Listening to the Quiet

Jacki’s mother is slowly losing her hearing—the ability to hear her daughter’s precious voice. However, the two are determined to not lose the closeness they have and hold dear to their hearts. They learn to communicate through sign language, and Jacki learns to “listen to the silence.” She tries desperately to block out the voices of others, the sound of rainsticks trickling. She yearns to experience the world through her mom’s eyes. When it’s her turn to present on Music Appreciation Day, Jacki leads the class in making her mother’s favorite song recognizable to her through the vibrations of their feet.

Listening to the Quiet is a thoughtful story of love and understanding. The author, Cassie Silva, beautifully portrays a little girl’s adoration of her mother and the unbreakable bond they share. At the end of the book, Silva notes, “I was around Jackie’s age when my mama began losing her hearing.” The rest of the narrative closely resembles that of her own circumstances, adding to its poignancy. Children ages six to ten, especially those who are sensitive to adversity, will favor this sweet story. Additionally, it’ll make a great addition to elementary school classrooms and libraries.