Intriguing, history-minded mystery with a modern twist. He loved words. Neither Connor (who tells the story) nor Bran are credible young teens; they don't talk -- or, more importantly, think -- like kids at all. We had not had a fight or even a quarrel, but ever since Monday, Columbus Day, October 12, something that had always been between us no longer was. There are mystery aspects in addition to all the other high notes of this book that make it enjoyable for YA readers as well as adults. I think 12 (brink of puberty) is about as low as I'd recommend. [then, speaking directly into the phone] It's the baby. Her best friend is kidnapped. A woman's voice with a British accent [heard clearly]: Here! It's also proof that she can write anything she wants to. Glowing with humor and dusted with magic, this contemporary novel explores the ties that bind the four members of a championship academic quiz-bowl team. Search the history of over 804 billion I am not one for censorship but the subject material is not age appropriate for 12-13 year olds. In our Best Books citation, This complex work has all the trappings of vintage Konigsburg: unusually articulate children considering the adult world and trying to stake their claim on it; an art historyrelated. I found the dialogue to be a little jarring too, how no one really seemed to speak or act their age. He also recounts two sightings of Vivian's breasts, with only one being accidental. 1. Even before I read, this one managed to catch my attention. I think these things should be talked about openly with kids who are old enough, but I would not hand them a book like this with the scenes it had. Listening Library, $25 (0pp) ISBN 978--8072-6165-1. It follows the formula of a classic mystery, with red herrings, a climactic revelation, and detective Connor putting the pieces together. His hair was greasy and uncombed, and he was so pale that the orange jumpsuit he wore cast an apricot glow up from his chin just as his red hair seemed to cast the same eerie glow across his forehead. Though true for Branwell Zamborska and Connor Kane, the real definition cannot be put into words - literally. Meanwhile the paramedic who rode with the baby in the ambulance was following the ABC's for resuscitation airway, breathing, and circulation. The View from Saturday is even better. Entries also contain a short biography of the author. British Accent: He dropped her. Here are the facts: Branwell Zamborska's baby half-sister, Nikki, has had a head injury and is in a coma. on the Internet. Silent to the Bone - read free eBook by E. L. Konigsburg in online reader directly on the web page. Though the identity of the culprit will surprise no one, readers might be unsatisfied by the punishment given to the person who actually abused Nikki. He is my friend. The title signifies what has happened to the main character because he seems to have lost his ability to talk after witnessing a terribly shocking incident between their au pair and his baby sister for which he was blamed and accused of. Connor knows there is some explanation for Branwell's silence and that he did not intentionally hurt Nikki. With his best friend silently locked up in the behavioral center, for something he is positive Branwell didn't do, Connor's whole world is turned upside down. I looked real close. SILENT TO THE BONE. So NOT a topic of fiction for middle grade readers ages 9 to 14!! This book is about a13 year old guy named Branwell, he has a dad, step-mom and step-sister. It's there that Branwell's best friend Connor Kane devises a code for communicating with Branwell and, with help from his older half sister Margaret, begins to untangle the truth about what really happened to Nikki. Had he become a moody teenager, and would I become one in three more weeks? Nikki did not open her eyes. It was Wednesday, November 25th, 2:43P.M., eastern standard time. That's the summary of the story. Common Sense Media. Audiofile Magazine focuses on reviews of audiobooks. This was not the Branwell I knew, and yet, strangely, it was. I enjoyed reading this, but it was really obvious to me where the story was going and I had a hard time believing a kids investigation would go so smoothly. Among the summaries and analysis available for Silent to the Bone, there Basil E. Frankweiler won the Newbery Medal and Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth was named Newbery Honor Book. He not only had less time for me, he also had less to say to me, which, in terms of our friendship, was pretty much the same thing. After reading this sentence, it proves me wrong, and states that basically, Branwell and Conner can communicate without actually talking. Foul language, pop-culture references, and a strong liberal bent are all common. The emphasis is on describing the writing style and quality, with a short plot synopsis included. Bran is put in a juvenile detention center, and it's up to his best friend, Connor, to develop a code and find out what really happened that day. The book is about a 13 year old boy, Bran, and the things he goes through. I saw that his shoes had no laces. Margaret is less involved with the situation. Wed.Nov.25-2:45 pm was when the 911 call happened (to report attempt murder upon Nikki). Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. This book was a lot better than I thought it would be! Will Connor's effort pay off in helping break the silence that is Branwell Zamborska? In the ambulance en route to the hospital, Vivian sat up front with the driver, who was also a paramedic. He dropped her, I tell you. [then louder] Please come to the phone. We won't share this comment without your permission. (Oct.), "This middle-grade novel combines a plot loosely based on a real case with a taut psychological mystery. Lotu Tii "Friendship," also, "depends on interlocking time, place, and state of mind," as the author had said. What is the nature of your emergency? Ages 10-14. There's too much adult content for that age. Male Voice: Is she having difficulty breathing? Ages 4-7. : She also notices that Bran is sexually attracted to her (which is not uncommon for 13 year old boys), which is something he doesn't understand, as he's never had these feelings before. E. L. Konigsburg is the only author to have won the Newbery Medal and be runner-up in the same year. Connor and Branwell have been friends since nursery school and are now eighth grade students at the middle school downtown, where they commute by city bus. I believe this was a YA book, and though the subject of the book was a bit heavy for the younger audience, the story was told in a compelling and compassionate way. Going in, I was sure it would be my favorite and now that I have finished, Im not sure if it is my favorite, but it is certainly up there. This book was a bit darker than I thought it would be. Format. Readers will admire Connor's dedication to his friend, and be glad when justice -- and friendship -- prevail. Silent to the Bone is a first-person narrative by Connor Kane, a 13-year-old boy. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness. Save Not today. He would not speak at all. Connor's best friend Branwell Zamborska is struck dumb and taken to the Juvenile Behavioral Center when his infant sister Nicole suffers a head injury and slips into a coma. ), According to the School Library Journal review, the book contains "themes of communication, relationships in blended families, being different, friendship, adolescence, and shame". Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Her breathing is all strange. Silent to the Bone by, E.L. Konigsburg, tells the story of courage, faith, and above all friendship. After that first strange, clouded visit, I decided that if I was going back (and I knew that I would), nothing good was going to come out of my visits unless I forgot about our estrangement, forgot about having an assignment from Dr. Z, and acted like the old friend I was. Nikki had been put down for a nap, and Branwell saw Vivian in the . I will say that some 13 year olds might have some difficulty with the serious subject matter, and some younger adolescents might be more mature and able to handle it. This line makes me want to keep reading because it forces me to want to understand how they are communicating without talking. British Accent: No, no. web pages Branwell Zamborska is a tall, smart, caring, and honest boy. Silent to the Bone by E.L. Konigsburg | Goodreads Jump to ratings and reviews Want to read Kindle $7.99 Rate this book Silent to the Bone E.L. Konigsburg 3.79 6,588 ratings588 reviews Connor is sure his best friend, Branwell, couldn't have hurt Branwell's baby half sister, Nikki. Please try again. From the minute I read the first line in the book, to the last line in the book, I was always engaged in the reading. How are her protagonists similar? He did, but when the operator came on the line, he seemed paralyzed. Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2013. 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. He spoke to me because even before I knew the details, I believed in him. Connor never allows the thought that his best friend could have hurt his sister into his mind at any point. BUY THIS BOOK Silent to the Bone E. L. Konigsburg. Talk was like the vitamins of our friendship: Large daily doses kept it healthy. In the story, he is accused of dropping his baby half-sister, Nikki. Search the history of over 804 billion Silent To The Bone book. He seemed to have something hidden. Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations. Sixth-grade teacher/coach Mrs. Olinski, This 1996 Newbery Medal winner charts the ties that bind four members of an extraordinarily successful 6th-grade quiz bowl team. But this, this is the Konigsburg book that should have won a Newbery. Javascript is not enabled in your browser. It has a long O sound, and a silent E.Yes, the O is a long O sound (oh) and the E is silent. Connor's precocious friend Branwell suddenly stopped talking the day Bran's baby sister was injured and the babysitter blamed it on him. , Grade level It's a book that keeps you reading and sheds new light on looking for subtle changes in the people around us every day. Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items. He, of course, didn't utter a sound. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations. Sign up to save your library. The friendship between Connor and Branwell is one that is very admirable. If the supply of blood to the brain is pinched off, the brain cannot get oxygen, and it dies. The SILENCES were Branwell's. May I help you? Operator: Stay on the line. ) the summer she is 12, in 1983 (long before, Ringwald, who knows a thing or two about portraying teen girls dealing with big life issues, is a fine choice to narrate the story of wise-beyond-her-years Margaret Rose's 12th summer. E.L. Konigsburg is the only author to have won the Newbery Medal and a Newbery Honor in the same year. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2010. It's the baby. Elaine Lobl Konigsburg was an American author and illustrator of children's books and young adult fiction. Overall, this is a well-written story that covers a lot of important topics, including family dynamics, friendship, blended families, child abuse/neglect, sexual abuse/molestation, why it's important to tell the truth, and speaking up for those who can't speak for themselves. What happened? Davidson. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we dont use a simple average. , Lexile measure Read a Sample. He is at a juvenile facility while the investigation is underway and Nikki recovers in the hospital. Connor is the only one who might be able to break through Branwell's wall of silence. Something was wrong with the baby. i think that people should read this because this book has multiple different symbols and it is actually really different hearing and waiting for the true story. His eyeglasses were so badly smudged that his blue eyes appeared almost gray. Basil E. Frankweiler; Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth; The View From Saturday, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. The Kanes live in a suburban housing development on Tower Hill. E. L. Konigsburg's child characters have always been precociously gifted, but in recent novels, such as The View From Saturday, she has strayed perilously close to making them indistinguishable from very clever adults, and here she goes over the line. He believes his mother 'overlistens'. Bran is blamed for his sisters injury and is placed in a juvenile facility while an investigation is happening outside. on December 1, 2011, There are no reviews yet. ebook. He had about five words for things that most people had only one word for, and could use four of five in a single sentence. E.L. Konigsburg . S&S/Aladdin, $5.99 (261pp) ISBN 978--689-83602-2. Provides short user-submitted reviews, synopses, abstracts, and summaries created by the Shvoong online community. Nikki is Branwell's newborn sister. As such, reviews cover both the plot and quality of the title, as well as the quality of the audiobook narration. Answer: His feelings about Vivian. answer choices. Did the material here surprise you? Try again. Konigsburg did a fabulous job writing this novel, as it was easily relatable to a teenage life, like mine. Connor recounts his daily visits to his older half-sister Margaret, after her workday, and together they work towards solving the mystery of why Branwell will not speak, and what happened to baby Nikki. I recommend this book as a read aloud for parents with kids just about to enter middle school, or who are already there. Connor convinces Branwell to come to terms with his role in the events and stop Vivian from harming another child. Connor's parents are not friendly with her, but they welcome her care for Connor after school and sometimes late into the night. Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2017. [then just before the connection is broken] For God's sake, Branwell, MOVE. . Connor is the only one who might be able to break through Branwell's wall of silence. While the basis for the story is disturbing, it is also "current events". Bones are made of living tissue. Konigsburg did a fabulous job writing this novel, as it was easily relatable to a teenage life, like mine. We had both turned thirteen within three weeks of each other, and at first I wondered if he was entering a new phase of development three weeks ahead of me. And its only the first day of high school. Many older reviews only have a cursory paragraph on the plot. So when Branwell at last broke his silence, I was there. Read Any Book - Online Library - Read Free Books Online,