In the Silences by Rachel GoldMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Finished on May 4, 2021
Favorite Scene/Quote: "We just needed to have other people to fight with us."
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book. The summary was interesting, but I
wasn’t sure how heavy some of the topics would be or how everything would be handled. This was a really good book. Gold did a great job at writing this book with the characters and the topics.
This book spans from August 2015 to January 2018 in the lives of two teenagers. The book is written in first person from Kaz’s perspective, so you get to learn things, about them and other topics, at the same time that Kaz is learning these things. Kaz is trying to figure out their gender while Aisha, their best friend, is having to deal with systematic racism in the town. They bond over comics and superheroes and Kaz starts crushing on Aisha, but will Aisha be attracted to whoever Kaz ends up being? During this time, Kaz also learns about racism and how it affects Aisha and others.
I want to start with the fact that first person was probably the best way to write this book. Third person would not give it as much weight. You get to feel and struggle with Kaz as they deal with discovering their gender. As someone who is nonbinary, it was interesting to read someone else coming to terms with their gender especially because they felt differently about their gender than I feel about mine. It also gave you a great way of viewing and learning about systematic racism, especially because, being a teenager, Kaz was using terms and ideas that helped them come to terms with what was going on around them.
I also liked how Gold wrote the idea of systematic racism (I don’t know if that’s worded right). Gold used “Apocalypse”, a villain, as a way of describing the racism that lives in people’s heads. Apocalypse has mind control powers, or something similar, so he controls people and makes them think what he wants them to think. Makes people see others in a certain way. It might not be a perfect example, but for a YA book it feels good. It seems like a legitimate way to try and explain the topic to teenagers, even some adults who haven’t considered it.
Probably the biggest drawback of this book is also it’s biggest strength. The discussion and handling of topics such as gender, sexuality, transitioning, racism, and everything else they discussed. They are great topics, handled in a really good way, but it also makes the book heavier. There were times when I had to get up and stop reading for a bit just so I could get back to the book. I had to make sure that I had the headspace and emotional/mental capacity to handle those discussions at the time. Some parts also dragged due to this nature as well.
This is a book more people need to read. I’m white and nonbinary. So I can comment on the fact that I loved and related to Kaz’s portrayal and the way they struggled through coming to terms with their identity, but I can’t tell you if Gold did justice with her portrayal of POC and racism. What I can tell you is this is a book that discusses heavy topics, and the book is geared towards middle-grade/young adults. They should read this, it should be in more libraries, more adults should check it out too.
I really loved this book. I loved Kaz and Aisha and how the relationship developed. I loved reading about Kaz coming to terms with their identity even if it sometimes struck too close to home. I loved learning more about systematic racism and the way POC are targeted and biased against on a regular basis. This is an amazing book, and I hope to one day own it.
wasn’t sure how heavy some of the topics would be or how everything would be handled. This was a really good book. Gold did a great job at writing this book with the characters and the topics.
This book spans from August 2015 to January 2018 in the lives of two teenagers. The book is written in first person from Kaz’s perspective, so you get to learn things, about them and other topics, at the same time that Kaz is learning these things. Kaz is trying to figure out their gender while Aisha, their best friend, is having to deal with systematic racism in the town. They bond over comics and superheroes and Kaz starts crushing on Aisha, but will Aisha be attracted to whoever Kaz ends up being? During this time, Kaz also learns about racism and how it affects Aisha and others.
I want to start with the fact that first person was probably the best way to write this book. Third person would not give it as much weight. You get to feel and struggle with Kaz as they deal with discovering their gender. As someone who is nonbinary, it was interesting to read someone else coming to terms with their gender especially because they felt differently about their gender than I feel about mine. It also gave you a great way of viewing and learning about systematic racism, especially because, being a teenager, Kaz was using terms and ideas that helped them come to terms with what was going on around them.
I also liked how Gold wrote the idea of systematic racism (I don’t know if that’s worded right). Gold used “Apocalypse”, a villain, as a way of describing the racism that lives in people’s heads. Apocalypse has mind control powers, or something similar, so he controls people and makes them think what he wants them to think. Makes people see others in a certain way. It might not be a perfect example, but for a YA book it feels good. It seems like a legitimate way to try and explain the topic to teenagers, even some adults who haven’t considered it.
Probably the biggest drawback of this book is also it’s biggest strength. The discussion and handling of topics such as gender, sexuality, transitioning, racism, and everything else they discussed. They are great topics, handled in a really good way, but it also makes the book heavier. There were times when I had to get up and stop reading for a bit just so I could get back to the book. I had to make sure that I had the headspace and emotional/mental capacity to handle those discussions at the time. Some parts also dragged due to this nature as well.
This is a book more people need to read. I’m white and nonbinary. So I can comment on the fact that I loved and related to Kaz’s portrayal and the way they struggled through coming to terms with their identity, but I can’t tell you if Gold did justice with her portrayal of POC and racism. What I can tell you is this is a book that discusses heavy topics, and the book is geared towards middle-grade/young adults. They should read this, it should be in more libraries, more adults should check it out too.
I really loved this book. I loved Kaz and Aisha and how the relationship developed. I loved reading about Kaz coming to terms with their identity even if it sometimes struck too close to home. I loved learning more about systematic racism and the way POC are targeted and biased against on a regular basis. This is an amazing book, and I hope to one day own it.
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