Silent to the Bone is a mysterious and intringing novel. I loved this book as it is both thought provoking and relatable as we uncover what happened to Branwell's sister, Nikki, and why Branwell went silent. Connor does not lose hope in Branwell and must get creative in communicating with Branwell. The use of inner dialogue is extremely powerful as it allows readers to truly connect with Connor and his struggle to unmask the truth. ( )

The novel, Silent to the Bone, is a compelling and mysterious novel. From beginning to end, you are on the edge of your seat in hopes to find the answer of what really happened to Branwell's sister who is now in a coma. His best friend Connor, digs deeper and knows that the story given was not actually one of full truth. He manages to find ways to talk to Branwell even though he wouldn't speak and had limited visitation in a behavioral center. The truth is alluded but not confirmed, making this novel one that is subjective yet interesting. This is recommended for fifth grade and above because of its sexual content. ( )

I enjoyed Silent to The Bone. It was a nonfiction mystery for young adults that involved a boy who becomes a voiceless character halfway through an emergency phone call to the authorities. He ends up in a juvenile detention center and his friend Connor spent the book trying to figure out his mystery. This is a very well written book that captivates the reader. This book does not have any illustrations, so the writing puts the images in the readers head. There are less words on each page compared to adult chapter books and it seems like the font is larger. ( )

This novel shows the struggle of mental illness and great changes in life. The story follows a young boy who has gone through many dramatic challenges such as a new marriage and the fear of loss of a sibling. Though the text this boys friend tries to be a safe place, someone who he can talk to. This book is well written. The story is engaging and keeps you on your seat, waiting for Branwell to finally speak. Through the use of dialogue you feel connected to each character. The background of each minor role is explained well and you truly relate to these people. The story is told from the point of view of Connor, Branwell's best friend. You can feel the struggle and hardship the encounters hold and as the reader you hope for a good outcome. There are no illustrations but the text allows you to imagine each character and setting vividly, "The Ancestors had sent him home dressed in a navy blue blazer, a white shirt with a button down collar, and a necktie." Overall the book conveys a deep message of struggle and compassion. The confusion people have about mental illness is also very apparent. There is a great understanding of the struggle of each individual through the ongoing situation. Each reader will relate to at least on character. ( )

I enjoyed this book for so many reasons. It is told in first person in the point of view of a boy named Connor. The writing is so engaging. I found my heart pounding at some points. I enjoyed the use of voice. I was constantly trying to figure out the ending, making predictions. I definitely think it pushes readers to think critically. I think the main idea of the book is you don't always know what is going on behind closed doors. In this case, the closed doors represent Branwell's head.

Silent to the bone is a compelling chapter book. You really into the book and want Connor to figure out the truth. It’s very suspenseful and keeps you on ur seat which is amazing. I love these kind of book I feel like kids would love reading about these characters. I think this is perfect middle school book and possibly as low as 5th grade. I personally couldn’t stop reading how the author went about telling the story. ( )

I had mixed feelings while reading the book. I liked the book because it kept me engaged and I wanted to keep reading in order to find out what actually happened. I do believe that the plot and characters were very well organized as well. However, I did not like the book because I felt like some of the topics discussed in the book are not appropriate for upper elementary students. Yes, the book makes students think about tougher issues but I believe that the class/student would have to be mature enough to read it. ( )

Silent to the bone is the mystery about a boy named Branwell who is blamed for endangering and harming his infant sister (Nikki). When Branwell is accused, he no longer speaks. It is up to his friend Conner to use Branwells clues to discover what happened the night Nikki is sent to the hospital and if Branwell is genuinely at fault. I liked this book because it was a thrilling mystery that told a great story. I would share this with students because I liked how the book demonstrated a loyal friendship between Conner and Branwell and I liked how Branwell's family handled the situation with Branwell and Nikki at the end of the story. ( )

I really enjoyed reading this book. It is about a boy, Branwell, who is in a juvenile behavioral center after his baby sister, Nikki, fell into a coma. Branwell goes completely silent following the events that led to his sister going into a coma, and it is up to Connor, his friend, to figure out what really happened. I liked this book because it kept me on the edge of my seat. E.L. Konigsburg did a great alluding to certain things without actually confirming them, keeping the reader interested. For example, when Vivian, the baby sitter, is introduced, there is something off about her. The reader can assume what really happened to Nikki, but there is nothing concrete to confirm it. This leaves the reader with the desire to continue reading to see what exactly happened. This page-turner is best suited for students in middle school. ( )

Silent to the Bone is a realistic fiction mystery book for ages 10 to 14.

