Scan barcode
A review by melbsreads
The Things I Didn't Say by Kylie Fornasier
4.0
This arrived at work yesterday, and I immediately processed it and covered it so that I could read it as soon as possible because I've been intrigued since hearing about it at an event late last year. This is the story of a teenage girl with Selective Mutism. It's not a disability - she's physically capable of speaking, and she speaks to her family without any problems. It's essentially an extreme form of social anxiety, where she finds herself physically incapable of speaking to practically everyone.
So. The story begins with Piper starting at a new school at the beginning of year 12. She has to deal with teachers, make new friends, find her way around the school all without saying a word.
I absolutely loved the first half of this. The friendship - and then relationship - that develops between Piper and West (okay, but seriously: what is with the names in this book?? I know there are a lot of Youneek(TM) names out there these days, but I work in a high school. We have more Marias and Katherines and Hannahs than we do anything else...) is super cute and I was totally on board with it.
I loved that there was never any sense that West was "curing" Piper. He got frustrated with her, just like everyone else in her life. But he always found ways to apologise, always tried to understand, always found ways of making sure she could contribute to the conversation without saying anything.
The pacing was a little off for me in the second half of the book - at one point, it's the Easter holidays, and then it felt like about two chapters passed and suddenly they were preparing for exams?? - but on the whole I thoroughly enjoyed this one (although I'd happily strangle West's parents for being typical pushy YA parents who don't listen to a word their kid says).
So. The story begins with Piper starting at a new school at the beginning of year 12. She has to deal with teachers, make new friends, find her way around the school all without saying a word.
I absolutely loved the first half of this. The friendship - and then relationship - that develops between Piper and West (okay, but seriously: what is with the names in this book?? I know there are a lot of Youneek(TM) names out there these days, but I work in a high school. We have more Marias and Katherines and Hannahs than we do anything else...) is super cute and I was totally on board with it.
I loved that there was never any sense that West was "curing" Piper. He got frustrated with her, just like everyone else in her life. But he always found ways to apologise, always tried to understand, always found ways of making sure she could contribute to the conversation without saying anything.
The pacing was a little off for me in the second half of the book - at one point, it's the Easter holidays, and then it felt like about two chapters passed and suddenly they were preparing for exams?? - but on the whole I thoroughly enjoyed this one (although I'd happily strangle West's parents for being typical pushy YA parents who don't listen to a word their kid says).