The Weight Of Silence - Heather Gudenkauf

I saw this book in Asda in the 3 for £10 range and was initially drawn to it as the story contains a girl with selective mutism. Being a student speech therapist this particularly interested me so I decided to buy it and give it a go. Calli and Petra are best friends. They are both 7 years old, are neighbours and attend the same school. Calli hasn't spoken a single word since she was 4 years old, silenced by a tradegy at home. Petra and Calli are soul mates and she seems to know what Calli is thinking so she speaks on her behalf. One morning Petra's parent's wake up to find their daughter is ... more

Seven year old Calli Clark has not talked since she was four and she witnessed her mother Antonia give birth to a stillborn daughter after she was thrown down the stairs by her violent husband Griff. Calli has only one friend, her school mate Petra who seems to know what Calli is thinking and speaks on her behalf. When Deputy Sheriff Louis receives a call saying that the two girls have vanished from their beds his mind is immediately focussed on another recent case when a young girl was found murdered and he knows that the killer is still on the loose. However, the families of the two girls ... more

What a book. I have to write this review while it's still fresh in my mind. I am a keen reader, mainly of fiction. Although I do not have one set genre that I prefer, I do like this type of drama/life kind of novel. I have to admit I am not easily pleased, I like a book to transport me to another world, a world where I can forget my own trials and tribulations for a while; a story that engrosses me so much I can barely put it down, and when I do can do nothing but think about it (Perhaps not very productive for my boss but I like it!) This doesn't happen very often, the only books that have ... more