The book is about a boy who is believed to have harmed his baby half-sister into a coma. He becomes mute from the situation and has help from his best friend to seek the truth.

I enjoyed the steady unravelling of seeking the truth of the night of the 911 call. As a teacher and older sister, I would only want others reading this book if they are mature enough to be exposed to the innapropriate racism of the grandparents referring to characters as "orientals" and of the sexual experience between Branwell and Vivian. This would not be suitable for academic analysis as the problematic areas outweigh the timeless relationship break down between two friends and non-traditional families with single parents, divorced parents, and step parents. In addition, I would rather have more books that relate to the majority of my class population rather than succumbing to texts that express aspects of white privilege so blatantly with there being commonplace nannies and caregivers who are often minorities while the families are white and well-educated. For a young boys searching for an escape from their realities, this is great. For a teacher's library, this is risky and unrelatable to the students. ( )

I liked the book, despite that it is based on facts. Insay despite, vecause I usually dislike books like that, retelling a story of a crime or other kinds of mishaps.
The story was kind of cute: friend goes out of his way to understand best friend and get the truth out in the open about what happened to little Nicci. What I missed, however, is a touch of police investigation. There is a lawyer involved, but it looks like nobody (but the best friend) is doing anything much to really investigate.
Statements of witnessess is one thing, but something investigating thevscene where it happened etc. would have surely taken place as well. ( )

Another book written for teens, but E.L. Konigsburg is just the sort of writer who drags you in and forces you to finish a book at one sitting. I got this because I heard it was a tie-in to 'The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place.' It sort of is - it takes place in the same town, but years later, and the story itself isn't connected at all.
It's sort-of a mystery. A teen boy, Connor, tells the story. His best friend, Branwell, finds himself psychologically unable to talk after an incident at his home. His baby half-sister was dropped on her head, and is comatose. The au pair nanny accuses Branwell of dropping her. It's kind of obvious to the reader that Branwell didn't mean any harm (and that the nanny is an awful person) - but why does Branwell find himself unable to speak up to defend himself? Connor must find a way of communicating with Branwell and unraveling the truth. ( )

Sweet story though a little far fetched in terms of what happened to the baby and her recovery. ( )

A compelling story addressing friendship, family and the struggles involved with coming of age. Very relatable relationships and situations revolving around a well developed mystery. Definitely for a little older audience.
Age recommendation--12+ ( )

Konigsburg always gets it right. Her delineation of embarassment and shame is well done here, in context of adolescent boys. Big sister Margaret Rose is a treasure too. ( )

A truly excellent YA novel. A well-written, compassionate, heartbreaking novel about child abuse, guilt and friendship.

Conner's best friend Branwell stands accused of harming his baby half-sister, who is now in a coma. Everybody has theories about what happened, but Branwell isn't able to help the investigation...because he cannot speak. For some reason he is locked into a kind of self-imposed silence. Conner visits Branwell every day at the Juvenile Behavioral Center, and they figure out a method of non-verbal communication which slowly, step by step, leads to the truth.

The depth of friendship between the two boys and the understanding and compassion of Conner's half-sister Margaret contribute to Conner's mission in positive ways. The other adults in the story are sometimes clueless, but nearly all of them do their best to help. (Branwell's grandparents drove me crazy. Him too.)

