Discount Price: $5.99
Price fluctuation possible.
How soon does it ship: Normal ship time within one day
Shipping? Absolutely FREE if you qualify for Super Saver Shipping.
Type of bind: Mass Market Paperback
EAN num: 9780689867156
ISBN number: 0689867158
Label: Simon Pulse
Manufacturer: Simon Pulse
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 272
Printing Date: January 06, 2004
Publishing house: Simon Pulse
Age index: Young Adult
Sale Popularity Level: 59416
Studio: Simon Pulse
Other books you might be interested in perusing:
Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
Speechless
Connor is sure his best friend, Branwell, couldn't have hurt Branwell's baby half sister, Nikki. But Nikki lies in a coma, and Branwell is in a juvenile behavioral center, suspected of a horrible crime and unable to utter the words to tell what really happened.
Connor is the only one who might be able to break through Branwell's wall of silence. But how can he prove Branwell didn't commit the unspeakable act of which he's accused -- when Branwell can't speak for himself?
Amazon.com:
What happened on Wednesday, November 25, 2:43 P.M., Eastern Standard Time, to cause Branwell Zamborska to become mute? All anyone knows is that he called 911 because his baby sister, Nikki, had stopped breathing, and when he was unable to speak to the operator, Vivian, the English au pair, came on the line to say that Branwell had dropped the baby and shaken her. His best friend, Connor, begins visiting him at the juvenile behavioral center, where he has been sent while Nikki remains in a coma at the hospital. Working out a code they both can use, Connor begins the long process of trying to communicate with his friend to find out what really happened. With the help of his own half-sister and some canny detective work, Connor uncovers a complex, multilayered tale of human desires, adolescent confusion, and a touch of menace.
E.L. Konigsburg, brilliant Newbery Medal-winning author of From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler and The View from Saturday, has honed her skills to a fine point. Her keen understanding of young people is matched by her ability to create suspenseful, page-turning masterpieces. This beautifully written story is darker than some of her others, with a remarkably true glimpse into a young man's inner world. (Ages 10 to 14) --Emilie Coulter
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers 
-
Synopsis:
Branwell is a 13-year-old boy who loves words. He has a best friend named Connor. When an au-pair named Vivian comes in to Bran's house, she disobeys the au-pair rules. She smokes (against the rules), she has a boyfriend coming to the house (against the rules) and she doesn't watch the baby, Nikki. Vivian seduces Branwell to keep the secret about her breaking the au-pair rules. One day when Branwell comes home Nikki is breathing funny, so Vivian goes in to the baby's room and then tells Branwell to call 911. When he calls 911 he can't talk anymore. Connor his best friend needs to figure out what happened the day of the 911 call. Connor also needs to figure out with the help from his half-sister Margaret what happened to Nikki. To figure out what happened to Branwell, Connor needs to make cards that have words on them, point to them and understand what Branwell means when he blinks at them. Connor need to do this because Branwell can't talk since the 911 call. Morris JJ's pizza holds secrets essential to the investigation, so Connor and Margaret need to find out what he knows.
Message:
I know that a message of this book is you should stick with your friends even if they can't stand up for themselves. Another part of stick with your friends is that you should stick with them if you had been friends for your whole life. I think another message from this book is that you should always figure out the truth before you start believing random people like Vivian, because they might use information you don't have against you. The last message of this book that I found is that you should tell the truth and stay true to what you believe even if someone else wants you to change, even if you are scared or if someone is using you to hold secrets.
Opinion:
I really didn't like this book until things started moving along quicker. At the beginning of the book I didn't like it because things didn't have action in them. I started liking it toward the end because I had background knowledge on things that happened. One of the main reasons I didn't like this book is the story line. I didn't like the story line because there weren't things happening during the book, it was just figuring out things that happened previously. For example, I think that Vivian should have tried something on Connor like she did on Branwell. In the end though, I thought this book was pretty good because Connor wasn't as clueless as in the beginning of the book. I liked the middle of the book because it was where Connor started finding things out with help from Branwell. I also liked the end of the book because the criminal (Vivian) got sent away and the innocent (Branwell) got justice. I think that if you read this book you should not abandon it within a couple pages because it really starts getting better towards the middle of the book.
Rated by buyers -
Synopsis:
Silent to the Bone by E.L. Koningburg is a book about trust and the lifestyle of two young boys, Branwell and Connor. Nikki, (Branwell's younger sister) was dropped and fell into a deep coma then went to the hospital. When Vivian (Branwell's English au pair) brings out her worst, by bribing and seducing to bring them on her side so they won't mess up her plans, it's hard for Branwell to get past that day. That's when he became silent. Branwell doesn't speak because he was in shock from his little sister's incident. Then Vivian blames Branwell for dropping beloved Nikki. Vivian tries to pull people in to liking her to get them on her side.
Connor (Branwell's best friend) strives to prove Branwell is innocent. Connor makes cards with familiar words on them so he can understand what Branwell wants to tell him. He will prove that Branwell is innocent by telling Branwell's story for him because Branwell can't speak.
Margaret is Connor's older sister and is helping Connor prove Branwell is innocent. Margaret helped communicate with Branwell. This was easy for her because she went through all the heartbreak in his past, and has her own family problem experiences too. All this is happening while Connor and Branwell try to push their way through all this tragedy, trying to dodge their temptation of the beautiful, enticing, and charming Vivian on the way.
