Speechless by Adam P. Schmitt - ESSENTIAL

Speechless by Adam P. Schmitt, 293 pages. Candlewick Press, 2018, $17.

Language: G (1 swears); Mature Content: G; Violence PG

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Jimmy, 13yo, has major anxiety.  He also has little used dress pants that used to fit him a year ago but are now so tight he fears a wardrobe malfunction and even worse, and he is informed by his mother he will be giving a eulogy at his cousin, Patrick’s wake.  Jimmy could maybe even make it past his fear of public speaking if it wasn’t for the fact that he cannot think of anything nice to say about his cousin.  Patrick always ruined everything of Jimmy’s.  Throughout the wake, Jimmy racks his brains about what to say, while revealing more of the backstory between himself and Patrick.  

This story is amazing. I couldn’t put it down.  What a unique premise for a book!  The story line is wrought with flawed but interesting characters.  There is some violence, as Patrick is unpredictable. It is left to the reader to draw conclusions about Patrick’s life and death, and we, like Jimmy learn, through this well-written prose, to listen more than we speak.  

Michelle in the Middle – Teacher