Shards of Silence

by Brian Lee Young

In his first YA novel, award-winning author Brian Lee Young (Diné) bridges the generational divide between a Navajo teen at an elite prep school and his great-grandmother’s experience at a federal boarding school for Indigenous students. The book is an eye-opening call for community healing and a profound coming-of-age story.

Even if it hurts to leave behind his friends and family in Navajo, New Mexico—especially his great-grandmother, Mildred—Derrick knows his scholarship to an elite East Coast boarding school is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Sagefield Academy is totally different from life on the His new classmates vacation in Europe and take study drugs. Derrick wants to stick to caffeine, but handling sports, school, and a twenty-page term paper, all while dodging comments about his hair and heritage, feels straight-up impossible.

Back home, Másání Mildred’s health is fading quickly. On the phone, she begs Derrick to leave Sagefield. When he realizes her fear comes from her time in federal Native boarding schools, he knows he’s finally found the term paper theme he believes carrying her voice into the future.

Derrick will need to shatter a steadfast generational silence to untangle his great-grandmother’s memories—though her story might change him, and his family, forever.

Genres: Young Adult

336 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication May 5, 2026

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley for review purposes; this in no way influences my review.

Shards of Silence is an excellent book that’s grappling with intergenerational trauma of residential schools, as well as the story of Derrick coping with the pressures of being in a new environment far away from his community and family. There’s the weight of holding traumatic events inside and not speaking of them, as well as choices Derrick makes in order to meet the demands of the college-preparatory school he has the opportunity to attend.

I really loved how many topics were woven into this, and how it was handled. The last quarter of the book had me especially stressed out because Derrick was struggling and starting to make poor choices, but the prayers of his málání and the friendships he had helped him break out of the cycle before it could fully drag him in. I also loved how Derrick learns when he wants to educate and when it’s not worth his energy, as well and figuring out who his friends are and who is actually willing to listen.

This is a really powerful book, and it broke and mended my heart in so many ways. Derrick’s story as well as the story of his great-grandmother and their family was so full of care and love. I like how this was Derrick’s story, but him learning about his family’s history as well as the history of residential schools helped him grow and recognize how that history shaped his current experiences. I strongly recommend checking this out when it releases in May!

[Ilonka Gangadin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a powerful retelling of the author’s journey as an Indigenous scholarship student at an affluent, predominantly white boarding school. The narrative resonated deeply with me as a minority who also entered the U.S. education system from Puerto Rico. The culture shock was palpable, and the questions directed at minority students were often offensive and revealing. The author thoughtfully explains the unique beliefs of Indigenous culture while confronting the devastating impact of the so‑called “civilization” acts—policies that enforced indoctrination, forced assimilation, and inhumane treatment of Native peoples. Raw, emotional, and profoundly relevant, this story is both a personal testimony and a broader reflection on systemic injustice.

[Miranda Munguia-Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahéhee' Brian for sharing parts of your own story through Derrick Hoskie, a character who is relatable and admirable. I resonated so much with Derrick's journey of navigating ignorant spaces and sharing a deep love for our Diné grandmothers. Living outside of our homeland is tough, but others have encouraged me that being able to navigate the different cultures can be helpful to our people. I see this in Derrick and I'm so grateful that his story is out there for others to learn from.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for allowing me to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.