The Silenced (Hardcover)

~ James Devita (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7 Up—The Silenced begins with Marena running late for her bus that takes her from her readaptation community to her Youth Training Facility. Classes are lead by instructors of public enlightenment and consist of recitation of Zero Tolerance Party propaganda. Stern, silent state officers patrol the halls. As the book progresses, Marena begins to remember things that she was somehow made to forget. It becomes clear to her that her father was there when the state officers dragged her mother from their home years before. As regulations tighten, she isn't sure who she can trust besides her boyfriend, Dex, and newcomer Eric. She realizes that, like her mother, she cannot remain silent in the face of state oppression. The three friends choose graffiti as their primary form of rebellion. DeVita's novel has many of the same character types and situations as other dystopic works—the enemy who has a change of heart, the unsympathetic character who nevertheless proves to be brave, and the friend who is a traitor. While readers may not find any conceptual surprises, this is a gripping read and young adults will certainly empathize with the characters' conflicts between self-expression and a desire to fit in. They will find the Zero Tolerance credo that the state's first priority must be the safety of its citizens to have a chilling resonance with statements in the news today.—Eric Norton, McMillan Memorial Library, Wisconsin Rapids, WI
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

In the aftermath of the Millenium War, the new Zero Tolerance government focuses on the safety inherent in homogeneity of political thinking, ethnic origin, and appearance. A wall has been constructed around the southern part of the country and suspected families relocated into a "re-dap" community in which the young people can be educated into right-thinking. But within her Youth Training Facility, Marina has found some kindred souls: an art teacher who encourages her, a boyfriend with whom she sneaks out at night, and a rebellious newcomer. As she gradually retrieves her memories of her mother's death, Marina determines to honor her spirit, starting her own resistance movement, the White Rose. This leads to a horrifying discovery: the tool the party uses to silence wrong-thinkers permanently. Gripping suspense combined with satisfyingly capable teen characters make this a good YA read, but the person who truly grows and changes is an adult, Minister of Education Greengritch. A convincing dystopia with echoes of Nazi Germany, ending with an appreciation of Sophie Scholl and the real White Rose. Isaacs, Kathleen

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Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 512 pages
• Publisher: HarperTeen; First Edition edition (June 26, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060784628
• ISBN-13: 978-0060784621
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #647,526 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fantastic Read for Young and Old!, July 14, 2007

By	Christine A. Turner "Christine A. Turner AKA ... (Milwaukee, WI) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I picked up this newly released book yesterday with the intention of reviewing it as a possibility for an eighth grade English class. As a teacher I used Mr. DeVita's earlier novel "Blue" for a school wide project at an arts Middle School in Wisconsin. My skimming review of the book for school use turned into a 12 hour addiction. Couldn't put it down! My teenage children and husband are fighting over whose turn it is to read. I can't recommend this book more highly. Not only is it an exciting fictional offshoot of three actual unsung heroes of the holocaust, reminiscent of Number the Stars, but an inspiring tale of activism in the face of overwhelming odds. The words "people deserve the government they're willing to tolerate" keeps ringing in my head. My students will be reading this in the fall, and I know it will spur on many historical and political discussions. This book is not only entertaining for all ages, but like every great novel, it makes one think about our responsibility in the world, and the courage it sometimes takes to fulfill that responsibility. You won't be able to put it down!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, July 3, 2007

By	TeensReadToo.com "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

In this vision of a government-controlled futuristic world, James DeVita introduces readers to Marena, a teenage girl who is just barely old enough to remember a world without the Zero Tolerance Party, which rules their lives and restricts everything from interactions with the opposite sex to education to reading and writing to private conversations to (it seems sometimes) thoughts.

Marena struggles to remember a time when people could talk to whomever they wanted, say what they wanted, live the way they wanted. As the ZTs took control, Marena's mother was one of a brave few who spoke out against what was happening to their country. And she was murdered for it.

Now, urged on by the memory of her mother, Marena and a couple of like-minded friends begin their own resistance: The White Rose. The White Rose will not be silenced...and the consequences for all of them, for their families, could be deadly. But they could be even worse if the ZTs are allowed uncontrolled power over everything and everyone.

THE SILENCED is an un-put-downable, fast-paced story that, scarily, doesn't seem so far off the mark sometimes, in regard to our country's future. It's definitely something to think about.

Besides raising important questions, this well-written novel is just entertaining. Despite its size (over 500 pages), the action moves fast enough to capture even some reluctant readers' attention. James DeVita is a talented voice in young adult literature, and I'll certainly be looking up his previous novel, Blue, and waiting eagerly for whatever he writes next!

Reviewed by: Jocelyn Pearce

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for young adults and not so young adults, July 13, 2007

By	Mary Friedel-hunt "mfriedelhunt" (Lone Rock, WI United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a 'hard-to-put-down' depiction of life that must be read by every teen, young adult, and those of us who are older. Not only will this book deepen awareness of personal responsibility but it will give the reader a glimpse into what the human being is capable of doing - both negative and positive. This is a must read...thought provoking...essential book. It moves quickly and holds the readers attention throughout. If you get a chance to attend one of Jim's book readings/signings, don't miss it.