Common Sense Media Review
By JK Sooja
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Taiwanese American fights Asian hate in timely tale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In THE SILENCE THAT BINDS US, Maybelline Chen is still mourning the death of her older brother. The sudden passing of this popular and seemingly happy teen was a surprise to everyone. But when Maybelline's parents begin to get blamed for their son's death, receive racist threats, and face Asian hate directly, May begins to fight back with words, organization, grassroots support, and great friends.
Is It Any Good?
The story in The Silence that Binds Us is incredibly important and, in many ways, told well in Joanna Ho's first young adult novel. While still fiction, the story speaks to a common scene or collection of anti-Asian racist beliefs, and Ho takes incredible care in walking readers up to the tricky steps of race relations, dynamics, politics, and social interactions. Welcome is the focus on issues like disagreeing with your own family about how to deal with racism, the differences in the kinds of racism various people of color face, and the histories of how racist beliefs begin and get perpetuated.
This book takes the time to explain a lot, and while at times preachy, everything covered also feels necessary and like it could be formative for teen readers. Teen culture and dialogue are captured well, even if some side characters feel a bit like checking off boxes. This isn't exactly a fun read, but it's an important one.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the racist events in The Silence that Binds Us. How common do you think these kinds of beliefs are?
How do you think aspects of class and socioeconomic status affect the racism on display in this story? For instance, what different kinds of anti-Asian racism might you find in Asian American communities that differ in class?
There are times when May and her Black friends need to have difficult discussions about race. Do you think these discussions were handled well? How so? If not, how so?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : School
- Topics : Activism , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship , School ( High School )
- Character Strengths : Courage , Empathy , Integrity , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : HarperTeen
- Publication date : June 14, 2022
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 17
- Number of pages : 448
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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