The Mute Button: When You Stop Talking, People Start Listening...

by Ellie Irving

A hilarious new middle grade story from the author of Billie Templar's War.
     How do you make yourself heard in the midst of chaos? Anthony Button loves his big family, but their noise can drive him crazy. And with the arrival of a brand-new older brother, it's worse than ever! So Ant starts a silent protest to try and get everyone's attention. But now he's pressed the mute button, will he ever find his voice again?   

   • Completely hilarious and full of heart-wrenching moments -- The Mute Button will have you laughing and crying all at once!

Genres: Middle Grade, Childrens, Contemporary, Adventure

256 pages, Paperback

First published June 5, 2014

About the author

I was born in Bristol, but raised in a hamlet on the outskirts of Southend-on-Sea, by a family of avid readers. So avid, in fact, my mum enrolled me in the local library before I'd even emerged from the womb. Which was awkward for all concerned. As a child, I had an unhealthy obsession with 'Murder, She Wrote' and aged seven, convinced my parents to buy me a Petite Super International typewriter for Christmas, so I could be just like Jessica Fletcher.

After studying a 4 year Broadcasting Degree at the University of Leeds, I realised there were too few home makeover shows in the world, and worked on a number of DIY and Garden programmes for UK Style. I then returned to studying and graduated from an MA in Screenwriting course at the London College of Communication in 2008. I live in North London. I have yet to solve any murders...

Reviews

[Rasa|Knygų princesė · Rating 5 out of 5]

Šįmet taip jau nutinka, kad skaitau savo dukros rekomenduotus romanus. Istoriją apie Matildą išsirinkome kartu: mane papirko, kad bus kalbama apie moteris mokslininkes, o Mažajai Princesei rūpėjo nuotykiai.


Matildai dvylika ir ji labai protinga mergaitė, laisvalaikiu mėgsta ką nors išrasti. Belankant močiutę Džosę Senelių namuose, per televiziją  išgirsta, kad Nobelio fizikos premija bus teikiama profesoriui Smokui už planetos atradimą. Tada ji sužino, kad močiutė buvo mokslininkė astrofizikė, kuri ir atrado šią planetą, tačiau profesorius Smokas šį atradimą pasisavino. Ji su močiute nusprendžia keliauti į Stokholmą ir įrodyti tiesą. 


Turbūt nereikia sakyti, kad nuotykių čia netrūko. Ir linksmų epizodų pakikenimui užteko. Bet romanas tikrai ne vien apie smagius ir juokingus dalykus. Rašytoja atveria labai jautrią temą - tai moksliniai atradimai ir intelektinės nuosavybės pasisavinimas. O mokslo pasaulyje tikrai tai ne retas nutikimas, kai grupės vadovas prisiima visus nuopelnus, kai tarp straipsnio autorių yra pavardžių, kurie niekaip prie darbo neprisidėjo, o gal net labiau trukdė. 


Antras dalykas, kurio žinutę žaismingai rašytoja išsiuntė, tai moterų vieta mokslo pasaulyje. Nors dabar moterų mokslininkių yra daug, anaiptol ne visos yra įvertintos. Žinoma, padėtis žymiai geresnė nei anksčiau, kai buvo galima pasisavinti atradimą, nes atradėja yra moteris ir apskritai jos buvo neprileidžiamos prie mokslo. Manau, kad būtina paskaityti ne tik mergaitėms, bet ir berniukams. 


Būtų gerai, kad ši knyga į rankas patektų visiems vaikams, kurie nori eiti mokslininko keliu. O jei ir nenori, tai iš užsispyrėlės Matildos galima pasimokyti, kaip siekti tikslo ir nepasiduoti. Jeigu kažko labai nori ir nusiteiki, tai pagalbos ranka visad ištiesiama. Optimistinė istorija, kuri užburia net ir suaugusius.

[Tülay Tellioğlu · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5
Ailenin tüm çocuklarına önerebileceğim harika bir çocuk kitabı, Matilda Etkisi. 😍
Kitaba başlarken Matilda’nın yaptığı icatları ve yapılma sürecini uzun uzun anlatacağını sanarak önyargılı başlamıştım. Fakat çok geçmeden bu önyargımdan pişman oldum.
Her şey Matilda’nın, aslında büyükannesinin alması gereken nobel ödülü başka birinin alacağını öğrenmesiyle başlıyor. Ondan sonrası tam bir macera. Evden kaçmak, balonla uçmak, sirkte çalışmak, motorcularla gezmek... Aklınızın ucuna bile gelmeyecek bir sürü heyecanlı olay vardı kitapta. Tabi bu kadar olayın yanında okurun kafasına yavaş yavaş “kadınlar da biliminsanı olurlar ve bunun bir sürü örneği var” mesajının işlenmesi de cabası. Bu mesajı bodoslama vermek yerine hikayeye yedirerek vermesi kitabı sevmemdeki en önemli etkenlerden biri. Hatta kitabın ilk ve son kısımlarında bazı bilim kadınlarının yaptığı icatlar hakkında kısa kısa bilgiler bile vardı. Eminim ki çocuklar bu kitabı aynen böyle okuyacak: 😍😍😍😍

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un très bon roman jeunesse qui lie sciences et aventures et qui fait découvrir ce qu'est l'effet Matilda dans les faits. Car oui, ça existe et c'est moche.

[Helen Swinyard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Madcap adventure across Europe exploring the power of, well, just being nice to people and doing the right thing. Hurray for justice! Hurray for strong women! Hurray for being nice to people! My only suggestion would have been more science in there.

[Kasiastarko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Більшість підліткової літератури розвивається за схожим сценарієм: є аутсайдер і інші діти, які його (її) цькують. Потім головний персонаж віднаходить у собі сили протистояти (або створюює музичний гурт з іншими непопулярними дітьми, або знаходить кохання, або розуміє свою унікальність і забиває болт на дії кривдників...)

Ця книжка інша. Вона про дівчинку, яка любить майструвати, уміє ремонтувати човни і створює нові винаходи. Але, на жаль, вона живе в нашому світі. В час ейджизму і секзизму. Тому у її сили та вміння не вірять. Як і у багатьох жінок.

Знаєте, що таке ефект Матильди? Це "упередження щодо визнання досягнень дослідниць, чиїм працям часто приписують авторство їхніх колег-чоловіків".

Книжка весела, пригодницька і дуже-дуже потрібна.

І ще про переклад. Будь ласка, не вживайте слово "вірно" у значенні "правильно. "

[Ezgi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kız, erkek bütün çocuklara hediye etmek istediğim bir kitap; oğlanlara "Kızlar da başarabilir" diyerek, kızlara diğerleri üzülmesin diye biraz daha alçak sesle "Hatta kızlar daha iyisini yapar" diyerek :)

[Justine Laismith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun book. Matilda's journey with her grandmother is a lighted and far-fetched roller-coaster ride. They go from one situation to another, meeting memorable characters along the way.

Matilda reminded me very much of the main character in Vote for Effie. She is creative and resourceful. This world is too small for a trail-blazer like her. Living with her organised parents is stifling her. She had a grandfather who understood her. But without him she is finding it hard to be herself. Fortunately for her, her grandmother comes out of her shell and reveals her past.

This is a story inspired by injustices of the past, the author cites a couple of real-life examples at the end of the book. What I also like about this book is the relationship between grandmother and grand-daughter - they needed each other to be true to themselves.

I learnt something new here. When I see the name Matilda on a book cover, I think of Roald Dahl's Matilda, an intelligent girl. After finishing this book, I thought our main character here was just as intelligent, but I wished the author had come up with a more creative name. What I hadn't realised was The Matilda Effect is a real term coined to describe males getting the glory for women scientists' achievements.

This is a good read for the younger end of middle-grade readers.

[Priscilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's the first middle grade novel I've read this year (which says a lot about the state of my reading in 2021 😩), and I didn't realise until now how much I had missed getting into novels from this age classification. I started this book initially in Normandy this summer (what a lovely memory that trip was <3), but then life happened and I left this book unfinished after just a few chapters read. But when I picked it up yesterday, it drew me in instantly and I read the last 75% within 24 hours. It was everything I loved about middle grade, the kind that requires a lot of suspension of disbelief, but feels like a Disney/Pixar movie and has you smiling from start to finish. The adventures Matilda and her grandmother go through were so colourful and fun, I just wanted to be on this European trip with them (minus the dangerous parts of course). The feminist message of this book is very important, one a lot of girls (and boys!) should hear. It reminds me of the proud "Women in STEM" sticker some of my students back in Melbourne had on their laptop, so of course this makes me happy <3

[The Reading Countess · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘The Matilda Effect...is to deny the contribution of female scientists in research, instead attributing it to male colleagues.’

That is the crux of this middle grade adventure that takes its readers from England and zig zags throughout Europe until finally depositing them in scenic Sweden, the very heart of the Nobel Prize. Unexpected calamities and odd characters abound in this zany tale of speaking even (and especially) if your voice shakes, David vs. Goliath, and bold determination.

Definitely a champion of the underdog, though this story heralds women in science, boys will enjoy the fast-paced plot and can benefit from hearing about Granny Joss’ improbable trip with her inventor granddaughter by her side.

“You’re not weird, dearie,” Granny Joss stressed. “You’re bold. And it’s the ones who are bold and take chances in this life who make history, let me tell you.”

*recommended to me by a passionate (girl-if that matters) bibliophile

[vias_bookland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will move you from your house to Matilda's amazing adventure.
Matilda loved her grandad who was an inventor, when she dies she is devastated. At her school, there is an invention competition, she loses to Thomas Thomas! Much to her surprise, she discovers her granny discovered her own planet however, cruel Mr Smocks stole th planet from her and is due to win a Nobel prize - can Matilda and her granny journey to Nobel prize awards before it is to late?
This book was rated five stars because, from the beginning you dare instantly hooked, there is plenty of description, allowing you to truly connect with the characters. This book teaches young children never to give up.
This book is recommended for children age nine plus as it contains a handful of challenging words and is a large book.

[Amy (Golden Books Girl) · Rating 4 out of 5]

In her latest novel, Ellie Irving tells the story of aspiring inventor Matilda as she journeys to Switzerland with her Granny Joss to get the Nobel Prize which has been stolen by a man, but rightfully belongs to her gran! This is delightfully silly and has such a colourful, zany cast of characters who really had me giggling throughout. I thought many of the people Matilda and Granny meet along the way celebrated the good in humanity, no matter how hidden it may be. I was thrilled to learn more about females in STEM through this book, and I feel it balanced the feminist message and Ellie Irving`s glorious sense of humour wonderfully. If you`re looking for a 21st century version of Roald Dahl`s Matilda, look no further

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book #1 of the KS2 nominees for the Hull Children’s Book Award 2018

This was lovely. I was excited to read it because of it being about a girl doing science! I’m all about that girl power. But I also feel like this would be a wonderful read for both girls and boys. As well as an exciting storyline it was packed full of information about real-life scientists and inventions. It was also very inspiring! The only tiny thing that I didn’t like was the main character’s use of the word “extraceedingly” which I found really rather irritating!

[Robin Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

A warm-hearted, funny, madcap adventure with a gorgeous message about speaking up and giving credit where it's due. Matilda is a lovely heroine, and this book is going to get kids very fired up about science in general and female scientists in particular. Bravo! 8+

*Please note: this review is meant as a recommendation only. Please do not use it in any marketing material, online or in print, without asking permission from me first. Thank you!*

[Banu Sancar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kızımın tavsiye ettiği; ☺️2 günde okuyup bitirdiği zaman “ inandığımız bir şeyden asla vazgeçmemeliyiz( Edisonu örnek göstererek)” “kadınlar da bilimde başarılı olabilir ama sırf kadın oldukları için hakettikleri ödülleri alamamışlar” ve “bu kadınlara haksızlık” “hiç adil değil” diye anlattığı “annecim sen de oku, tavsiye ediyorum” dediği çok güzel, keyifli bir kitap☺️
...
...
“İhtiyaç icadın anasıdır.”

