Customer Reviews

Silent to the Bone

5 star:		(85)
4 star:		(54)
3 star:		(18)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

E.L. Konigsburg's writing has been migrating in style and subject matter; her latest work. Silent to the Bone, is ample proof of that. It's also proof that she can write anything she wants to. It is an excellent and intense book that explores family, friendship, love, and lies with Konigsburg's accustomed skill and intelligence.

The main character and narrator is Connor. Branwell, Connor's best friend, has been accused of seriously injuring his baby sister Nikki, and has been unable to speak since she was hurt. Connor visits Branwell in the detention center, where he realizes that he must first learn to communicate with his friend and then learn what really happened to Nikki. Connor is a very intelligent kid, but still real and fully-fleshed. In fact, the main characters of this book - Connor, Branwell, the au pair, and Connor's sister - are all very well developed, as are the relationships between them.

Although the subject is rather grim, the book itself is not. The primary focus is actually Connor's detective work, the ways in which he goes about discovering what happened both in Branwell's house and in Branwell's head. The plot is gripping and believeable, and the truths - about Branwell's sister, but many others as well - unfold naturally, without calling attention to themselves. Although Konigsburg rarely makes blatent statements about emotions or complex relationships - people mostly don't, after all - she makes everything clear to the reader. The family relationships, for example, are for the most part background, but so perfectly drawn that they are easy to see and understand.

Although it's very different from her early works, like From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, Silent to the Bone is every bit as good. It's certainly better than The View from Saturday, which was a Newbery book. I would suggest that it is more of a YA book, for a slightly older audience than the age range suggests. A nine-year-old could read and enjoy this, but he'd have to be a fairly mature one.

SIAS: Average boy uses wits, compassion, and help from sister to uncover the truth, protect the helpless, and save the day. (Ands: 2, cliches: 3, ranking: ?)

(And a side note: *what* is with Konigsburg's obsession with the word epiphany?)

I would reccommend this book for ages 12 and up, not 9-12 as your reading level suggests. I enjoyed the interesting word games, strong characterizations & insight into young minds but found the plot slightly contrived. Never-the-less the book held my attention from beginning to end. SIAS: Coming-of age book, dealing with mature subject matter including, teen angst, loss and denial. The book will explain!!

Silent to the Bone is an amazing children's book. Only E.L. Konigsburg could have written it because almost no other author has such an understanding of young people. No other author could have given the reader such insight to the character's lives. Silent to the Bone is mostly about these insights. The plot follows Connor and Branwell, two thirteen-year-olds. Branwell has been accused of shaking and dropping the baby, but has become mute after whatever it was that happenned. Connor doesn't think that Branwell committed the crime; so he takes it upon himself to get Branwell to speak. To do this, though, means Connor (with his sister's help) must begin to peal back the layers of Branwell's life. He must learn exactly why Branwell became silent. He must learn about the tension and stress in the family's like (all the while, learning about his own family). Connor must try to piece together what happened at Branwell's home the months preceeding the accident as well as the day of the accident. The end result is almost a detective novel, but one with psychological insights. Silent to the Bone is a novel which will make a person think. Some of the themes may be too mature for younger readers, but young adults and older readers will gain from this novel and will certainly be fascinated and entertained by it.

*Also, I would like to warn anyone who's not read the book to not read the "eleven-year-old from New York"'s (April 10, 2001) review. It gives away all of the ending to this very suspenceful story.

I checked this book out of the library for my 10-yr old son when he was home ill. I started reading it aloud to him. It is well written and engages you from the start. HOWEVER, I'm glad that I read ahead. Though not the main focus of the story, there are MATURE themes in this book. You might choose to wait until your child has learned about the birds and bees before letting him or her read this book alone. Otherwise, be prepared to explain what Viagra is and why two older characters were in a bedroom with their clothes off. It might be appropriate to read it together and discuss some of the feelings that the boy experiences.

Silent to the bone by E.L. Konigsburg is about a boy named Branwell who is accused of hurting his little sister, Nikki, and is sent to a Behavior Center. One of the few people who believe that Branwell didn't hurt Nikki is Branwell's best friend, Conner. Conner goes about finding clues that will help him prove Branwell's innocence.
When I first read the title, I got the impression that this was a scary story. As I read the summary on the back of it, the book became more interesting to me, and I became more curious about the plot. Then I read it. I couldn't stop reading! As I read Silent To The Bone, I gathered clues along with Conner. I felt like a detective.
I would reccommend this book for mature audiences, 12 and older. This book contains some questionable content, but it doesn't take anything away from this great book. If you like mystery or law, you will enjoy Silent To The Bone.

As a teacher, every year I receive information about new books from Scholastic Publishing, Co. Last year, they sent an anthology of first chapters from some of the new books. This is an old teacher trick- read 'em the first chapter and they'll want to know more. Well, it certainly worked in this case. The first chapter of this engaging book was included, and it hooked me so badly that I had to go out and buy the novel that day to find out what would happen next.

For the most part, the rest of the book lives up to the expectations created by such a well-written and intriguing beginning. The main character, Connor, takes on the responsibility of solving the mystery of his friend Branwell's silence. After Branwell's baby sister is hospitalized for injuries, the boy can no longer talk and everyone, except Connor, believes the nanny's statement that Branwell hurt the baby.

There are some interesting plot twists along the way, and young readers will enjoy figuring out the mystery. However, I did not give this book 5 stars because many adult readers, and more mature young readers, will find the ending a bit predictable.

Another problem with this book is the age group it is being marketed to. While the reading level might be ages 9-12, the content is more appropriate for the 12-16 age group. The sexual situations are intense and emotionally charged and may be too graphic for the younger readers. The positive side of this is that it is a good book for older readers who are not reading at grade level. The high interest content combined with an accessible reading level would make this a good book for the reluctanct reader.

E.L. Konigsburg's Silent to the Bone is an excellent choice for the young, but mature reader. The story of Branwell's silence following an incident in his home keeps the reader in suspense. Branwell's friend is the only person who may be able to help him break his silence. He attempts this by understanding that this silence is a sure way of communication. And sees it as so.
The characters are very well developed and the story is all together unpredictable, which forces the reader not to put it down.
Though I hoped that this book would be an appropriate read-aloud for sixth graders, I found that it was not, due to some sexual content. But, I do recommend it for mature kids ages 12 and up.

My son brought this book home the school library and the title caught my interest. When I picked it up and started to read I got interested in the story line but by 1/4 though the book I could tell it was not appopriate for my 9 year old. This has sexual content between a 13 year old boy and an older au pair. It also discusses the allegation that the 13 year old was sexually interested in his baby sister. I looked this book up on amazon to read reviews and was surprised to see so many positive ones. I want to give a warning to parents that while it might be okay for older children it should not be read by children younger than middle school and might need some explanations or open discussion if your older child chooses to read this book.

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

This book is an excellent mystery. I purchased it as a Christmas gift for a friend's child. Then I bought a copy for myself and read it. I really enjoyed the book, but would never have purchased it for someone else's child if I knew the subject matter. I believe the subject matter is appropriate for older teens, but not for most 9 to 12-year-olds. Nothing in the book jacket review would lead you to believe this.