Family movie night? There's an app for that
Download our new mobile app on iOS and Android.
The Silent Boy
By Matt Berman,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
A period slice-of-life book.
Add your rating
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this book.
Where to Read
Community Reviews
Based on 2 parent reviews
It really depends on your kid
Disturbing
What's the Story?
Great-grandmother Docky sets down the story of her childhood, from ages six to ten, when she befriended Jacob, a strange mute boy, brother of her family's servant girl, who had an affinity for animals. Katy, as she was called then, was fascinated by her father's medical practice, and dreamed of one day being a doctor like him.
Jacob roams over the town and countryside, making friends with animals, and Katy often finds him in her family's stable with their horses. Though he doesn't speak, or even look at her, she comes to feel she understands him. Meanwhile she describes her life as the privileged and precocious child of a loving family in the first decade of the 20th century, a life that includes much that she doesn't fully understand at the time. But when Jacob disappears with his sister's newborn illegitimate baby, she may understand more than anyone else.
Is It Any Good?
Except for the tragic events at the end of the story, this is more a slice-of-life than a plot-driven story. Young readers with patience will be rewarded by a vivid picture of an earlier time in a small town, when cars were making their first appearance, those who had phones shared the lines with other families, and doctors spent their days (and often nights) traveling around to the homes of those who needed them.
The author has chosen period photographs to illustrate the story, some from her own family, and some bought at antique stores. Along with Katy's narration, they give the book the feeling of a family artifact. For children who need action and adventure, you'd best pass this one by. But for those who love a story of when their parents or grandparents were young, this will be a pleasure.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Jacob and Katy. What do you think is wrong with Jacob? Do you know any children similar to him? Why is Katy drawn to him? How do you think Jacob would be treated by the world today?
Book Details
- Author: Lois Lowry
- Genre: Family Life
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Children's Books
- Publication date: September 28, 2003
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 9 - 12
- Number of pages: 178
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Read
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate