto and it’d played its part in making me who I was today.
GAAHHH! Alex!
This book made me feel so defeated and helpless. The most sad part is that this happens in real life. Alex broke my heart, made me feel angry and frustrated. I wanted to hug him tight, shake him and make him accept help. I did understand him though, most of the kids who grow up in these situations don't trust easily.
I hated Alex's mother with a passion. I wonder why some people have kids. Ugh! Don't have kids if you are not going to take care of them, and choosing a boyfriend over your kids?
The writing was too real, raw and in your face, no sugar coating here. The story flowed so well and continued to hit me hard upto the last page.
The character were so well developed and too real. I loved Alex and Seb. Seb stole my heart. Their journey was believable. Ugh! Why did the world have to be so harsh?
I wish i could be able to revist all the characters in this book, maybe 5 years or 10 years later. What happened to the rest of the foster kids? Mimi and Star? Gaaah! Mimi's situation was a sad one too. Just repeating her mother's mistakes, good thing she is atleast a good mother, just that life ended up being a bitch to her. I am so happy Alex saw that and tried his best to help.
Overall this book was amazing but hearbreaking, sometimes, i love the ones that break my heart.
It is really hard to find good YA stories, this one exceeded my expectations. Took me long to get here but I finally read it.
Wherever I ended up in life, they’d end up, too. Maybe they’d always be in a dark drawer somewhere, but even if I never laid eyes on them again, they’d be a part of me. The part that said I’d had a mother…who’d tried and failed. That I’d had a sister who’d lost her way. That I’d had a childhood in the ghetto and it’d played its part in making me who I was today.
GAAHHH! Alex!
This book made me feel so defeated and helpless. The most sad part is that this happens in real life. Alex broke my heart, made me feel angry and frustrated. I wanted to hug him tight, shake him and make him accept help. I did understand him though, most of the kids who grow up in these situations don't trust easily.
I hated Alex's mother with a passion. I wonder why some people have kids. Ugh! Don't have kids if you are not going to take care of them, and choosing a boyfriend over your kids?
The writing was too real, raw and in your face, no sugar coating here. The story flowed so well and continued to hit me hard upto the last page.
The character were so well developed and too real. I loved Alex and Seb. Seb stole my heart. Their journey was believable. Ugh! Why did the world have to be so harsh?
I wish i could be able to revist all the characters in this book, maybe 5 years or 10 years later. What happened to the rest of the foster kids? Mimi and Star? Gaaah! Mimi's situation was a sad one too. Just repeating her mother's mistakes, good thing she is atleast a good mother, just that life ended up being a bitch to her. I am so happy Alex saw that and tried his best to help.
Overall this book was amazing but hearbreaking, sometimes, i love the ones that break my heart.
October 17, 2017
I had a lump in my throat the size of US while reading this book, from page 1 until the very end. It is a book that I want every single human on this planet to read because even though it's a book this could be real life. However, it is not for everyone because it will break you no matter how tough you think you are.
Most of you have probably read TINALS by Suki Fleet and while it has a resemblance Silent is still harder to process.
I can't really review this book properly, I don't want to give anything away BUT I do want to give my two cents about a few things and it won't be pretty...
First of all, stop bringing children to the world if you are not parent material!!! You can be a woman without being a mom and if you become a mom make sure you are able to look after your children. And I am not talking about money, I am talking about really playing the role of being a parent. I was so pissed off while reading about Alex's mom, I wanted to literally find her and kill her with my bare hands, damn the consequences. And no, I don't need to walk on her shoes to know what is like being her, she was a despicable person and she deserves nothing but punishment.
I also want to thank all the Suzies around the world, you guys are really doing a great job helping complicated teens who don't want the help because they think they know better. Social Services rock, at least in this book.
And I just basically want to say we are all lucky, extremely lucky. We get to sleep in a comfy bed, we have food in our bellies, we have jobs that allow us to pay for our holidays, we can buy clothes and shoes and we probably don't even value it as much as we should. We should wake up and thank the world for being alive and for being so lucky every single day. But we don't, we get mad because we want more money, because we want this brand of shoes, because we could not go on holidays this year, because we had to stay late at work on a Friday, because we had to do something we didn't want to, because we don't really like how our food was cooked.
This book was a reality slap, it made me feel ashamed of myself. Because there are human beings out there who don't have it easy, who could not even choose what to do with their lives because they don't have a chance to change anything, they can only survive.
This book felt like a shout out for all the Alexs and Sebs out there, there is light at the end of the tunnel.
This story had to be told and it needs to be read.
January 5, 2016
First and foremost, I'd like to say a big thank you to Tess for recommending this book to me.
Silent is a colorful story, and not just because of the many beautiful, colored characters that it introduces. It is a colorful story because of the multitudinous hues of emotions that a reader gets to see and experience throughout the whole book. Reds for the injustice and cruelty that these kids go through before and even after getting sucked in the system. Greens for the little victories that they get to have when they finally luck out. Blues for their grief and sorrow and the way life just robbed them of their innocence and childhood. Pinks for the moments they get to feel love every once in a while. And then there are yellows to signify warm rays of light and hope and the chance of a better future.Yellows are the ones that stand out in the end for me. This book may be filled with darkness, pain, and sadness but all these are washed out in the end by hope, or as Alex put it – tired, battered, but amazingly still alive-and-kicking Hope. I’m not saying that this is an easy book to read. It isn’t. It’s raw and real and represents all things ugly in this world. And yet, I’ve never seen so many characters radiating with beauty, kindness, and warmth.
Alex and Seb. I knew the book would focus first and foremost on Alex but I was surprised when I finally got to reading and found out that the author took on a first-person POV. I guess now when I think it through, it makes sense experiencing the book in Alex’s eyes because it makes everything more realistic and heartfelt. But to be honest, I was at first doubtful when Seb and his disability was introduced. Doubtful that the author can make Alex and Seb’s rapport work. But Sara Alva just amazes me because these two boys’ bond and their chemistry and the way they communicate and interact with each other were absolute perfection. Alex is this boy who is all-attitude, abrasive, and just dives into a situation head-first. And sweet, sweet Seb who I thought was weak but proved to be someone vibrating with life, strong on the inside, and who anchors Alex well. These boys, when they’re together, make me want to believe in happy endings and just make me soar. These two boys are just beautiful and brave wearing their hearts on their sleeve. I cried in the end relieved that they will be okay because all I wanted to do was to protect them and make them feel safe.
All the shitty experiences in my life suddenly seemed so much less significant...like drops of water in the Pacific Ocean compared to this. I might've even chosen to live it again – even if it'd been worse – just to get to this moment.
Sara Alva, you are amazing and your writing is a gift from the heavens! I can't do anything other than to give you my respect and praise. *Slow clap*
May 21, 2020
*** 4 stars ***
This was a hard and heartbreaking story to read.
But also frustrating by the Mcs decisions regarding the foster care system.
I wanted to shake Alex so many times and ask him what the actual fuck are you doing?? Why don't you give yourself a chance?!
It represents the power of love beautifully though.
This was a hard and heartbreaking story to read.
But also frustrating by the Mcs decisions regarding the foster care system.
I wanted to shake Alex so many times and ask him what the actual fuck are you doing?? Why don't you give yourself a chance?!
It represents the power of love beautifully though.
December 9, 2015
I thought Sara Alva's Social Skills was one of the best stories I'd read in a long time, but her latest release, Silent, is in an entirely different category. As I was reading this gripping story, I felt intensely disappointed that the gay fiction genre is so small. A story as beautifully written and well-crafted as this deserves mainstream distribution. Though we often see reviews where the reader lauds the book as being a riveting page-turner, I can assure you, it is without hyperbole that I sing this story's praises. In fact, I almost don't know where to begin.
Let me share a quote from the book, a single line that hit me like a gut punch. "I tried not to think about all the horrible things that could happen to a little boy when no one could hear him scream."
