The Silenced

This is a great and page-turning read--you are quickly caught up in the story of a totalitarian society that has frightening parallels to today and the past. I found it hard to put down, and then hoped for more as I got toward the end. It is amazing that some of the best and most relevant writing today is directed at young adults. This is a must-read, worth thinking and talking about. Thanks, James Devita.

I picked this book up at the library because it was thick, and new, and looked interesting. When began reading it, I was sucked into the story. This is a book about a dystopian society, one that could very well be in our future. This is a story about what happens when people allow a government to control every aspect of their lives-from where they can live to what they can believe. This is also a story about what happens when someone dares to fight back. The main character of the book, Marena, is a girl who sees the injustices of her society and dares to defy those in power. I read this book in under two days, it was that engaging. Even though the book is fairly large, the pace is quick and it's very easy to get lost in the story.

I picked up this newly released book yesterday with the intention of reviewing it as a possibility for an eighth grade English class. As a teacher I used Mr. DeVita's earlier novel "Blue" for a school wide project at an arts Middle School in Wisconsin. My skimming review of the book for school use turned into a 12 hour addiction. Couldn't put it down! My teenage children and husband are fighting over whose turn it is to read. I can't recommend this book more highly. Not only is it an exciting fictional offshoot of three actual unsung heroes of the holocaust, reminiscent of Number the Stars, but an inspiring tale of activism in the face of overwhelming odds. The words "people deserve the government they're willing to tolerate" keeps ringing in my head. My students will be reading this in the fall, and I know it will spur on many historical and political discussions. This book is not only entertaining for all ages, but like every great novel, it makes one think about our responsibility in the world, and the courage it sometimes takes to fulfill that responsibility. You won't be able to put it down!

This is a 'hard-to-put-down' depiction of life that must be read by every teen, young adult, and those of us who are older. Not only will this book deepen awareness of personal responsibility but it will give the reader a glimpse into what the human being is capable of doing - both negative and positive. This is a must read...thought provoking...essential book. It moves quickly and holds the readers attention throughout. If you get a chance to attend one of Jim's book readings/signings, don't miss it.

In this vision of a government-controlled futuristic world, James DeVita introduces readers to Marena, a teenage girl who is just barely old enough to remember a world without the Zero Tolerance Party, which rules their lives and restricts everything from interactions with the opposite sex to education to reading and writing to private conversations to (it seems sometimes) thoughts. Marena struggles to remember a time when people could talk to whomever they wanted, say what they wanted, live the way they wanted. As the ZTs took control, Marena's mother was one of a brave few who spoke out against what was happening to their country. And she was murdered for it. Now, urged on by the memory of her mother, Marena and a couple of like-minded friends begin their own resistance: The White Rose. The White Rose will not be silenced...and the consequences for all of them, for their families, could be deadly. But they could be even worse if the ZTs are allowed uncontrolled power over everything and everyone. THE SILENCED is an un-put-downable, fast-paced story that, scarily, doesn't seem so far off the mark sometimes, in regard to our country's future. It's definitely something to think about. Besides raising important questions, this well-written novel is just entertaining. Despite its size (over 500 pages), the action moves fast enough to capture even some reluctant readers' attention. James DeVita is a talented voice in young adult literature, and I'll certainly be looking up his previous novel, Blue, and waiting eagerly for whatever he writes next! Reviewed by: Jocelyn Pearce