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Silence is Goldfish

Annabel Pitcher

3.52 · Rating details · 2,385 ratings · 317 reviews

'I have a voice but it isn't mine. It used to say things so I'd fit in - to please my parents, to please my teachers. It used to tell the universe I was something I wasn't. It lied.' Fifteen-year-old Tess doesn't mean to become mute. At first, she's just too shocked to speak. And who wouldn't be? Discovering your whole life has been a lie because your dad isn't your real f ...more

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Hardcover, 365 pages

Published October 1st 2015 by Orion Children's Books

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· 2,385 ratings · 317 reviews

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Sep 15, 2016 Sarah Elizabeth rated it really liked it

Shelves: r2r-complete, read-with-abbie, read-2016, contemporary, young-adult

(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Hachette Children's Group and NetGalley.)

“I might not always pay attention in Biology, but I am pretty certain that two blue-eyed parents cannot produce a brown-eyed child.”

This was a YA contemporary story about a girl who stopped talking.

I felt quite sorry for Tess, the information that she stumbled across on her dad’s computer was quite sensitive, and to find out in such a harsh way couldn ...more

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Sep 16, 2015 Figgy rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: one-hundred-percent-rock-reviews, publisher-hachette, review-copy, reviewed, arc-or-netgalley

I wandered familiar streets feeling lost in the darkness, too scared of the stuff inside my head to be afraid of anything outside it. And now here I am with a plan that involves a goldfish, who looks shocked because this is not at all what he thought was going to happen when he woke up this morning next to the bottles of de-icer at the Texaco Garage that is the only home he’s ever known.

Tess has just read something shocking. Six hundred and seventeen words in which her father revealed that he wa ...more

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Sep 16, 2016 Claire (Book Blog Bird) rated it liked it

***Mildly Spoilery***

Tess Turner has just discovered something terrible. She read her dad’s blog and six hundred and seventeen words later her world is kind of coming apart at the seams. Soon she retreats into a world of silence, communicating only with her plastic goldfish torch, as she tries to make sense of what she’s found out.

I liked the theme of the book, which was all about identity and how where we come from shapes who we are. There’s also the nature versus nurture debate and the questio ***Mildly Spoilery***

Tess Turner has just discovered something terrible. She read her dad’s blog and six hundred and seventeen words later her world is kind of coming apart at the seams. Soon she retreats into a world of silence, communicating only with her plastic goldfish torch, as she tries to make sense of what she’s found out.

I liked the theme of the book, which was all about identity and how where we come from shapes who we are. There’s also the nature versus nurture debate and the question of what constitutes a ‘real’ parent - the person whose DNA you share, or the person who raised you? These questions are dealt with in depth, albeit through the eyes of an emotional fifteen year old.

And this brings me on to Tess. Unfortunately I didn’t find Tess very relatable. I think maybe it’s because she’s only fifteen, and a fairly immature fifteen, but this felt more like an MG novel than YA, especially the internal dialogue with her goldfish torch. She was a bit self-pitying and instead of just questioning her parents about what she had read (and she seemed to have a fairly strong relationship with her parents, even though her dad was a bit of a prat), she just bottled everything up. What she found out was shocking, no doubt, and it would have taken some getting used to but at the end of the day she still had two parents who were invested in her. People go through worse and manage to deal.

I don’t know. Maybe it’s because I’m very much on the side of nurture that I struggled to see Tess’s viewpoint. Your parent is the person who changes your nappy, sits through your nativity play, tells you you’re gorgeous when you look like a minger, nurses you through chickenpox and norovirus and show up every day. The casual way Tess ignored everything her mum and dad had done for her (her dad’s knobbishness notwithstanding) annoyed me and after the three amazing characters Annabel Pitcher put together in Ketchup Clouds, this felt a little disappointing.

And don’t get me started on the instant, all-consuming fixation on the supply teacher she becomes convinced is her real dad. Really not sure where that came from.

I’ll tell you who I did like, though - Isabel. She was cool. I liked her very much. She was uber geek and proud of it (correct) and funny and loyal. I was glad she was included in the book, not only because I always like to see non-toxic female friendships but because she reminded me that this author really can do quirky, totally real characters. Awesome. More like Isabel, please Ms Pitcher.

2.5 stars ...more

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Oct 15, 2015 Deborah rated it really liked it

I think I have the maturity of a teenager as this book—and its language—very much appealed to me. In fact I was pretty much hooked from the opening page.

Tess's an outcast. After reading the book I read some reviews in Goodreads and noted that some peeps there really disliked her character. I was surprised. I found her endearing. Of course I am much older and could probably sympathise with her a lot.

She's a loner but has lied to her parents about her friends. Her dad in particular has been keen ...more

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May 18, 2016 Book Riot Community added it

Shelves: new-books-liberty-s-recs

When Tess Turner learns that the man she thought was her dad isn’t her birth father, she’s shocked into silence. Literally. As she looks into her past, the truth about her real dad may uncover a lot of painful secrets. But when you aren’t talking, it’s easier to keep them. This is a fantastic contemporary coming-of-age novel about the definition of family and identity.
Backlist bump: My Sister Lives On the Mantelpiece by Annabel Pitcher

Tune in to our weekly podcast dedicated to all things new boo ...more

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Sep 23, 2015 Michelle (Pink Polka Dot Books) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: tbr-2015

Every now and again I read a book that even when I don't relate fully with the main character, I end up completely immersed in the story and unable to think of anything else. THIS is one of those books. I had previously read (and loved) Ketchup Clouds, so I was super excited to read more from Annabel Pitcher. And now that I have, I will probably be reading everything she writes, forever ever.