Silent is the emotional story about this incredible foster kid named Alejandro. He prefers to be called Alex, and in the beginning he's facing a dilemma. He's fifteen, and he's outgrown his shoes. His mother will not buy him new ones and his mother's abusive boyfriend Hector hates him. Alex takes matters into his own hands and steals some of Hector's weed, then sells it on the street and uses the money for new shoes. When Hector discovers what Alex has done, he uses a lighter to burn Alex's arm, right after torching the new shoes. The injury is severe, and when a teacher at school discovers it, it sets in motion a chain of events that drastically change Alex's life.
He's taken into protective custody and placed in a foster home. Now, at this point in the story (about 20% into the book) I was ready to hurl my Kindle against the wall. I didn't like the social worker and I hated the foster parents. I couldn't believe how callous and unsympathetic they were to Alex after what he'd been through. Actually, I still sort of feel this way, at least about the foster parents. On the other hand, I think they did care about the boys they fostered and did the best they knew how.
The beauty within that environment wasn't so much the relationship any of those kids had with those foster parents, though. It was the relationship they developed with each other. They became a loving family, perhaps less dysfunctional than many conventional families. And it is at this point that the story really grabbed hold of my heart.
Alex becomes friends with one of his foster "brothers", a boy his age named Sebastian. Seb is mute, and everyone assumes he is mentally handicapped. Oddly enough, Alex bonds with him, and they become close. They become VERY close as Alex begins to discover a Seb that no one else knows exists. Alex learns to communicate with Seb, and he uncovers some secrets within Seb's past that are startling...and unbelievable.
There is so much more to this book than what I've shared in this review. It's an epic story that at times made me laugh. It also infuriated me at points and even made me cry. Silent is a book I really don't want to remain silent about it. It's one of those books that is going to stay with me a long, long time, and it very well may remain one of the best books I've read in my lifetime.
Let me share a quote from the book, a single line that hit me like a gut punch. "I tried not to think about all the horrible things that could happen to a little boy when no one could hear him scream."
Silent is the emotional story about this incredible foster kid named Alejandro. He prefers to be called Alex, and in the beginning he's facing a dilemma. He's fifteen, and he's outgrown his shoes. His mother will not buy him new ones and his mother's abusive boyfriend Hector hates him. Alex takes matters into his own hands and steals some of Hector's weed, then sells it on the street and uses the money for new shoes. When Hector discovers what Alex has done, he uses a lighter to burn Alex's arm, right after torching the new shoes. The injury is severe, and when a teacher at school discovers it, it sets in motion a chain of events that drastically change Alex's life.
He's taken into protective custody and placed in a foster home. Now, at this point in the story (about 20% into the book) I was ready to hurl my Kindle against the wall. I didn't like the social worker and I hated the foster parents. I couldn't believe how callous and unsympathetic they were to Alex after what he'd been through. Actually, I still sort of feel this way, at least about the foster parents. On the other hand, I think they did care about the boys they fostered and did the best they knew how.
The beauty within that environment wasn't so much the relationship any of those kids had with those foster parents, though. It was the relationship they developed with each other. They became a loving family, perhaps less dysfunctional than many conventional families. And it is at this point that the story really grabbed hold of my heart.
Alex becomes friends with one of his foster "brothers", a boy his age named Sebastian. Seb is mute, and everyone assumes he is mentally handicapped. Oddly enough, Alex bonds with him, and they become close. They become VERY close as Alex begins to discover a Seb that no one else knows exists. Alex learns to communicate with Seb, and he uncovers some secrets within Seb's past that are startling...and unbelievable.
There is so much more to this book than what I've shared in this review. It's an epic story that at times made me laugh. It also infuriated me at points and even made me cry. Silent is a book I really don't want to remain silent about it. It's one of those books that is going to stay with me a long, long time, and it very well may remain one of the best books I've read in my lifetime.
October 31, 2024
Maybe re-read #5?? Just always love this so much.
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One of my favourite books!! I've re-read this about four times. Alex and Sebastian are wonderful characters. I love what happens at the ending - just perfect. Sure, they're young, but I feel like they're going to make it.
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One of my favourite books!! I've re-read this about four times. Alex and Sebastian are wonderful characters. I love what happens at the ending - just perfect. Sure, they're young, but I feel like they're going to make it.
January 18, 2014
Alex is a great main character, a fifteen-year-old boy who lives with his mother and her violent boyfriend. He's barely getting by, stealing weed from the boyfriend to sell for a bit of cash, and trying to keep his head down. But his life changes when events come together to land him in foster care. Alex struggles in the group home he's placed in, dealing with missing his mom, resenting his situation, mentoring the younger boys and hiding his unwanted attraction to the older ones.
In this mix, the quiet mute guy, Seb, is an oasis of sorts. Someone whom Alex can talk to, without anxiety and without expectations. At first, Alex believes the general perception of Seb as both unresponsive and unable to understand. But slowly he comes to realize there is far more to Seb lurking under the mute surface. And when a fire in the home forces them apart, Alex discovers he's come to care enough about Seb that he will not let them be separated forever.
But getting to visit Seb is just the first step, figuring out how they can be together for more than one brief moment is another. Alex believes Seb needs him, and he feels lost without Seb. Alex has plans and schemes and a fierce determination, but the world doesn't cut people a break even when they're falling in love.
I enjoyed the realistic feel of this. Alex's voice has a nice youthful, sometimes hopeful and sometimes sarcastic tone. He makes mistakes, and doesn't think ahead. He's not always nice to everyone, but his heart is in the right place. I appreciated the ups and downs of the story, dramatic enough but not melodramatic, with a pace that kept me wanting to read more. I really enjoyed the ending and where it left the guys.
This is a Young Adult book. There is a little on-page sex, clear enough but short and not overly erotic. I'd call it 16+. Recommended reading for anyone who enjoys YA with appealing characters, some pain and some sweetness, and a happy but still in progress ending fitting for the now-16-year-old protagonists.
In this mix, the quiet mute guy, Seb, is an oasis of sorts. Someone whom Alex can talk to, without anxiety and without expectations. At first, Alex believes the general perception of Seb as both unresponsive and unable to understand. But slowly he comes to realize there is far more to Seb lurking under the mute surface. And when a fire in the home forces them apart, Alex discovers he's come to care enough about Seb that he will not let them be separated forever.
But getting to visit Seb is just the first step, figuring out how they can be together for more than one brief moment is another. Alex believes Seb needs him, and he feels lost without Seb. Alex has plans and schemes and a fierce determination, but the world doesn't cut people a break even when they're falling in love.
I enjoyed the realistic feel of this. Alex's voice has a nice youthful, sometimes hopeful and sometimes sarcastic tone. He makes mistakes, and doesn't think ahead. He's not always nice to everyone, but his heart is in the right place. I appreciated the ups and downs of the story, dramatic enough but not melodramatic, with a pace that kept me wanting to read more. I really enjoyed the ending and where it left the guys.
This is a Young Adult book. There is a little on-page sex, clear enough but short and not overly erotic. I'd call it 16+. Recommended reading for anyone who enjoys YA with appealing characters, some pain and some sweetness, and a happy but still in progress ending fitting for the now-16-year-old protagonists.
July 12, 2015
Silent is not an easy read and I have struggled with actually writing this review. The story is amazing and real and gritty. There's not a lot of happy to be found for a while, but it really was true to the circumstances. I didn't feel like the author glossed over things to make them more palatable, at all, and that gave the story a vivid and very real feel.
Alex's life is not good. Living in poverty is bad enough, but his mom's boyfriend, Hector, is an abusive asshole and his mom is a rather apathetic parent, at best. She doesn't appear to actually care about Alex or his well-being at all. Her only concern is that Hector doesn't leave her. She turns a blind eye to the abuse her child suffers at the hands of Hector and seems to place the blame with her child, instead of the tyrant.
So Alex is a very angry young man. He doesn't trust anyone and feels like he can only rely on himself. Teachers have long noticed the fact that he doesn't seem to have the most basic of things, like shoes that fit, for instance, and they've also noticed signs of possible abuse. But it isn't until Alex comes to school with a burn that he does a bad job of lying about that the school gets social services involved.
