Speechless
- Adam P. Schmitt
- Candlewick
- 16/06/2021
- ISBN: 9781536219012
RRP: $14.99 (Inc. GST)
Description
âPaints a realistic picture of a close but flawed family. . . . Complicated, hard, and heartfelt.â âKirkus Reviews (starred review)
As if being stuffed into last yearâs dress pants at his cousinâs wake werenât uncomfortable enough, thirteen-year-old Jimmy has just learned from his mother that he has to say a few words at the funeral the next day. Why him? What could he possibly say about his cousin who ruined everything? He canât recall one birthday party, family gathering, or school event with Patrick that didnât result in injury or destruction. As Jimmy attempts to navigate the odd social norms of the wake, he draws on humor, heartfelt concern, and a good deal of angst while racking his brain for a decent and meaningful memory to share. But itâs not until faced with a microphone that the realization finally hits him: itâs not the words that are spoken that matter the most, but those that are truly heard.
- Two starred reviewsâKirkus and BCCBâand a New York Public Library’s 100 Best Books for Kids
- Now in paperback debut author pours his years of middle-school administration experience into a touching but often humorous story of loss
- Profile of the effects of undiagnosed mental illness on family and friends