by Ron C. Nieto
Genre: young adult paranormal romance
Publication date: June 22 2012
Pages: 290 (paperback)
Source: Advanced Review Copy from author
Purchase this book | GoodReads
The princess of the school, Alice, is keeping a secret that could strip her of her high school fame. She is obsessed with the school’s outcast, Keith, but not just him – his music.This book was so heart-wrenchingly good. It filled my heart with rainbows and unicorns, but then broke it into a million teeny little pieces. This glorious debut novel stomped on the pieces of my heart with the burning fury of a thousand sumo wrestlers, and I am still trying to stitch the pieces back together as I write this.
Since the inspiration for the song hit, Keith can’t get it out of his mind. The song must be played; it demands to be played. He knows the music is changing him, but he is unable to stop it.Music has the ability to move you, enlighten you, and take you to places you have never dreamed of. And this particular piece? It has a life of its own and makes you forget who you really are.As Keith and Alice learn of one another to the notes of that one perfect tune, they can overlook their roles and discover who they could be together. But they also discover someone else is listening and intends on keeping Keith to herself, possibly for an eternity.
Everyone thought that Alice was the epitome of perfection. Whenever she hangs out with her usual group, she has a laugh and a drink or two, but then her mind eventually drifts and she ends up outside Keith's house every night, hiding in the shadows. Nothing made her more alive than listening to Keith's music, Keith's heart. Before Alice, Keith lived and breathed music. He didn't care about anything else, he didn't think that anyone would understand him. But Alice understands his music, and every little part of his soul that he pours into a single note. She understands him. When she re-enters his life, it was as if he finally had something to live for.
Alice is part of the popular crowd, and in any other Young Adult book, that would automatically mean that she is part of the 'rah rah rah, go team!' perky pom-pom club. However, Alice is actually just a normal insecure teenager who constantly gives in to peer pressure and tries to mold herself into a girl that would scream 'perfection' everyday. I know that my description of her makes her sound a bit shallow, but she's definitely not. She feels very strongly about her own opinions, and toughens up when she has to stand up for herself or when she needs to protect the people she loves.
And Keith? Keith was anything but a douchebag. Keith was shy, honest, talented, caring, and sweet. He's a fragile soul, having been through a lot of tough situations. He's very lost and confused, and he is only 100% sure about one thing: he loves Alice with every fiber of his being. His love for her will never waver, it will never die. And Alice feels the same way. Their love will conquer even the oldest of evils.
This is a book about being lost and alone, and searching out and finally finding the one thing that will bring you back. It is humorous, romantic, lyrical, dramatic, and terrifying all at the same time. It was true to life and unabashedly honest. I laughed, I cried, I gushed, and I was terrified. I never thought that this book would instill those emotions so strongly within me.
Silent Song was a perfectly tuned book. It was paced so beautifully in such an intricate way. Like a song, even. The book started gentle and slow, but then built up from crescendo to crescendo, and then decrescendos so perfectly you think the song is about to end in that exact moment, but then a collision happens, and an Ad Libitum enters and another crescendo follows, then finally a bow. The way the plot went was so unexpected and it will overwhelm you and turn you into an emotional wreck. And it is the most amazing thing that you could possibly ever feel.
THE NUB AND GIST: 4.5 STARS