Message:
I think that the message of the story is that when you are pressed in a tough predicament, you don't take the easy way out like Vivian did. I think that's how Branwell got in a position where he couldn't defend himself. That will only bring you more trouble. When you come out with the truth sometimes you'll be forgiven, and sometimes you'll end up with more superior consequences.
Opinion:
I think that Silent to the Bone covers a lot of realistic concepts in life, like problems between family and friends. It makes readers look at writing in different perspectives, and also makes them contemplate choices differently in life. It made me realize how thankful I am for the things I have, and the people that care for me. I personally now recognize that some people can be very greedy, and they do many things to make it worse, even they don't realize.
When someone is stuck in a situation where they can't help themselves, you should help them in any way you can. I say this because I would want help if I were placed in that situation. I think that the plot was interesting because it always kept me wondering about events, I had to think hard about some things to get a clearer understanding. This helps you become a stronger reader.
Rated by buyers -
Synopsis:
Branwell Zamborska loves words; he had about five words for almost every object. Thursday November 25th at 2:43pm, Branwell went silent. His half-sister Nikki fell into a coma at only six months old. Vivian Shawcurt, the English au pair blamed Branwell for dropping his own baby half-sister. Connor Kane (Branwell's best friend since daycare), wants to be a loyal friend and prove Branwell is innocent. Connor makes twelve cards and starts writing common things they did together that might lead up to who was there that Thursday in November, who dropped Nikki, and what led up to when and why Branwell's silence occurred. Connor made the twelve cards because it was his only form of communication between him and Branwell.
Message:
Tighten the knot between family and friends because in this book, Silent to the Bone, the majority of people felt left out of either a marriage or a relationship.
Don't fall for temptations because they may not seem like bad ideas at the moment but later on they will come back to haunt you, as Branwell and Connor's temptations did.
Have trustworthy friends that even if you do something wrong you can count on them for their trustworthiness, like Connor would be a loyal friend to Branwell even if he did something wrong.
Opinion:
I enjoyed Silent to the Bone by E.L. Konigsburg because the author started the story in a staged action. It was definitely a book you would not want to put down. I highly recommend this book to students in a high reading level at least 11 to 12 years old. This book has unexpected twists, turns and actions.
Rated by buyers -
Silent to the Bone
SYNPOSIS: Branwell Zamborska (13) suddenly goes silent on a 911 call about why his 6 month-old sister, Nikki is unconscious. "He dropped her," reports Vivian Shawcurt, the Zamborska's English au' pair. If this is true, Branwell Zamborska can face federal charges, like manslaughter or murder. But is Vivian truthful, or is she lying? Only Branwell's best friend Connor can figure that out. Along with the help of his older half-sister Margaret, Connor Kane needs to figure out what happened on the day of the 911 call. This mystery pushes Connor's loyalty, willingness, and his brain. With Margaret's help, inside information, and a secret way of communication, Connor discovers something that he thought would never be true.
MESSAGE: This book has many messages to it. One that I believe is powerful is loyalty and being true to your friends. Connor wasn't exactly loyal to Branwell (even though Branwell is his best friend and they've known each other for a very long time) after he heard Vivian's side of the story during the very first time he ever met her. He did change back to Branwell's side though, after he discovered some breathtaking information about Vivian. Another one of the messages is to do what you know is truly right and what's wrong. Branwell got seduced by Vivian (even though she's 20) and did some things that he probably shouldn't have done. This was a huge part of the story and the plot. The last message is to always tell the truth and always say what's on your mind. Branwell didn't do this during the book and I bet he really, really regrets it.
OPINION: This book started of kind of slow, but it really got going. You were always wondering what would happen next. With Konigsburg as the writer, you know you're in for a treat. She's crafted a tragic mystery book that really packs a wallop and always surprises you. I'd recommend this book for 12-15 year-olds. It is a high level book and there is some content that younger kids may not understand. This book wraps up nicely though, and when you're done you're like "Whoa, how could all that happen in 261 pages!?"
Rated by buyers -
Silent to the Bone
By:Kayla
Synopsis:
Silent to the Bone is a book that unlocks the mystery of Branwell's silence that started the day that Nikki (Branwell's half sister that is 6 months old) was dropped and fell into a coma. Vivian (the au pair from Britain) blames the whole incident on Branwell. Connor (Branwell's best friend) does not believe Branwell would even think about harming Nikki in any way. Connor and Branwell find a way to communicate without talking. Connor helps to prove Branwell's innocence. Vivian seduces Connor and Connor has to choose between believing his life long friend or his crush, Vivian.
Message:
I think that the message of the book is that you should not fall into temptation even if you are feeling left out. I think that people should try to fight their temptations instead of letting them take control of you. You should not let people take advantage of you and use you for their own good. I think that Branwell and Conner were each feeling left out so they were more vulnerable to temptations. I think that this book also expresses that if you are feeling left out then try to communicate to the person that you think is leaving you out. I think that if you are feeling left out you should deal with it appropriately instead of holding grudges against the person.
Opinion:
I really liked this book because there is always something interesting going on. This is a book that will have you really thinking one thing but it turns out to be the opposite. I like the plot of this book because you are never expecting what happens next. I would recommend this book to 12-15 year old kids because you have to take every detail into consideration and there is some content in this book that younger kids will not understand.
Find other books like this one:
