The Silent History

The world is stunned when a generation of children is born without the ability to create or comprehend language in this “terrific” experimental thriller (Wall Street Journal).

“Brilliant. . . . A vital work of art.” —The Huffington Post

It begins as a statistical oddity: a spike in children born with acute speech delays. Physically normal in every way, these children never speak and do not respond to speech; they don't learn to read, don't learn to write. As the number of cases grows to an epidemic level, theories spread. Maybe it's related to a popular antidepressant; maybe it's environmental. Or maybe these children have special skills all their own.

The Silent History unfolds in a series of brief testimonials from parents, teachers, friends, doctors, cult leaders, profiteers, and impostors (everyone except, of course, the children themselves), documenting the growth of the so-called silent community into an elusive, enigmatic force in itself-alluring to some, threatening to others. Both a bold storytelling experiment and a propulsive reading experience, The Silent History is at once thrilling, timely, and timeless.

“Ingenious. . . . A richly textured vision of a dystopian future.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“A sprawling, captivating work.” —Forbes