A good read, with the right sort of ending. Loved it. Recommended. ( )

After the aupair accuses Bramwell of injuring his baby sister, he goes mute. His best friend finds a way to communicate with him and find the truth. ( )

Very well done tale of a trauma and the consequences of staying silent at the beginning of something one knows is wrong. Compelling characters, believable plot and very good writing. ( )

Fantastic mystery that leaves you on the edge of your seat as your trying to figure out the clues Branwell gives you. You race with his friend, Connor, to find out all that happened in time to make sure that his baby sister, Vikki, is safe. Who really hurt Vikki? Do you need to speak to talk about what you know? The great tale of how friendship can be held together by simple understanding of another person and what you will do for them when the time comes. ( )

Connor et Branwell sont meilleurs amis et voisins. Ils se retrouvent au bus chaque matin et ne se quittent que pour rentrer chez eux. Depuis peu, la situation personnelle de Bran a changé. Son père s’est remarié et vient d’avoir une petite fille. Pour s’en occuper, sa belle-mère a choisi de faire appel à une fille au pair, une jolie anglaise. Bran est un peu amoureux d’elle mais Connor ne comprend pas ce comportement voire cette trahison à leur amitié.
Bientôt un drame survient ; le bébé tombe dans le coma et Bran devient muet sous le choc de ce qui s’est passé. Mais que s’est-il passé ? C’est le mystère que doit résoudre Connor en allant rendre régulièrement visite à son ami au centre pour mineur où il a été placé. En effet, on l’accuse d’avoir fait tomber sa petite sœur. Guidé par Bran, c’est une véritable enquête qui va être menée avec l’aide de la sœur de Connor mais aussi de son père.
Quel horrible vérité vont-ils découvrir ? ( )

Silent to the Bone is about a child named Branwell Zamborska who stops talking after his baby sister is hurt. Nikki, Branwell's sister, is not breathing and Branwell calls emergency services, but he stops talking. His English au pair Vivian comes on the line and screams that Branwell has shaken the baby. Nikki ends up in a coma and Branwell is taken into custody. Branwell goes to a juvenile behavioral center because he refuses to talk, which does not help him if Nikki dies and criminal charges will be brought against him. Branwell's best friend Connor comes to visit him while he is detained and devises a plan that allows Branwell to communicate with Connor without speaking. Through this code, Branwell sends Connor out to discover the truth of what happened on the day that Nikki stopped breathing. The mystery of what really happened on that day unravels as Connor finds himself saving Branwell.

This was surprisingly darker than what I am used to by Konigsburg. The manipulation of the culprit is intense. I loved going through the mystery with Connor. It was always interesting to find out where Branwell was going to lead us. It also gave a very empowering feeling to younger readers because they ultimately are the only ones that can communicate and save the day. All of the adults are missing too many clues. On the negative side, I never felt compelled to read this book. There were quite a few times that I put it down in order to read something else. It is not exciting and gripping. For the most part, it is a slow moving novel that has a lot of entertaining parts that don't need to be read right away. As a teacher, this makes me nervous because I feel like a child would not be as patient as I am. They will probably put the book down and forget about it rather than pick it back up a few days later and continue. There is a lot more thinking and talking about thinking than actual action within the whole story. I guess that is what happens when one of the main characters does not speak.

All in all, I gave this a 3/5 stars. I liked it, but I will probably not push it towards my students or read it again. ( )

An interesting book about selective mutism (although it doesn't seem so selective to me). A young boy's half-sister is injured in a home accident and he loses the ability to speak. His best friend figures out a way to communicate with him and get to the bottom of the mystery. It held my interest, but I thought the boys were too adult and did not sound very authentic. ( )

When he is wrongly accused of gravely injuring his baby half sister, thirteen-year-old Branwell loses his power of speech and only his friend Connor is able to reach him and uncover the truth about what really happened. ( )

Moving story--sophisticated psychology.

13 year old Connor's best friend Branwell has been sent to a juvenile detention center after supposedly dropping his baby sister and causing her to slip into a coma. To make matters worse, Branwell has been so shocked by what has happened that he cannot speak, and therefore cannot defend himself or proclaim his innocence. There is talk that he did it because he was jealous of his new baby half-sister but Connor knows that Branwell loved and adored her. It is up to Connor to try and unlock the mystery behind what really happened to baby Nikki - who hurt her and why? A fascinating, well-written mystery about infatuation ( with the British au pair), family (both Connor & Branwell have complicated blended families) and the power of friendship ( when you know a person so well, they don't need to speak for you to understand them)
P.9-12.