Things You Can't Say
By Joly Herman,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Compelling story of tween grappling with his dad's suicide.
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Eh
What's the Story?
In THINGS YOU CAN'T SAY, 12-year-old Drew is starting another summer volunteering at the library in his Rhode Island town. His mom works upstairs, which is good, because since his dad took his life, Drew feels safer when she's around. He's taken on a lot of responsibility around the house, caring for his little brother, Xander, and generally helping his mom run the show. A new girl named Audrey has started volunteering in the library's kids' section with Drew, and though at first he feels she's intruding on his space, he finds he can share things with her that he can't tell his friend Filipe. In fact, Filipe has been hanging out with an ultra-cool eighth-grader from his soccer camp, and Drew doesn't know how to cope with the change. Even more disruptive is the fact that his mom's "old friend" Phil came zooming into their lives on a motorcycle, which he's been riding across the country. Drew is puzzled by his mom's relationship with Phil and becomes uncomfortable with the way things are going. Is he an old flame? A new flame? They seem to share a secret they don't want to tell Drew -- could they know something that will tell Drew more about himself and his dad's suicide? Drew and Audrey investigate and find out things that shed light on some family history. Drew's challenge is to feel his emotions without letting them become unmanageable.
Is It Any Good?
This is a compelling story of a 12-year-old sorting out his father's suicide while figuring out friends and family history during a summer in Rhode Island. Things You Can't Say explores the sense of anger and betrayal that suicide leaves behind, against a backdrop of kids streaming down the stairs to hear his stories, and a possibly cool girl who's volunteering with Drew at the library. Drew's honest voice digs into painful questions: Was his dad lying to him about loving him? Why did he abandon them? Was he ever really happy? And who is this "old friend" his mom is so interested in, anyway? An old boyfriend? A secret relative?
Kids will enjoy the realistic narrative that Drew runs in his head. There are lots of things he thinks, but not so many that he actually says. And when he does express himself, some of his words and reactions come out sounding rude, which feels right for this age group. What doesn't quite fit is a gap in the family history that seems unlikely (spoiler alert: when and where his parents met). It's a small glitch in an otherwise realistic portrayal. This is a relatable story about surviving a devastating event and how life goes on despite the tragedies people endure.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how dealing with tragedy and confusing feelings is shown in Things You Can't Say. Who do you turn to when your feelings feel overwhelming?
Audrey gets into trouble with new friends for googling them before she got to know them. Do you think it's normal to google someone right away? What's the difference between what's online and what's personal?
Are there any books or shows you know of that help kids understand depression and suicide?
Book Details
- Author: Jenn Bishop
- Genre: Family Life
- Topics: Brothers and Sisters , Friendship , Great Boy Role Models , Great Girl Role Models , Middle School
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Aladdin
- Publication date: March 13, 2020
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 8 - 12
- Number of pages: 336
- Available on: Nook, Kindle
- Last updated: March 21, 2020
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