Alex gets sent to a group home, while social services attempt to locate his mom, but Alex is convinced that he will shortly get to go back to his crappy life as soon as his mom and Hector get back (the devil you know...). He's got attitude problems and is an asshole to everyone that will put up with it, so he doesn't make many friends at first. The only person he manages to talk to civilly is Sebastian, and that's only because Sebastian can't talk, so Alex (along with pretty much everyone else) makes several assumptions that Seb also is retarded and can't really understand him, anyway. So Alex confesses his deepest, darkest secrets, not realizing, at first, that he's actually found a friend.
But here's the thing - Sebastian is so much more than he seems. His life has never exactly been a bed of roses (thorns, maybe), and so he's let people assume whatever they wanted and he kept himself locked away. I guess he found it easier to get through life if people thought he wasn't really there. And maybe he was right. But Alex is different. Sebastian trusts Alex and it's through Alex that Sebastian is awakened.
Alex works through a lot of his crap while talking to Seb and he starts to settle into his new life and come to terms with the fact that his mom has actually abandoned him. He even decides to stop being such a jerk to everyone and make the best of his situation. You'd think that maybe things would look up for Alex at this point, but no. Just when Alex is finally settling into his new life at the group home, and Alex is starting to see Seb as more than just a friend (and that he is more than he seems) a fire destroys everything he hoped for and they are torn apart.
And reading about what it took to get reunited with Sebastian and stay together really took a lot of resolve. Alex's sister is in a really bad situation and she has a five year old daughter. His sister is a prostitute and her pimp is around her kid a lot, and uses drugs in front of her. This part of the story just about killed me. And I feared for everyone at that point.
Though their journey is so hard, and they have to make some very difficult decisions, Alex and Seb do prevail and watching them come into their own was a beautiful thing. I was left with a feeling of hope when I finished this book (as well as a huge book hangover).
Very highly recommended.
Alex's life is not good. Living in poverty is bad enough, but his mom's boyfriend, Hector, is an abusive asshole and his mom is a rather apathetic parent, at best. She doesn't appear to actually care about Alex or his well-being at all. Her only concern is that Hector doesn't leave her. She turns a blind eye to the abuse her child suffers at the hands of Hector and seems to place the blame with her child, instead of the tyrant.
So Alex is a very angry young man. He doesn't trust anyone and feels like he can only rely on himself. Teachers have long noticed the fact that he doesn't seem to have the most basic of things, like shoes that fit, for instance, and they've also noticed signs of possible abuse. But it isn't until Alex comes to school with a burn that he does a bad job of lying about that the school gets social services involved.
Alex gets sent to a group home, while social services attempt to locate his mom, but Alex is convinced that he will shortly get to go back to his crappy life as soon as his mom and Hector get back (the devil you know...). He's got attitude problems and is an asshole to everyone that will put up with it, so he doesn't make many friends at first. The only person he manages to talk to civilly is Sebastian, and that's only because Sebastian can't talk, so Alex (along with pretty much everyone else) makes several assumptions that Seb also is retarded and can't really understand him, anyway. So Alex confesses his deepest, darkest secrets, not realizing, at first, that he's actually found a friend.
But here's the thing - Sebastian is so much more than he seems. His life has never exactly been a bed of roses (thorns, maybe), and so he's let people assume whatever they wanted and he kept himself locked away. I guess he found it easier to get through life if people thought he wasn't really there. And maybe he was right. But Alex is different. Sebastian trusts Alex and it's through Alex that Sebastian is awakened.
Alex works through a lot of his crap while talking to Seb and he starts to settle into his new life and come to terms with the fact that his mom has actually abandoned him. He even decides to stop being such a jerk to everyone and make the best of his situation. You'd think that maybe things would look up for Alex at this point, but no. Just when Alex is finally settling into his new life at the group home, and Alex is starting to see Seb as more than just a friend (and that he is more than he seems) a fire destroys everything he hoped for and they are torn apart.
And reading about what it took to get reunited with Sebastian and stay together really took a lot of resolve. Alex's sister is in a really bad situation and she has a five year old daughter. His sister is a prostitute and her pimp is around her kid a lot, and uses drugs in front of her. This part of the story just about killed me. And I feared for everyone at that point.
Though their journey is so hard, and they have to make some very difficult decisions, Alex and Seb do prevail and watching them come into their own was a beautiful thing. I was left with a feeling of hope when I finished this book (as well as a huge book hangover).
Very highly recommended.
October 28, 2013
What struck me most about Silent written by Sara Alva is the honesty of Seb and Alex’s story. It isn’t pretty, you might get angry many, many times, and sad many, many times. But just like with anything, there are some bright moments to balance all of that darkness. For me, it’s essential young adult reading, and despite reading hundreds of young adult books, I still feel this one stands out, especially in the m/m genre.
Alex doesn’t have a supportive family, his sister is working on the streets with her drug addicted boyfriend, and his neice has a bed ridden with bed bugs. Seb is a mute teenager often mistaken for something he’s not, and the two meet in an unexpected place where nothing such as true friendship and love feels like it could foster.
There are a lot of ‘moments’ in this book. There are a lot of characters in Silent. In another book, this could feel distracting or kitchen-sink feeling, but this all felt natural. Two teenagers and the people they meet along the way in this coming-of-age journey across Los Angeles. There are misfits, counselers, halfway homes, prostitutes, forgotten and abandoned children, people who feel trapped in their situation, moments of happiness on a beach, thieves, worn-out shoes, and the way people surprise you or let you down or give you hope.
The best part of this book for me, though, is the friendship and eventual relationship between Alex and Seb. Two teenagers on the ‘fringes’ of society so to speak for very, very different reasons. Two people who probably would otherwise never met, never given the other a chance, and never had the either completely change their lives. They are devoted, scared, brave, funny…they are KIDS. Just babies, really, but I loved them.
So happy that the m/m young adult world has something this honest and awesome for readers out there.
Alex doesn’t have a supportive family, his sister is working on the streets with her drug addicted boyfriend, and his neice has a bed ridden with bed bugs. Seb is a mute teenager often mistaken for something he’s not, and the two meet in an unexpected place where nothing such as true friendship and love feels like it could foster.
There are a lot of ‘moments’ in this book. There are a lot of characters in Silent. In another book, this could feel distracting or kitchen-sink feeling, but this all felt natural. Two teenagers and the people they meet along the way in this coming-of-age journey across Los Angeles. There are misfits, counselers, halfway homes, prostitutes, forgotten and abandoned children, people who feel trapped in their situation, moments of happiness on a beach, thieves, worn-out shoes, and the way people surprise you or let you down or give you hope.
The best part of this book for me, though, is the friendship and eventual relationship between Alex and Seb. Two teenagers on the ‘fringes’ of society so to speak for very, very different reasons. Two people who probably would otherwise never met, never given the other a chance, and never had the either completely change their lives. They are devoted, scared, brave, funny…they are KIDS. Just babies, really, but I loved them.
So happy that the m/m young adult world has something this honest and awesome for readers out there.
Read
October 28, 2013Disclaimers: The author and I are friends (Addendum: we became friends because I love her writing). And I beta read this novel.
Review: Most people know I dislike YA. I think a lot of people get teenagers wrong. Sara Alva didn't. This teenager is immature and erratic and unsure and emotional. He's real. The whole story is real. It'll make you cry and make you want to punch a wall and make you laugh, cheer...all the things a book should do.
Review: Most people know I dislike YA. I think a lot of people get teenagers wrong. Sara Alva didn't. This teenager is immature and erratic and unsure and emotional. He's real. The whole story is real. It'll make you cry and make you want to punch a wall and make you laugh, cheer...all the things a book should do.
October 30, 2013
5 GHETTOFABULOUS STARS
THIS STORY IS REAL... THIS ISN'T A FAIRYTALE, THIS ISN'T ABOUT HOW THE RICH GET RICHER, IT ISN'T ABOUT DRIVING BENZ'S AND DROPPING BENJAMINS
THIS STORY IS REAL
FOR MOST PEOPLE, THIS IS JUST A STORY BUT YOU CAN'T PRETEND THAT THE PART OF THE WORLD YOU LIVE IN HAS SECTIONS THAT ARE CLASSIFIED AS THE "GHETTO" THE "PROJECTS" THAT WHEN YOU DRIVE BY YOUR OK CAUSE YOU AREN'T LIVING IT, BREATHING IT
THAT THE KID NEXT DOOR ISN'T SLINGING DOPE JUST TO GET BY
GANGS ARE REAL, REALER THAN REAL, KIDS HAVE KIDS, PARENTS DON'T TEACH WHAT THEY SHOULD, PARENTS ABANDON YOU, KIDS DON'T KNOW THEIR FATHERS, MOTHERS ARE JUNKIES, MAMA'S ARE HOOKERS, CRACK, WEED, CRACKHEADS, DOPE HEADS, GUNS, KILLINGS... THIS IS REAL LIFE FOR MOST OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION
"Seven o'clock, pluckin roaches out the cereal box
Some shared the same spoon, watchin saturday cartoons
Sugar water was our thing, every meal was no thrill
In the summer, free lunch held us down like steel
And there was days I had to go to Tex house with a note
Stating "Gloria can I borrow some food I'm dead broke"
So embarrasin I couldn't stand to knock on they door
My friends might be laughin, I spent stamps in stores
Mommy where's the toilet paper, use the newspaper
Look Ms. Rose gave us a couch, she's the neighbor
Things was deep, my whole youth was sharper than cleats" Ghostface Killah~All That I Got is You
SILENT~ SILENT ISN'T SILENT BECAUSE IT TELLS A STORY OF 2 BOYS TRYING TO GET BY IN A WORLD THAT'S AGAINST THEM
~
ALEX~
HE IS STRONG AND HE IS WEAK. HE WANTS AND NEEDS LOVE, TO OWN SOMETHING, EVEN IF IT IS A PAIR OF SHOES. CONFUSED CAUSE HE LIKES BOYS AND IN THE GHETTO YOU CAN'T BE A maricon
HIS LIFE IS SOMETHING HE'S BLOCKED OUT BECAUSE IN ORDER TO SURVIVE HE HAD TO DO THIS
~
SEB~ HE IS STRONG WHEN MOST THINK HE IS WEAK. HE NEEDS TO BE UNDERSTOOD BUT NOT BY ANYONE. HE HAS NO VOICE BUT HE DOES!
HIS LIFE IS NO FAIRYTALE AND NEVER HAS BEEN, NO VOICE AND NO ONE TO HEAR HIS SCREAMS
~
SILENT WILL TAKE YOU THROUGH THE GHETTO AND INTO THE HEART OF 2 BOYS THAT DESERVE THE WORLD, DESERVE UNDERSTANDING, DESERVE TO HAVE SOMEONE HELP THEM FIGHT IN THIS FUCKING AWFUL THING WE CALL THE WORLD. IT WILL TAKE YOU THROUGH FIRST LOVE, THROUGH HOW COMMUNICATION CAN BE DONE IN ANY FORM, HOW 2 PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND AND LOVE EACH OTHER SO MUCH THAT IT WILL SQUEEZE YOUR HEART SO HARD YOU THINK IT MIGHT JUST COME FLYING OUT OF YOUR CHEST. IT WILL MAKE YOU CRY. IT WILL MAKE YOU ANGRY. IT WILL MAKE YOU WANNA RIP UTERUS'S OUT OF SOME WOMEN. IT WILL MAKE YOU FEEL STRUGGLE AND PAIN AND LOVE AND ANGST. IT WILL MAKE YOU FEEL ALL OF THIS BECAUSE THIS IS AS REAL AS THE ALPHABET
THIS BOOK TEACHES YOU THAT HOPE IS REAL, THAT KIDS CAN DREAM, THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT CARE, THAT RIGHT IS RIGHT, AND WRONG IS WRONG. THAT TEENAGERS DO HAVE SENSE EVEN THOUGH EVERY SINGLE ADULT FORGETS THIS.
YOU ARE NOT A PRODUCT OF YOUR ENVIRONMENT
SARA ALVA HAS A WAY WITH WORDS, SHE MAKES YOU FEEL AND BREATH AND FEEL
THIS IS MY 1ST SARA ALVA BOOK BUT GUESS WHAT! IT WILL NOT BE LAST.
SHE'S GROWN A NEW FAN AND A STALKER~ME
READ THIS BOOK PEOPLE! READ IT, YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED~ CAUSE THIS IS REAL
Mare~Slitsread
THIS STORY IS REAL... THIS ISN'T A FAIRYTALE, THIS ISN'T ABOUT HOW THE RICH GET RICHER, IT ISN'T ABOUT DRIVING BENZ'S AND DROPPING BENJAMINS
THIS STORY IS REAL
FOR MOST PEOPLE, THIS IS JUST A STORY BUT YOU CAN'T PRETEND THAT THE PART OF THE WORLD YOU LIVE IN HAS SECTIONS THAT ARE CLASSIFIED AS THE "GHETTO" THE "PROJECTS" THAT WHEN YOU DRIVE BY YOUR OK CAUSE YOU AREN'T LIVING IT, BREATHING IT
THAT THE KID NEXT DOOR ISN'T SLINGING DOPE JUST TO GET BY
GANGS ARE REAL, REALER THAN REAL, KIDS HAVE KIDS, PARENTS DON'T TEACH WHAT THEY SHOULD, PARENTS ABANDON YOU, KIDS DON'T KNOW THEIR FATHERS, MOTHERS ARE JUNKIES, MAMA'S ARE HOOKERS, CRACK, WEED, CRACKHEADS, DOPE HEADS, GUNS, KILLINGS... THIS IS REAL LIFE FOR MOST OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION
"Seven o'clock, pluckin roaches out the cereal box
Some shared the same spoon, watchin saturday cartoons
Sugar water was our thing, every meal was no thrill
In the summer, free lunch held us down like steel
And there was days I had to go to Tex house with a note
Stating "Gloria can I borrow some food I'm dead broke"
So embarrasin I couldn't stand to knock on they door
My friends might be laughin, I spent stamps in stores
Mommy where's the toilet paper, use the newspaper
Look Ms. Rose gave us a couch, she's the neighbor
Things was deep, my whole youth was sharper than cleats" Ghostface Killah~All That I Got is You
SILENT~ SILENT ISN'T SILENT BECAUSE IT TELLS A STORY OF 2 BOYS TRYING TO GET BY IN A WORLD THAT'S AGAINST THEM
~
ALEX~
HE IS STRONG AND HE IS WEAK. HE WANTS AND NEEDS LOVE, TO OWN SOMETHING, EVEN IF IT IS A PAIR OF SHOES. CONFUSED CAUSE HE LIKES BOYS AND IN THE GHETTO YOU CAN'T BE A maricon
HIS LIFE IS SOMETHING HE'S BLOCKED OUT BECAUSE IN ORDER TO SURVIVE HE HAD TO DO THIS
~
SEB~ HE IS STRONG WHEN MOST THINK HE IS WEAK. HE NEEDS TO BE UNDERSTOOD BUT NOT BY ANYONE. HE HAS NO VOICE BUT HE DOES!
HIS LIFE IS NO FAIRYTALE AND NEVER HAS BEEN, NO VOICE AND NO ONE TO HEAR HIS SCREAMS
~
SILENT WILL TAKE YOU THROUGH THE GHETTO AND INTO THE HEART OF 2 BOYS THAT DESERVE THE WORLD, DESERVE UNDERSTANDING, DESERVE TO HAVE SOMEONE HELP THEM FIGHT IN THIS FUCKING AWFUL THING WE CALL THE WORLD. IT WILL TAKE YOU THROUGH FIRST LOVE, THROUGH HOW COMMUNICATION CAN BE DONE IN ANY FORM, HOW 2 PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND AND LOVE EACH OTHER SO MUCH THAT IT WILL SQUEEZE YOUR HEART SO HARD YOU THINK IT MIGHT JUST COME FLYING OUT OF YOUR CHEST. IT WILL MAKE YOU CRY. IT WILL MAKE YOU ANGRY. IT WILL MAKE YOU WANNA RIP UTERUS'S OUT OF SOME WOMEN. IT WILL MAKE YOU FEEL STRUGGLE AND PAIN AND LOVE AND ANGST. IT WILL MAKE YOU FEEL ALL OF THIS BECAUSE THIS IS AS REAL AS THE ALPHABET
THIS BOOK TEACHES YOU THAT HOPE IS REAL, THAT KIDS CAN DREAM, THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT CARE, THAT RIGHT IS RIGHT, AND WRONG IS WRONG. THAT TEENAGERS DO HAVE SENSE EVEN THOUGH EVERY SINGLE ADULT FORGETS THIS.
