The Voices of Silence [Mass Market Paperback]

Bel Mooney (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up

In 1989 Romania it's unthinkable to criticize the country's leader. Flora Popescu can't imagine a revolution, but suddenly daily life brings frightening changes. Some changes seem connected to a new classmate who dresses and eats better than his poor classmates. As Flora's world crumbles around her, she learns that her father's in danger and only she can save him from the secret police.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A 13-year-old girl living in Communist Romania, whose family plans to defect, befriends a boy whose father ranks high in the secret police. "Mooney's drama tensely portrays the gray existence of a suppressed population and evokes the undercurrent of anger that eventually explodes into revolution," said PW. Ages 10-up.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8. The last days of Romania under the rule of despot Ceausescu and the ensuing chaos are vividly described by 13-year-old Flora. Social instability rocks friendships at school and heightens tensions at home. Normal adolescent feelings, concern about her personal appearance, and a new jealousy of her best friend Alys's beauty are contrasted with her cravings for food. Enter Daniel Ghiban, a new student with good looks, stylish clothes, and pockets filled with candy and gum. Generous and a natural leader, Daniel quickly becomes popular with everyone, except Alys. Surprisingly, he chooses Flora to be his special friend. Meanwhile, Flora's father rails against their oppressive life. One night, she overhears him tell her mother that the only way they can survive is for him to escape and send for them later. Mooney does a fine job of depicting the complexities of friendship and the ease with which one can be seduced into betraying a parent or a best friend. Groundwork is carefully laid to make readers understand a life of shortages and lines for essentials before introducing Daniel. It is fitting that the author's description of him begins not with his appearance, but of the first lunch he takes to school. The tone is similar to that of Alice Mead's Adem's Cross (Farrar, 1996), but not as devastating. In that book, Adem's Yugoslavian family is destroyed, and the violence assails readers. In Voices, suspense builds after Tata leaves and is glimpsed in the heart of an explosive demonstration; but hope survives.?Marilyn Payne Phillips, University City Public Library, MO
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Laurel Leaf (March 9, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440227585
• ISBN-13: 978-0440227588
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,469,352 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is an exciting and moving book. It taught me a lot., August 5, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Voices of Silence, The (Hardcover)

When I started this book I could not put it down. It was exciting, sad, always interesting. The story centers around the revolution in Romania in 1989 and the life of a 13 year old and her friend and how the political events of the time affect their lives. Unforgettable.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Silence With a Strong Meaning, January 18, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Voices of Silence, The (Hardcover)

I'm a person who reads very much. Out of all of the books I have read in the past, this, The voices of Silence has been the most interesting book I have ever read. I particularly love the books that get me caught by surprise and give me a real feeling of what they are experiencing. i actually felt myself as this girl, this lonely girl trapped between the controlling ruling of an inconsiderate...ruler, Ceausescu, and the ever desirable dream of freedom, food, and luxury. There are many parts of this book that were very interesting to me, yet very real. There were parts in this book that also made me realize what kind of life I have lead, and what advantages that some people do not have at all. Chocolate, oranges, and basically just the normal things that we could have at an everyday basis, were things that were not available for people in Romania, like this girl named Flora Popescu. This took place at the time where communism was still at hand in Romania and it was very very difficult to leave the country even if you were just going on vacation. This book is very significant because it shows a sense of true dignity and self assurance. It shows how a person can really be very strong and yet still have their weaknesses. This 13 year old girl, Flora, never knew what freedom or living in luxury was like because ever since she was a small girl, she only knew the life of that under communsim. Despite all of the great things that this book has shown me, it has also put an extremely strong sense of confidence in myself and my country. At times, it may seem as if i do not agree with what our country has to offer, but after reading this book, I'm very glad to have pride in our president and successful country. The plot behind this made the rather short book turn into this book with great meaning. Not only did the characters in this book show silence through all the communism and hate, they also made it positive and clear that this silence they experienced had a very strong meaning. The people of Romania, in the end were almost granted their freedom, but at least they didn't have to face their horrible ruler Ceausescu any longer. What made this book seem so real, was how all of the little symbolic things were mentioned throughout the book. The characters in this book had a very great sense of character, the plot was well written and planned, and the significance behind the story showed very clearly....Silence With a Strong Meaning.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars O fata cu probleme, August 8, 2000

By 

John Farrell (UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Voices of Silence (Mass Market Paperback)

The heroine of the story is coming to terms with her own understanding of adulthood in a vile and destructive society. She had been brought up to distrust everyone and was trying to work out who she could have as a friend. Unfortunately she chooses the wrong person. The fear that everyone in Romania felt under the dictator Ceausescu is well shown in this book. It was a period when even a bar of chocolate was seen as a luxury. Children in the UK and in the US will find it hard to believe much of the story because it is so difficult to imagine not having videos and good music and burgers and milkshakes. Remember the orphans of Romania. Their lives were literally horrific. It was better for the children at home with their parents but not that much better. A good book with a slightly unexpected ending. I wonder did they live happily ever after?