Silent Boy Paperback – Illustrated, 1 August 2017

The Silent Boy by Lois Lowry draws you into the life and mindset of Katy Thatcher, a young girl growing up in the early 1900’s. Katy narrates this story as an older woman (in 1987), but she does so completely from the perspective of the young child that she was at the time. Curious, innocent, and compassionate, Katy grows up as the only daughter of the town’s doctor (later in the story her younger sister is born). In addition to playing with her friends and talking with Peggy, a farm-girl who lives with them and helps her mother with housework, Katy loves to spend time with her father, making house calls to his patients. Katy knows that one day, she too will be a doctor. Like her father, she wants to help people. While it was common during that time period to shelter children from reality (for example telling children that their younger siblings just showed up in the garden), Katy’s father does not suppress Katy’s natural curiosity and interest. He answers her questions gently, but with honesty. The relationship between Katy and her father is quite beautiful.The story gets its title, The Silent Boy, from Katy’s relationship with Jacob Stolz, a farm-boy who is “touched in the head,” according to his sister Peggy (who works at Katy’s home). Jacob is 14, yet does not speak. However, he loves animals, loves to roam around, and loves to imitate sounds. Though Jacob never once even looks at Katy, and she does all the talking, they develop a friendship. Jacob often travels miles to come to Katy’s father’s stable to pet the horses. Katy goes out and sits and talks to him.Though the story is focused on Jacob, it does so very gently. His story interlaces smoothly along with every other smaller story being told. The narrator, looking back at her life, wants his story to be told…but at the time, his story was just one of many in her life. So his story is not forced, but simply flows naturally along the pages of Katy Thatcher’s life.The story is organized by timeline, each chapter being a new month. The story has a delightful combination of overall story and diary-like-ness. Each chapter begins with a photograph, which Katy then proceeds to explain. She will explain the day the picture was taken. Not always does the story really seem to fit into the greater story involving Jacob. However, as long as you are able to accept a little bit of rabbit chasing, these stories just serve to bring greater insight into the life of Katy Thatcher, her family, friends, and neighbors, as well as a greater understanding of the time period in which she grew up.I find it very fascinating that this fictional character (made very real by Lois Lowry’s portrayal of her) was born only one month before my own great grandmother. My great-grandmother lived to be 104 (1902-2006). Hers was a lifetime of change. Imagine…going from the days when automobiles were new and foreign and “the extravagant foolishness of men,” to the turn of the following century, where automobiles and cell phones and laptops and the Internet are everyday accessories in most households. So much has changed in every area of life. It is hard to even fathom what life was like a little over a century ago. Lois Lowry brings that time period to life, however, through the narration of her childhood by Katy Thatcher.I loved reading this book. From references to the insane asylum to kittens to birthday parties, fires, death, birth, mental illness, childhood, automobiles, poverty, success, horses, friendships, and so much more, this book was filled with details. Though this book is focused on Katy’s childhood and on Jacob Stolz, there are many references to historical events tied throughout. Katy mentions the World War going on in Europe. She talks about the earthquake in San Francisco and the factory fire in New York. These are mentioned not as historical events but as current events, as they were to her. History is strung throughout the pages of The Silent Boy, but in such a natural way that the reader hardly notices.Sometimes the stories narrated did seem a bit forced (and based on the pictures chosen), but, I would imagine that if I were to sit down and look at pictures with a grandparent, their stories would be focused around the pictures which jog memories.The Silent Boy addresses many complex, challenging issues. Some of these are addressed directly, and some very indirectly. All are addressed from a child’s point of view. At times, as an adult reader, this can be a bit frustrating, as I just wish she would say already what happened. Several times she will say something along the lines of: I peeked in and I saw what was happening. It was troubling. But she will not say what she saw. I think in some ways this serves as a peek into the mind of a child. I kept thinking: Tell me already. However, I wonder if a child would have noticed or would have just kept reading. At several points, I could guess what was happening…but Katy did not necessarily understand what she had seen. So she didn’t explain. Most of the time she would explain more later in the book…though a few times the reader is just left to gather what they can.The book is written in a very unique style. But that style draws you into the life of Katy Thatcher. Even more than it draws you into the story she is telling. There is a strong connection to the people in The Silent Boy. The plot is not as strong, not as compelling. But the characterization is thorough.I would recommend this book to anyone. However, I think that it is probably most appropriate for grades 5-9.When tragedy strikes the Stolz family and Jacob is to blame, Katy alone seems to understand. So how does it end? You will have to read it to find out! I will say, though, that the ending leaves one to ponder. It is a bit sad…but in a way that emphasizes that life keeps going on. Enjoy!

This is a simple story of a simple time of life. The characters could easily have been real people and the story could really have happened, though this is fiction. This story is very different from Lowry's Giver series and if you are looking for something similar from Lowry, you won't find it here. Still, it was a nice read.

This was a nostalgic recollection of a person's childhood. It was accompanied by corresponding photos. Grandmother's album of sweetness. and quick read for a Sunday afternoon.

I just got this book from Amazon today, I read it straight through. Lois Lowry has done it again! I think this book also deserves a Newberry Award. The story is told from the point of view of Katy Thatcher, the curious daughter of a doctor, but it's really about the lives of three families, The Stoltz Family, The Bishop Family, and The Thatcher Family, and especially about Jacob Stoltz. Nowadays, Jacob would have been diagnosed with Autism (neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the brain), but in the early 1900's people just knew that he was different, but that matters little to Katy, who connects with him and feels an understanding with him. I reccomend this book for middle school and up, possibly mature fifth graders, but some of the little nuances aren't really appropriate for kids much younger than that.

Loved Katy and her father. He was a good man. The ending came too fast and seemed to tidy up the lose end s.