Broken Silence

by Laura Noelle

Brigitta Skye has known more pain than most people experience in a lifetime. A withdrawn skeptic of life, she’s quickly slipping into silence as haunting memories bubble to the surface. But the scars on her arms and her heart are becoming more visible and when Jake, an overly-responsible guy comes into her life, she’s left with more anxiety than she can handle. She’d give anything to be whole again. Will she make it out alive?

Genres: Young Adult

190 pages, Paperback

First published March 23, 2012

About the author

Laura Noelle is a twentysomething writer, speaker, professional organizer, graphic designer, youth worker/mentor, and co-owner/author for AngelInk Illuminations, who seeks to find beauty in broken pieces. She aspires to speak truth, hope and love into the hearts of teens, young adults, families and youth workers.

Her first novel's original draft was written in 30 days during NaNoWriMo, and this spring 2012, Broken Silence will be released from AngelInk Illuminations.

Reviews

[Tee Loves Books · Rating 2 out of 5]

So, I saw the cover of this book and read the blurb and I was so excited because it looks and sounds like a great story. Add to that the high rating, and I was thinking I had myself an undiscovered gem. Given the $8 price tag on this ebook, the fact that it reads like the work of a novice really irritated me.

Okay, so Broken Silence is the story of Brigitta, a teen who has suffered the sexual abuse of her uncle since she was 6. As a result of these horrific moments in her life, she's turned to cutting herself and avoiding boys like they are all suffering from the plague. Her parents don't understand her, she feels completely alone at her home, and she shuts everyone out of the traumatic parts of her life. The rest of the plot entails Bri attempting and sabotaging a relationship with the boy that likes her, dealing with her family, avoiding her uncle, and then of course eventually the climax comes where her parents leave her and her younger sister in the care of this child molester and then anxiety attacks and emotional breakdowns ensue. I only know these later parts because I skimmed very quickly through the rest of the book because I just wasn't interested in finishing it.

I've read books about abused women and 'cutters' that were very well written, and even though I don't understand the need for cutting I could relate to their feelings and their pain. I felt no connection to any of the characters in this book, especially Bri, because the writing came across as so robotic and cold. Where the reader should be feeling deep pain for this girl who has suffered so much, instead Bri was just irritating. There were so many whiny, melodramatic thoughts and reactions to even the most trivial things going on in her life that I found myself rolling my eyes frequently. I get that this book was supposed to be a poignant story about an abused girl moving past her fractured existence, but with an unlikeable heroine, lackluster supporting characters, and a predictable plot, it certainly misses the mark.

[Candice Jenee' · Rating 5 out of 5]

I consumed this novel in a matter of 2 hours.

A raw picture of a life torn apart by nightmares and the extreme isolation of silence in the face of pain. Sometimes, it's Silence that holds us back from healing.

I definitely recommend this book to others.

[Jordyn B · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have had this book on my to read list for a long time ( 2+ years) this was dull. Cold. Boring and immature writing. I couldn't feel anything for Brigitta because she was so one dimensional. I gave up at about 23%.

[Genney Blass · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars, why the prologue was great, but what her uncle did to her was awful, but then I felt, it kept repeating over and over. I guess I wanted revenge, yes, I can be evil.. :o) It still was a good book, will read another book from this author.