YOU ARE NOT A PRODUCT OF YOUR ENVIRONMENT
SARA ALVA HAS A WAY WITH WORDS, SHE MAKES YOU FEEL AND BREATH AND FEEL
THIS IS MY 1ST SARA ALVA BOOK BUT GUESS WHAT! IT WILL NOT BE LAST.
SHE'S GROWN A NEW FAN AND A STALKER~ME
READ THIS BOOK PEOPLE! READ IT, YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED~ CAUSE THIS IS REAL
Mare~Slitsread
November 7, 2013
I want to thank Madison Parker for bringing Silent to my attention. Wow-- what a great read. Honestly, I almost stopped after the first chapter. Alex's life with his mother and her abusive boyfriend was so bleak, and I'm really not a fan of reading books that are angsty and depressing.
Fortunately, because I respect people who love this book, I kept reading. It's not long before Alex finds himself picked up by social services and in foster care, and even if Alex's attitude does't immediately turn around, the book definitely gets more hopeful and interesting at that point.
Yeah, there's a lot of bleak reality in this book--not just with Alex's poverty and terrible home life but with his sister and her little girl, the rest of the kids at the shelter, Seb's backstory, and even the plot. There is one disaster after another for these poor kids. But balancing all that, the love story between Alex and Seb is shiningly wonderful and special. It pulled me through the book at a fast clip, and the dark makes the light that much sweeter. I also really enjoyed the slow turn of Alex's character, and that he choose to seek help in the end.
I would classify this as hurt/comfort because Alex is able to save the mute and withdrawn Seb when no one else can. And I do love a well-done hurt/comfort read.
There was a sort of HEA. We know Alex and Seb won't be separated and that they have a better chance at life at the end. I would have liked to have seen that pushed further, maybe graduating from high school or something, but that is an indication of how much I was attached to the characters. I really wanted to see them have a positive future.
5 stars is a no-brainer. Sara Alva is definitely now on my must buy list!
Fortunately, because I respect people who love this book, I kept reading. It's not long before Alex finds himself picked up by social services and in foster care, and even if Alex's attitude does't immediately turn around, the book definitely gets more hopeful and interesting at that point.
Yeah, there's a lot of bleak reality in this book--not just with Alex's poverty and terrible home life but with his sister and her little girl, the rest of the kids at the shelter, Seb's backstory, and even the plot. There is one disaster after another for these poor kids. But balancing all that, the love story between Alex and Seb is shiningly wonderful and special. It pulled me through the book at a fast clip, and the dark makes the light that much sweeter. I also really enjoyed the slow turn of Alex's character, and that he choose to seek help in the end.
I would classify this as hurt/comfort because Alex is able to save the mute and withdrawn Seb when no one else can. And I do love a well-done hurt/comfort read.
There was a sort of HEA. We know Alex and Seb won't be separated and that they have a better chance at life at the end. I would have liked to have seen that pushed further, maybe graduating from high school or something, but that is an indication of how much I was attached to the characters. I really wanted to see them have a positive future.
5 stars is a no-brainer. Sara Alva is definitely now on my must buy list!
March 28, 2016
Silent is a very special book - it really got to me and I enjoyed every second of it. It isn't an easy read, but it's worth it - every second of pain and hopelessness is needed.
Very raw, very real! A story about loss and about surviving. But also about hope and not giving up!
I couldn't stop caring for these two intriguing characters. The way the author was able to make Alex and Seb communicate -regardless of Seb's inability to speak - it was magical. The first person point of view (Alex) was well chosen and made the whole story even more credible and intense. We discovered Seb in the same rhythm than Alex did. Unfortunately, a few questions I had stayed unanswered and I think that the story could have had a few mages more, just to make the ending a little less abrupt.
Having studied social work myself, I was really chaught up in this story and I couldn't put it down! What's happening to these boys is real, it's a reality for many kids and teens out there! And this story tried to paint a picture of this painful truth and did amazingly well. I often have the feeling that social workers are pictured in black or white in similar stories, but Silent found a very interesting and credible balance.
I don't want to say much about the content, because I'm afraid to give something away! This is a story you have to read for yourself.
4.5 stars!
Very raw, very real! A story about loss and about surviving. But also about hope and not giving up!
I couldn't stop caring for these two intriguing characters. The way the author was able to make Alex and Seb communicate -regardless of Seb's inability to speak - it was magical. The first person point of view (Alex) was well chosen and made the whole story even more credible and intense. We discovered Seb in the same rhythm than Alex did. Unfortunately, a few questions I had stayed unanswered and I think that the story could have had a few mages more, just to make the ending a little less abrupt.
Having studied social work myself, I was really chaught up in this story and I couldn't put it down! What's happening to these boys is real, it's a reality for many kids and teens out there! And this story tried to paint a picture of this painful truth and did amazingly well. I often have the feeling that social workers are pictured in black or white in similar stories, but Silent found a very interesting and credible balance.
I don't want to say much about the content, because I'm afraid to give something away! This is a story you have to read for yourself.
Maybe he was my mountain, and maybe I was his. I wasn't going to question it anymore. I was going to hold on for all I was worth.
4.5 stars!
January 2, 2016
2.5 Stars
I think this can be summed up as: Teenagers are often selfish, stupid, and careless. Thankfully, they sometimes grow out of some of those behaviors.
I was told this had an HEA ending. Just so you know, I personally don't think this could be considered more than a HFN, and that could actually be debatable.
I think this can be summed up as: Teenagers are often selfish, stupid, and careless. Thankfully, they sometimes grow out of some of those behaviors.
I was told this had an HEA ending. Just so you know, I personally don't think this could be considered more than a HFN, and that could actually be debatable.
January 21, 2020
That’s it. I give up!
DNF @ 53%
Actual rating: 1.5 (rounded up)
(From the bit that I read) This book offers a realistic look at foster care and underprivileged youth, while also tackling issues of child abuse, sexuality, and trauma. I was moved by the fact that this is the reality for many children. For that, and that alone, I think it is worthwhile. But I simply could not forgive the disgustingly non-PC content and language, so I had to quit it.
While I felt for Alex, his situation, and the abuse, I didn’t think he was a good person. I’m all for unlikable characters, redemption arcs and such, but he was just an asshole (circumstances be damned!). Of Alex’s many qualities, he’s super judgmental, rude, slut-shaming, body-shaming, insensitive... I could not get behind his character.
My biggest gripe was the frequent use of the “R” word (which I find highly offensive) in this book. Just 30 pages in, I considered returning my copy, but I kept on pushing through (for a little while longer, at least).
Literally, almost every page the word is used (you know the one— an offensive term for the mentally disabled). It’s a particular word I have no patience for, and made this reading experience excruciating.
There is plenty of angst, and I’m guessing (further on) hurt/comfort; there were blossoming plot points starting when I said “enough is enough”. I’m usually a sucker for these kinds of reads, but apart from the unforgivable lack of euphemisms and language (and I have a dirty fucking mouth, myself, so for me to say that...), this was just boring. I could’ve grown to find the relationship between Alex and Seb endearing, but from what I read, I don’t know... I just find graphic sex scenes between 15/16 year olds creepy. Maybe Alex loses some of his worse habits, thought-processes, and attitude, but I wasn’t going to stick around to find out.
