A story about a preteen named Branwell, Silent to the Bone is told from the point of view of Branwell's best friend, Connor. Connor is Branwell's voice throughout the story; at the beginning of the novel we find out that Branwell has been accused of dropping his baby sister, Nikki, who is critically injured and in the hospital. Shortly after the accusation Branwell stops talking and through Connor's narration it becomes obvious that Branwell is not guilty and that there is more to the story. Connor makes it his mission to prove Branwell's innocence, but finds it almost impossible since Branwell won't say a word to anyone, including him. Connor finds a unique way of gathering clues and making connections, and through clever work and perseverance, driven by his love for his best friend, Connor is able to prove Branwell's innocence and piece together the true story of what happened to Nikki.
I would recommend this book for students in grade 7 or higher. It deals with issues of child abuse and corrupt authority, and would best be read by younger audiences with a fair amount of parental guidance. Kids who decide to read this book will definitely have questions, and would benefit from talking about what they are reading since the material gets heavy at times.
I think that this book would appeal to a wide range of audiences, and would be especially appealing to boys because of the male protagonist and other prominent male figures in the text.
"Part detective and suspense story, this multilayered novel is much more, touching on themes of communication, relationships in blended families, being different, friendship, adolescence, and shame" -The School Library Journal
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