Silence by Michelle Sagara
(Book #1 of The Queen of the Dead series)
Rating: 🍁🍁🍁🍁
I was going through Sagara-withdrawal, waiting for my library to get the next installment of the Elantra series, when I happened across Silence. Needless to say, it came home with me. And it is breath-taking. Why? Let me tell you.
1) Michael - One of Emma's best friends is a young man with autism, and he's presented in a way that makes me want to weep with gratitude. No pigeon-holing, no tokenism, no pity. Just an honest, well-written presentation of a real person with a different way of interacting with the world. And his friends treat him as such. This alone makes Silence a must read, as far as I'm concerned.
2) Teens who aren't stupid - YA fiction has a 50/50 chance of being a hit or miss with me, mainly because I have a very low threshold for adolescent stupidity. Not because I can't stand adolescents, but because in my experience they're not actually that stupid (usually). The group of friends that Ms. Sagara has created are smart and true-to-life (for the most part - more on that later), without being adults in teen bodies. It also helps that the book only marginally touches on the 'trials of teenagerdom' - navigating the complex social structure of high school or going to proms/dances/parties. Which isn't to say those elements aren't there, but they're mostly a backdrop to the story rather than the story itself.
3) Real friends - Do you know what else this book has that isn't seen much in other YA fiction? A group of friends, each with their own distinct personality and traveling in different social circles who manage to be good friends without sacrificing their individual concerns and perspectives - and none of them become a caricature. There's no "smart girl" or "sporty girl". Even Amy, who could be construed as the 'popular bitch' was actually just a normal girl born with a fiercely forceful personality and the money and looks to match it. Ultimately, they all support and come through for each other. And more than one of them is female (see, girls can get along!).
4) Gorgeous cover - Does that really require an explanation? I didn't think so.
5) "Fine" - I love Emma. I love that her feelings are not trivialized, and that she's not so self-absorbed that she doesn't realize the sacrifices others have made for her as she grieves the loss of Nathan. She gets her Mom, and understands the strain in their relationship, and does what she can to lessen the burden she might be to those around her. She's 'fine'. Always.
6) Emotions - Fair warning: Do not read this book without a tissue or two handy. I made the mistake of finishing it on my lunch break and am a complete mess at the moment.
Despite my gushing, the book isn't completely perfect.
1) Too accepting of crazy - I mean, wouldn't you be a little freaked out if your best friend in the world suddenly claimed to see dead people and made one materialize in front of you? I get that the girls (& Michael) were used to the idea of people having different ways of processing the world and its experiences, but wouldn't at least one person be hyperventilating? Just a little?
2) No adults - Where are all these kids' parents? I remember high school (it wasn't that long ago), and the adults in our lives had a lot more involvement than this book portrays. At one point, Emma mentions that no one has said anything to parents because they'd just freak out (apparently only adults freak out - teens are more accepting?), but that doesn't seem very realistic.
That being said, it was a magical, mystical, heart-breaking ride. Thanks Ms. Sagara!
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