DNF @ 53%
Actual rating: 1.5 (rounded up)
(From the bit that I read) This book offers a realistic look at foster care and underprivileged youth, while also tackling issues of child abuse, sexuality, and trauma. I was moved by the fact that this is the reality for many children. For that, and that alone, I think it is worthwhile. But I simply could not forgive the disgustingly non-PC content and language, so I had to quit it.
While I felt for Alex, his situation, and the abuse, I didn’t think he was a good person. I’m all for unlikable characters, redemption arcs and such, but he was just an asshole (circumstances be damned!). Of Alex’s many qualities, he’s super judgmental, rude, slut-shaming, body-shaming, insensitive... I could not get behind his character.
My biggest gripe was the frequent use of the “R” word (which I find highly offensive) in this book. Just 30 pages in, I considered returning my copy, but I kept on pushing through (for a little while longer, at least).
Literally, almost every page the word is used (you know the one— an offensive term for the mentally disabled). It’s a particular word I have no patience for, and made this reading experience excruciating.
There is plenty of angst, and I’m guessing (further on) hurt/comfort; there were blossoming plot points starting when I said “enough is enough”. I’m usually a sucker for these kinds of reads, but apart from the unforgivable lack of euphemisms and language (and I have a dirty fucking mouth, myself, so for me to say that...), this was just boring. I could’ve grown to find the relationship between Alex and Seb endearing, but from what I read, I don’t know... I just find graphic sex scenes between 15/16 year olds creepy. Maybe Alex loses some of his worse habits, thought-processes, and attitude, but I wasn’t going to stick around to find out.
March 6, 2019
5++++ Stars
wowohwowohwow-this was just too fucking good!! These two kids tore my heart out. I cannot effing believe that I waited so long to read this book. If you're a fan of emotional rollercoasters, tough kids who never give up, and happy endings, then I highly recommend this one to you. It was amaaaazing.
wowohwowohwow-this was just too fucking good!! These two kids tore my heart out. I cannot effing believe that I waited so long to read this book. If you're a fan of emotional rollercoasters, tough kids who never give up, and happy endings, then I highly recommend this one to you. It was amaaaazing.
July 4, 2015
Yes! There is an HEA. It's truly perfect. I love Alex and Seb. I would read a sequel if one were written. I also think I need to put this author on auto-buy.
October 23, 2015
2.5 Stars
Silent had many things that I both liked and appreciated, particularly in a young adult book. It portrays the cruel world of indecent families, and how destructive they are for children and teenagers realistically.
On the other hand, I couldn’t like the plot, however bitter and realistic the circumstances and endearing the characters were.
I could not understand Alex’s motives in his attempt to His communication with Seb happened so late, that I already had lost interest, and that made their story hard to follow! And unfortunately that's when their relationship started to blossom, but I just wanted them to come back to the foster care home sooner, because that was the inevitable end.
Silent had many things that I both liked and appreciated, particularly in a young adult book. It portrays the cruel world of indecent families, and how destructive they are for children and teenagers realistically.
On the other hand, I couldn’t like the plot, however bitter and realistic the circumstances and endearing the characters were.
I could not understand Alex’s motives in his attempt to His communication with Seb happened so late, that I already had lost interest, and that made their story hard to follow! And unfortunately that's when their relationship started to blossom, but I just wanted them to come back to the foster care home sooner, because that was the inevitable end.
June 4, 2016
An excellent well written m/m romance from Sara Alva. Ghetto kid Alex is taken into foster care away from his neglectful mother and her abusive partner Hector. Here Alex meets the withdrawn mute Seb who he chooses to vent his fears to.
"You fucking show up at my school and take my whole life away from me... then you give me a new one, and now you're gonna fuck that one up too?"
"You fucking show up at my school and take my whole life away from me... then you give me a new one, and now you're gonna fuck that one up too?"
March 13, 2023
First read 7 years ago, 2016.
Re-read, March 2023.
One of my favorite books ever. Just as good the second time around. So much so that I think I should plan to re-read this one more often.
Re-read, March 2023.
One of my favorite books ever. Just as good the second time around. So much so that I think I should plan to re-read this one more often.
April 4, 2017
4.5 stars
This was not quite what I expected when I picked it up, but I didn't regret one bit of it. A less than perfect hero (my favorite kind!), a determined teenager, too much heartache but lots of hope in the end as well. Loved reading the journey of those two :)
This was not quite what I expected when I picked it up, but I didn't regret one bit of it. A less than perfect hero (my favorite kind!), a determined teenager, too much heartache but lots of hope in the end as well. Loved reading the journey of those two :)
January 17, 2014
It took me ages (AGES) to figure out exactly what I wanted to say about this. I’m still not sure I got it all out clearly. Personally, I blame all the feelz.
Silent is raw, it’s real, and it’s just… I think amazing is the only word that comes close to properly conveying how I feel about this book. I was amazed by the beauty of the story, the writing, and the characters. I have never connected with a character as much as I did here. Alex and the teenage version of myself would have mind-melded (if they ever made it past the chipped shoulders and into friendship). Sara Alva does a fantastic job at portraying the harsh reality of so many many things; life as a neglected child, growing up with a single mother that suffers from addiction, growing up in poverty, growing up in the hood, and life in the foster care system. Alva manages to capture the emotions, the tough decisions, and the internal scarring all of that entails. More importantly, the strength it takes to move past it, to grow, to accept it all, to still find room for happiness, and I could probably go on to list a page of things Alva flawlessly delivers. However, I want this review to end quickly so you can go fall into the book if you decide to. I also want to prevent your eyes from glazing.
I think some people will find this story really sad, maybe even depressing. Nevertheless, you have to look past that to get to the good stuff, because it is there. I promise. The way I look at it, the events in the book are like life. It’s hard, sometimes it’s agonizing, and the bad stuff occasionally piles on in succession. But it’s those good moments that make everything else fade, they make it all worth it. This book is worth dealing with the painful moments.
(Location 3401)
For some, the situations that the characters find themselves in are so out of the realm of their own personal reality that maybe it will be a little overwhelming to read. It is a lot to take in. I also think that for others, like myself, this is (or at one point was) reality. Fortunately, I think Silent is, in the end, an uplifting reading experience that has something for everyone. Everyone has their own experiences that inform the way they react to things. I think that some will think this is filled with misery and gloom, brightened by moments of sweetness. I think others will find it amusing and uplifting, dimmed by moments of sorrow and helplessness. Everyone will probably experience this book differently, but I do think that everyone should experience it.
Personally, Alex cracked me up. The book is told from his POV, and he has this dry sarcastic thing going for him (sometimes). Other times he’s just amusing because he’s a complete ass to most people, although he’s pretty oblivious to that fact. Alex has this sort of unintentional humor; he’s bitter and exasperated at the world. He is a detailed, complex character with plenty of self-reflection and growth. I think Alva did a great job of getting into the headspace of a teenager. His reactions and thoughts are so realistic to his age and situation. Reading this book was like being forcefully crammed back into my teenage brain. Alex is moody, petulant, self-absorbed, unreasonable, angry at the world, confused, and riddled with defense mechanisms. Yes, he grew up in a crap situation, but he is still a teenager. He makes some really bad decisions, suffers because of it, and then learns from those mistakes. This is what made him so enjoyable, that he is far from perfect, still likeable, and able to grow.
This is a case where I think genre labels have the potential to be limiting to a book. There is so much more than romance here. That being said, there is romance, and it is essential to the story. It’s sweet, it’s beautiful, it is one of the things that make this book so damn good. I’ve avoided talking too much about it in this review. I don’t want to ruin anything. I really enjoyed watching everything play out, as I wasn’t sure what was going to happen (and I had multiple theories). I did figure it out ages before Alex (it was fun watching him work through it all), though not completely and I was still left a little surprised. I will say that Seb is just the peachiest of all peaches. Both boys have been hurt by life. They find a source of comfort in each other, and fall so in love. A lot that happens to the both of them. A LOT. It’s pretty heavy life stuff, but those little glimpses of happiness they find with each other are freaking perfection. They are just sweet as honey. Honestly, Alex and Seb will grab ahold and tug relentlessly at your heart.