[Marta Barchuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

захопило!
young adult - нагадування всім дівчаткам, які цікавляться наукою і взагалі будь-чим, що цікавитись це - нормально і круто! про пригоди, надзвичайні ситуації, Париж, діаманти, акробати, леви, повітряна куля, Нобелівська премія, Швеція, астрофізика, нова планета, сім’я і відстоювання прав Матильди та її бабусі на те, чого вони обоє, безумовно, заслужили
і менше б з нами траплялось ефекту Матильди у соціумі

[Piiman · Rating 4 out of 5]

güzel bir kitap, matematiği var ve bu okuyucuyu da teşvik ediyor. tamamen bilgi verici olmaması, maceraya çok daha fazla yer vermesi dozunda olmuş. şu yaşımda bu kitabı okuyan bir yetişkin olarak bilmediğim önemli icatları bir yol hikâyesinde öğrenmek iyi oldu. çocuklar için de ilham verici olduğunu düşünüyorum. yeğenimle her akşam bir-iki bölümünü okuduğumuzu düşünmek bile beni mutlu etti. tam bir birlikte okunacak kitap:-)

[Milda Mt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Puiki knyga,kuria rekomendavo bibliotekininkė. Nors dukra pradžioje buvo skeptiška,vis dar yra poreikis paveikslėliams, bet Matildos nuotykiai taip įtraukė,kad prašė dar ir dar skaityti. Beje ir pačiai buvo labai labai įdomu kaip viskas baigsis,nekantravau sužinoti pabaigą dėl ko ko knygą perskaitėm ypač greitai. Viena iš tų,kur skirta vaikams, bet ir tėvams skaitant tikrai įdomu.
O ir trumpų faktų apie mokslininkes moteris yra pateikta.

[Penny Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I work with children and I know that they'll love this book! It's full of fun, madcap adventures, a strong and positive message for children - and girls in particular - to follow their dreams and lots of interesting science information and experiments. I really enjoyed it! Would thoroughly recommend.

[Victoria Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really funny story with a thrilling adventure and a great message to keep trying no matter what. Matilda and her Granny Joss are great role models, and this book will help children get interested in science in a quirky, fun way! Some of the descriptions are just hilarious, and I laughed out loud at the actor's speech on page 159! A great read for children and adults alike.

[Ира Коротаева · Rating 4 out of 5]

Чудесная детская книга, достойная стать сценарием к роудмуви для детей. Девочка-изобретатель смело отправляется в путь от пригорода Лондона до Стокгольмской ратуши, чтобы исправить несправедливость в отношении ее бабушки. Тема женщин-ученых, чьи открытия были присвоены мужчинами, до сих пор актуальна? Наверное да. Короче, детям понравится. Особенно девочкам.

[Carrie Froese · Rating 5 out of 5]

I din't realize that the "Matilda Effect" referenced the concept of men taking credit for women's work in science. Intriguing and covered in a fun and empowering way for girls. Great read for girls in intermediate/ middle school.

[Emily May · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book for boys and girls- absolutely perfect for classroom discussion. It's fun, feisty and funny, with the most lovable characters and an important message to boot. Definitely one I'll be recommending to our library customers and teachers.

[Vita Yevstifeyeva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Просто прекрасна історія! Тут є усе, від роддиних цінностей до неймовірних пригод. А найголовніше: дівчатка теж можуть бути винахідницями і робити круті речі. Та й взагалі дівчатам під силу все. Неймовірна книжка для дітей, щоб дізнатися про рівноправство та справедливість💜

[Berra · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a great book. I enjoyed reading it very much. Also, what Matilda said in the book and especially at the end gave me strength and I was inspired by her. You are an inspiring and gorgeous girl, Matilda!

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming, quirky and full of girl power!

[None None · Rating 5 out of 5]

AWESOME

[Anna Davidson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5* A fun adventure with strong messages of loyalty, chasing your dreams and the importance of believing in yourself. Also has strong themes of women in science.

[Maulesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick entertaining read focused mainly on women empowerment and full of fun-filled trivia.

[Ben Trevail · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely, exciting story for KS2 pupils promoting science and particularly the notion that girls can be scientists: The Matilda Effect is men taking credit for female discoveries / inventions.

[Ashala Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

So good! A fun read from start to finish with great language and excellent life lessons.