
£7.99
Paperback
384 Pages
Published: 08/09/2016
Published: 08/09/2016
When a teenage girl decides to stop speaking, the people around her are very much on the outside, looking in…
Silence is Goldfish is the story of an unconventional teenage protagonist, Tessa, who had, until recently, led a comfortable life with supportive friends and a happy family. She was unperturbed by her uniqueness until she discovered something that changed everything: her father is not her real father.
Tessa’s decision to suddenly stop speaking begins as a kind of protest but as her silence affects all those around her, and as it forces her to reconsider how she sees herself, it becomes the catalyst for a journey of self-discovery that is by turns hilarious and deeply moving.
As Tessa traverses a world of cyber-bullying, unpredictable adults, newly acquired self-awareness and further unexpected revelations, all without uttering a word (except for the secrets she whispers to a goldfish torch she names Mr. Goldfish), we champion this strong, unusual yet utterly-familiar girl. Sometimes, she learns, saying nothing can have the greatest impact of all.
Annabel Pitcher is a Yorkshire-based writer whose second novel, Ketchup Clouds, was selected for the 2014 Waterstones Children's Prize. Her first book was the immensely successful My Sister Lives on The Mantelpiece, which was listed for thirty awards including the CILIP Carnegie Medal and The Dylan Thomas Prize.
‘[Silence is Goldfish is] a witty, heart-warming study of Tessa ... a lovely story about overcoming convention and coming to accept yourself’ – The Daily Telegraph
Publisher: Hachette Children's Group
ISBN: 9781780620022
Number of pages: 384
Weight: 308 g
Dimensions: 198 x 135 x 25 mm
MEDIA REVIEWS
Exploring the importance of family, friends and being yourself, this is another standout book from an award-winning author. When Tess Turner accidentally looks at her dad's computer, she realises why she's never felt like she fits in. Her reaction is to stop speaking, except inside her own head, and what follows is a poignant and compelling story. * The Sun Online *
Pitcher writes clearly and elegantly and the novel is full of her trademark wit * DAILY TELEGRAPH ONLINE *
Pitcher excels at the emotional tangles of adolescence and never whitewashes Tess's own faults as she stumbles from one mistake to another ... Another winner from the author of the bestselling Ketchup Clouds * Daily Mail *
Strong in substance and originality, Pitcher continues to bring boldness and uniqueness to YA * WE LOVE THIS BOOK *
This novel is both heart-breaking and hilarious. Tess is a fabulous protagonist, a strong, outgoing girl who tries her hardest to please those around her, yet one who deals with daily bullying on account of her size and unconventional looks. Her journey of self-discovery is incredibly difficult and you cannot help but cheer her on every step of the way. It is exceptionally well written and an absolute joy to read. * BOOK TRUST *
Pitcher delivers a story of betrayal and miscues among family and friends with a realistic blend of humor and gravity as Tess slides toward mental instability. An unflinchingly honest portrayal of anguish. * Kirkus *
Witty, heart-warming ... a lovely story about overcoming convention and coming to accept yourself * DAILY TELEGRAPH *
Silence is Goldfish is a rare gem of a book: it features the kind of protagonist we need more of. Not the feisty, popular heroines we wish we could be, but the grounded, empowered heroines we are. * GUARDIAN CHILDREN'S BOOKS *
Pitcher brilliantly captures the elasticity of the teenage mind, its ability to apprehend reality in a multiplicity of angles, its tendency to see itself alternatively as a speck of dust in the universe or as an all-encompassing being. Picher's writing is intriguing, riveting, respectful, true and oh so funny. * Inis Reading Guide 2015-16 *
The book immediately feels like a Pitcher novel and her beautiful writing style is what really makes it enjoyable. * GUARDIAN CHILDREN'S BOOKS *
A beautiful, well-told tale * Telegraph & Argus *
Pitcher writes clearly and elegantly and the novel is full of her trademark wit * DAILY TELEGRAPH ONLINE *
Pitcher excels at the emotional tangles of adolescence and never whitewashes Tess's own faults as she stumbles from one mistake to another ... Another winner from the author of the bestselling Ketchup Clouds * Daily Mail *
Strong in substance and originality, Pitcher continues to bring boldness and uniqueness to YA * WE LOVE THIS BOOK *
This novel is both heart-breaking and hilarious. Tess is a fabulous protagonist, a strong, outgoing girl who tries her hardest to please those around her, yet one who deals with daily bullying on account of her size and unconventional looks. Her journey of self-discovery is incredibly difficult and you cannot help but cheer her on every step of the way. It is exceptionally well written and an absolute joy to read. * BOOK TRUST *
Pitcher delivers a story of betrayal and miscues among family and friends with a realistic blend of humor and gravity as Tess slides toward mental instability. An unflinchingly honest portrayal of anguish. * Kirkus *
Witty, heart-warming ... a lovely story about overcoming convention and coming to accept yourself * DAILY TELEGRAPH *
Silence is Goldfish is a rare gem of a book: it features the kind of protagonist we need more of. Not the feisty, popular heroines we wish we could be, but the grounded, empowered heroines we are. * GUARDIAN CHILDREN'S BOOKS *
Pitcher brilliantly captures the elasticity of the teenage mind, its ability to apprehend reality in a multiplicity of angles, its tendency to see itself alternatively as a speck of dust in the universe or as an all-encompassing being. Picher's writing is intriguing, riveting, respectful, true and oh so funny. * Inis Reading Guide 2015-16 *
The book immediately feels like a Pitcher novel and her beautiful writing style is what really makes it enjoyable. * GUARDIAN CHILDREN'S BOOKS *
A beautiful, well-told tale * Telegraph & Argus *
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