I loved this book. I loved Alex. I loved Seb. I loved the ending. This is a wonderful coming of age story, as well as a beautiful love story. I wish I had had this to read while I was in high school. There is a great message under all the emotion. Alex learned some things that took me ages to figure out on my own. For example, I still cringe when I hear the word social worker. On some level I’ve always (well not always, it probably came to me when I was a teenager) been aware that they have a tough job, a thankless one more often than not. They spend their lives doing this job, trying to take kids from a horrible situation and give them the opportunity for a much better life. However, there is a good chance those kids they helped will always resent them. Because, even though they were removed from neglect, abuse, or some other horrible situation they see their social worker as the person who ripped them out of the only home they knew and placed them with strangers. I was lucky enough to be placed in a wonderful foster home (sadly it’s not always the case). I love my foster mom; she will always hold a special place in my heart (I have her situated on a little pedestal). Even after I returned to my birth mom I made sure to keep her in my life. But, I still cringe at the word social worker. I didn’t even realize that on some level I was holding onto this resentment, leftovers from my childhood. Anyway, I am so glad for the character of Suzie in this book. Alex’s many interactions with her from beginning to end, and his own epiphanies on the subject were eye opening. I always appreciate things that make my brain chug along, that challenge any notions that need challenging. All in all, Silent is a great book. It might make you smile, it will probably make you cry, and it will definitely make you think.
*ARC courtesy of the author in exchange for an honest review.
5 Stars
More reviews at The Morning After Romance
Silent is raw, it’s real, and it’s just… I think amazing is the only word that comes close to properly conveying how I feel about this book. I was amazed by the beauty of the story, the writing, and the characters. I have never connected with a character as much as I did here. Alex and the teenage version of myself would have mind-melded (if they ever made it past the chipped shoulders and into friendship). Sara Alva does a fantastic job at portraying the harsh reality of so many many things; life as a neglected child, growing up with a single mother that suffers from addiction, growing up in poverty, growing up in the hood, and life in the foster care system. Alva manages to capture the emotions, the tough decisions, and the internal scarring all of that entails. More importantly, the strength it takes to move past it, to grow, to accept it all, to still find room for happiness, and I could probably go on to list a page of things Alva flawlessly delivers. However, I want this review to end quickly so you can go fall into the book if you decide to. I also want to prevent your eyes from glazing.
I think some people will find this story really sad, maybe even depressing. Nevertheless, you have to look past that to get to the good stuff, because it is there. I promise. The way I look at it, the events in the book are like life. It’s hard, sometimes it’s agonizing, and the bad stuff occasionally piles on in succession. But it’s those good moments that make everything else fade, they make it all worth it. This book is worth dealing with the painful moments.
(Location 3401)
For some, the situations that the characters find themselves in are so out of the realm of their own personal reality that maybe it will be a little overwhelming to read. It is a lot to take in. I also think that for others, like myself, this is (or at one point was) reality. Fortunately, I think Silent is, in the end, an uplifting reading experience that has something for everyone. Everyone has their own experiences that inform the way they react to things. I think that some will think this is filled with misery and gloom, brightened by moments of sweetness. I think others will find it amusing and uplifting, dimmed by moments of sorrow and helplessness. Everyone will probably experience this book differently, but I do think that everyone should experience it.
Personally, Alex cracked me up. The book is told from his POV, and he has this dry sarcastic thing going for him (sometimes). Other times he’s just amusing because he’s a complete ass to most people, although he’s pretty oblivious to that fact. Alex has this sort of unintentional humor; he’s bitter and exasperated at the world. He is a detailed, complex character with plenty of self-reflection and growth. I think Alva did a great job of getting into the headspace of a teenager. His reactions and thoughts are so realistic to his age and situation. Reading this book was like being forcefully crammed back into my teenage brain. Alex is moody, petulant, self-absorbed, unreasonable, angry at the world, confused, and riddled with defense mechanisms. Yes, he grew up in a crap situation, but he is still a teenager. He makes some really bad decisions, suffers because of it, and then learns from those mistakes. This is what made him so enjoyable, that he is far from perfect, still likeable, and able to grow.
This is a case where I think genre labels have the potential to be limiting to a book. There is so much more than romance here. That being said, there is romance, and it is essential to the story. It’s sweet, it’s beautiful, it is one of the things that make this book so damn good. I’ve avoided talking too much about it in this review. I don’t want to ruin anything. I really enjoyed watching everything play out, as I wasn’t sure what was going to happen (and I had multiple theories). I did figure it out ages before Alex (it was fun watching him work through it all), though not completely and I was still left a little surprised. I will say that Seb is just the peachiest of all peaches. Both boys have been hurt by life. They find a source of comfort in each other, and fall so in love. A lot that happens to the both of them. A LOT. It’s pretty heavy life stuff, but those little glimpses of happiness they find with each other are freaking perfection. They are just sweet as honey. Honestly, Alex and Seb will grab ahold and tug relentlessly at your heart.
I loved this book. I loved Alex. I loved Seb. I loved the ending. This is a wonderful coming of age story, as well as a beautiful love story. I wish I had had this to read while I was in high school. There is a great message under all the emotion. Alex learned some things that took me ages to figure out on my own. For example, I still cringe when I hear the word social worker. On some level I’ve always (well not always, it probably came to me when I was a teenager) been aware that they have a tough job, a thankless one more often than not. They spend their lives doing this job, trying to take kids from a horrible situation and give them the opportunity for a much better life. However, there is a good chance those kids they helped will always resent them. Because, even though they were removed from neglect, abuse, or some other horrible situation they see their social worker as the person who ripped them out of the only home they knew and placed them with strangers. I was lucky enough to be placed in a wonderful foster home (sadly it’s not always the case). I love my foster mom; she will always hold a special place in my heart (I have her situated on a little pedestal). Even after I returned to my birth mom I made sure to keep her in my life. But, I still cringe at the word social worker. I didn’t even realize that on some level I was holding onto this resentment, leftovers from my childhood. Anyway, I am so glad for the character of Suzie in this book. Alex’s many interactions with her from beginning to end, and his own epiphanies on the subject were eye opening. I always appreciate things that make my brain chug along, that challenge any notions that need challenging. All in all, Silent is a great book. It might make you smile, it will probably make you cry, and it will definitely make you think.
*ARC courtesy of the author in exchange for an honest review.
5 Stars
More reviews at The Morning After Romance
August 12, 2016
I don't think I have the words to do this book justice. I'm just going to say that I don't give out 5 stars lightly but this one deserves every last one of them.
Everything in this story felt so real and alive. The characters, the environment and atmosphere, it all sucked me into a world I didn't want to be in, but at the same time, I just couldn't leave it. I needed Alex and Seb to be safe and happy.
This was a raw and emotional read. I was rooting and praying for Alex and Seb until the very end. It made me angry and brought me to tears, but there was always some hope and I clung to it with everything I had. It was amazing because even through the sadness, the author managed to make me smile. It was beautifully written. Alex is just a child who had to struggle for everything, love, acceptance, the basic necessities of life, like a pair of shoes. Both Alex and Seb showed so much courage and strength but under all that they were both scared children who wanted someone to love them and take care of them. Their relationship was a true friendship and even in this cruel and devastating world they had to live in, there was still an innocence about them.
This was a journey of friendship and love where two people found pure happiness in a dollar meal burger, a ride on a Ferris wheel, playing in the sand, or in one of Seb's smirks. They didn't always make the right decisions, but how could they? They were abused children living in poverty, who had no one to hold them and tell them everything would be alright, but somehow they found a will and desire for more.
This was a journey of two boys who were able to find safety and peace within each other.
February 24, 2016
4.5 stars
One of the most moving YA novels I’ve read this year.
The story is told entirely from the PoV of the 15 yo Alex. Reading about his fears, helplessness, doubts, hopes, rushed decisions, mistakes and most of all his need to feel connected and loved by another person was … devastating.
Alex meets Seb in a foster care home and starts to share with him only because Seb can’t talk and Alex feels his secrets are safe. He had spent such a long time putting up a front, trying to be someone who is capable of dealing with whatever comes his way, that finally being able to unload this burden gives him not only relief but hope that his life can change.
When a disaster separates him from Seb, Alex is determined that he is not going back to his old life. There’s only one path for him to go and this is to be with Seb no matter what.
What follows is the heartbreaking journey of two boys falling in love with each other while trying to survive alone on the streets of LA. I won’t be lying when I say that I sat on the edge of my seat until I knew Alex and Seb were safe. Together and safe.
I only had one issue with this book. While Alex’s voice felt authentic the majority of the time, I felt that his perception of the emotions and thoughts of the adults around him was too mature for his age.
I understand that this may be the only way for the reader to fully comprehend what is happening with all the characters in a first person PoV story, and I could see that Alex has a sensitive and compassionate personality, but these moments felt a bit forced.
That aside, for me Silent was a great read. I will definitely be reading more of Sara Alva’s work.
One of the most moving YA novels I’ve read this year.
The story is told entirely from the PoV of the 15 yo Alex. Reading about his fears, helplessness, doubts, hopes, rushed decisions, mistakes and most of all his need to feel connected and loved by another person was … devastating.
Alex meets Seb in a foster care home and starts to share with him only because Seb can’t talk and Alex feels his secrets are safe. He had spent such a long time putting up a front, trying to be someone who is capable of dealing with whatever comes his way, that finally being able to unload this burden gives him not only relief but hope that his life can change.
When a disaster separates him from Seb, Alex is determined that he is not going back to his old life. There’s only one path for him to go and this is to be with Seb no matter what.
What follows is the heartbreaking journey of two boys falling in love with each other while trying to survive alone on the streets of LA. I won’t be lying when I say that I sat on the edge of my seat until I knew Alex and Seb were safe. Together and safe.
I only had one issue with this book. While Alex’s voice felt authentic the majority of the time, I felt that his perception of the emotions and thoughts of the adults around him was too mature for his age.
I understand that this may be the only way for the reader to fully comprehend what is happening with all the characters in a first person PoV story, and I could see that Alex has a sensitive and compassionate personality, but these moments felt a bit forced.
That aside, for me Silent was a great read. I will definitely be reading more of Sara Alva’s work.
November 10, 2013
If you are looking for a long read with plenty of angst but little sex then this could be for you.
This story was pretty emotional, but not as depressing as it could have been. While Alex has a hard life and we find out that Sebastian has it worse, there are no on page details.
The love story between Alex and Seb is a lovely slow build. Seb, I admit, was more who I read for. In all honesty Alex annoyed me quite a lot.
So many times I wanted to shake Alex, he often came across as selfish. I get he had a hard life and there was no reason for him to trust anyone. But his whole attitude to the people that tried to help him really grated on me. I really had a hard time with him when he could see so clearly his sisters situation, but was so blind to his own.
So while I might not of loved Alex, I certainly was kept invested in the story.
Alex proved he was capable of looking out for and putting Seb's needs first in the end, so he won me over at the last.
This will appeal more for the YA audience. A gritty but real story, with the HEA that's not always found in RL.
This story was pretty emotional, but not as depressing as it could have been. While Alex has a hard life and we find out that Sebastian has it worse, there are no on page details.
The love story between Alex and Seb is a lovely slow build. Seb, I admit, was more who I read for. In all honesty Alex annoyed me quite a lot.
So many times I wanted to shake Alex, he often came across as selfish. I get he had a hard life and there was no reason for him to trust anyone. But his whole attitude to the people that tried to help him really grated on me. I really had a hard time with him when he could see so clearly his sisters situation, but was so blind to his own.
So while I might not of loved Alex, I certainly was kept invested in the story.
Alex proved he was capable of looking out for and putting Seb's needs first in the end, so he won me over at the last.
This will appeal more for the YA audience. A gritty but real story, with the HEA that's not always found in RL.
April 7, 2020
This is an incredible book, beautifully written and colorful. I wanted to read more and more and was disappointed when the end was near. Not because of the ending but because it ended. I wanted to go on reading about Alex and Seb.
October 27, 2013
Read my joint review with Taylor on The Blog of Sid Love
The true essence of a young adult novel is the tenderness and innocence that drips through it. The love between the lead pair is beyond reasons and I, for one, am always left amazed by how deep it always gets. In Silent, the main character Alex makes sacrifices – which, at his age, weren’t supposed to be made and all of that to be with his one true love – Seb. And what’s so special about Seb that he goes to such extremes? Well, because he is “special”.
For others, Seb is this mute kid who always keeps to himself; for Alex – he is the backbone, his support, his only reason to live.
The camaraderie between these two is always so strong throughout the book that you just sense that whatever is blooming there isn’t just a temporary thing – that it will go long way into the future. Alex understands what Seb is trying to say just by looking at him; Seb doesn’t need any gestures or signs to tell Alex what he wants.
This book is a journey that these boys take on to find themselves and to discover the depth of their budding love. And it isn’t always a bed of roses for them. Sara Alva doesn’t shy away from showing the true nature of life. While there are times that happiness kisses their feet, but then there are also times when the sadness overwhelms you. Sudden turn of events happen in a jiff before one could even settle back and it makes you wonder when finally these boys will find peace.
However, there is that ray of light at the end of the tunnel which keeps you going. I never felt like giving up on a hope for a happily ever after for Alex and Seb because little hints of hope were dropped every now and then and these bits are worth it. I don’t know how ugly their lives would be otherwise. Alex, especially, is forced to grow up so soon. He is a teenager! This is the age when he should be partying, hanging out with friends, having one-night stands, etc… This isn’t the age to be out on the streets or being lonely or job hunting and definitely not the age to worry about things like how he should manage his budget so that he could find some more days meals. It was heart-wrenching but also so very true. How many Alex-s are out there today that we have turned a blind eye on!
Silent is a story that brings you face to face with tragic young lives that still find ways to seek happiness in little things. It is a story of love between two kids and it is also a story that is worth reading. I’d highly reccomend this one.
The true essence of a young adult novel is the tenderness and innocence that drips through it. The love between the lead pair is beyond reasons and I, for one, am always left amazed by how deep it always gets. In Silent, the main character Alex makes sacrifices – which, at his age, weren’t supposed to be made and all of that to be with his one true love – Seb. And what’s so special about Seb that he goes to such extremes? Well, because he is “special”.
For others, Seb is this mute kid who always keeps to himself; for Alex – he is the backbone, his support, his only reason to live.
The camaraderie between these two is always so strong throughout the book that you just sense that whatever is blooming there isn’t just a temporary thing – that it will go long way into the future. Alex understands what Seb is trying to say just by looking at him; Seb doesn’t need any gestures or signs to tell Alex what he wants.
This book is a journey that these boys take on to find themselves and to discover the depth of their budding love. And it isn’t always a bed of roses for them. Sara Alva doesn’t shy away from showing the true nature of life. While there are times that happiness kisses their feet, but then there are also times when the sadness overwhelms you. Sudden turn of events happen in a jiff before one could even settle back and it makes you wonder when finally these boys will find peace.
However, there is that ray of light at the end of the tunnel which keeps you going. I never felt like giving up on a hope for a happily ever after for Alex and Seb because little hints of hope were dropped every now and then and these bits are worth it. I don’t know how ugly their lives would be otherwise. Alex, especially, is forced to grow up so soon. He is a teenager! This is the age when he should be partying, hanging out with friends, having one-night stands, etc… This isn’t the age to be out on the streets or being lonely or job hunting and definitely not the age to worry about things like how he should manage his budget so that he could find some more days meals. It was heart-wrenching but also so very true. How many Alex-s are out there today that we have turned a blind eye on!
Silent is a story that brings you face to face with tragic young lives that still find ways to seek happiness in little things. It is a story of love between two kids and it is also a story that is worth reading. I’d highly reccomend this one.
March 10, 2021
Wow. This was sad, and depressing... and I have a ridiculously low angst threshold right now... but I couldn’t stop reading. What an amazing book!
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