The best thing about her books are that they are so full of emotion. She could be writing about something Every now and again I read a book that even when I don't relate fully with the main character, I end up completely immersed in the story and unable to think of anything else. THIS is one of those books. I had previously read (and loved) Ketchup Clouds, so I was super excited to read more from Annabel Pitcher. And now that I have, I will probably be reading everything she writes, forever ever.

The best thing about her books are that they are so full of emotion. She could be writing about something I really wouldn't even find sad normally, but her words somehow make my heart ache while reading about it. That's talent my friends.

So Tess..... she's not talking. And it's not because she can't. I thought this was going to be a book about a girl that could not speak, not that she would not speak. I guess it could be the same thing-- experiencing a traumatic event that leaves you feeling like you can't speak. Tess knows she can speak though, she just won't. I'm not sure exactly if I was down with all the specifics of that, but I was able to overlook it because the story and characters were so strong.

Tess's silence costs her her best (and only) friend. Their separation is what really hurt my heart the most. I loved reading about Tess and Isabel in their better times because they were truly soulmate-type friends-- Tess always says they were symbiotic creatures. It made me wish I had an Isabel of my own :( All the characters around Tess were truly developed. They were real people with good points and flaws.... even the villain of this book had vulnerability. I can't say enough about the range of the people in this book.

Why Should You Read This Book? It's about family stuff, but it's SO much more than that. The issue that starts the mutism isn't the biggest/toughest issue I've ever read about, but there are so many other stories involved besides this main issue. There's bullying and body issue stuff-- plus the girl talks to a plastic key chain for much of the book. Where else are you going to read something like that and it makes sense? I actually started viewing Mr. Goldfish as a real live character in this book. It was odd.

OVERALL: Another YES for Annabel Pitcher!! I loved this story about a girl going through a tough moment in her life. I know it's classified as YA, but I would totally put this in an in-between MG and YA category. It is definitely do-able for both age groups.

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Aug 21, 2016 Leigh-Ann rated it it was ok

I'm sorry but I didn't get it, like at all. I went into this book thinking it would be one thing and ended up getting something completely different.

I'll give it this, the authors writing style is enjoyable. It's easy to read and like and her voice is relatable.

But I didn't like her characters. I didn't understand any of them. Tess basically completely lost her marbles and it wasn't presented in any sort of legitimate way that I could see. Her actions were childish and ridiculous and it's anot ...more

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Feb 23, 2016 Paige (Illegal in 3 Countries) marked it as abandoned · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, yabc

I tried my best, but Silence is Goldfish is 100% not for me. The stream of consciousness narration gives me a headache and it became unbearable for me after 50 pages or so. Definitely not what I expected after reading Ketchup Clouds. Still, if you can handle stream of consciousness, go for it! Different readers have different tastes and all the way my best friend dislikes epistolary novels and I love them..

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Feb 09, 2017 Claire rated it liked it

I've been tossing up a 2/3 star review but thought I'd give Pitcher the benefit of the doubt. So here are my thoughts...There were some nice moments and ideas in this novel- especially about fitting in and feeling unsure of your own identity. However I found the plot fairly repetitive and many characters one-dimensional. Although I understood the conceit of the goldfish torch, ultimately I felt it unnecessarily infantilised Tess. The ending was rushed and neat while the rest dragged. Certainly i ...more

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Sep 15, 2016 Abbie rated it liked it

Shelves: read-to-review

(I received a copy from Netgalley, In exchange for an honest review.)

It felt like it took me ages to get into this, so the first bit of it dragged slightly for me. Unfortunately, after It did manage to catch my interest, it wasn't long before the book started struggling to keep it.

There wasn't any parts in this that I loved, but it wasn't a bad read overall.

...more

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May 22, 2019 Abby rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favourites

This is a beautifully written book and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes tragic and slightly sad books. It is a great read about a girl who finds out that her Dad is not her Dad and confers with a goldfish torch, that talks back to her as she sets out to find her real Dad. She lies, becomes mute and faces a lot of problems that all work out in the end.

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Apr 19, 2019 PinkAmy loves books, cats and naps rated it did not like it · review of another edition

DNF

I couldn’t get into the storing. The 15 year old narrator behaved as if she was 11, I didn’t like the writing or any of the characters.

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Feb 21, 2020 MissStan rated it really liked it

This has been on my to read list for years and I finally got around to it. I absolutely loved My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece so was keen to read this too.
This is a great read too, not at all what I was expecting (with such an odd title I’ve never been sure what it was about). When Tess finds out something shocking about her dad she deals with it in a very surprising way. Recommended.

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Aug 05, 2018 kiereads rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction, young-adult

Silence is Goldfish is about a 15 year old girl called Tess who just finds out that her dad isn’t her real dad, and her anger/frustration causes her to become reluctant to speak. We follow Tess’ story as she begins her search to find who her real dad actually is..

It took me a while to get into this book. I got quite lost during the beginning because there was so much going on at once. However the further I read, the more I loved it! Silence is Goldfish is a different approach to a YA book, full ...more

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Dec 29, 2015 Adele Broadbent rated it really liked it

Shelves: teen-reads-12yrs-plus

This is this author’s 3rd novel – her debut novel My Sister lives on the Mantlepiece and 2nd novel Ketchup Clouds both won awards and I’m sure Silence is Goldfish will certainly follow in their footsteps.

The main character, 15 yr old shy, overweight, Tess Turner is as real as one can get between pages of a book. Her thoughts are true to a young teen whose world has been tipped upside down by the truth. I loved how Tess explains who she is and how she feels about people around her – all who are o This is this author’s 3rd novel – her debut novel My Sister lives on the Mantlepiece and 2nd novel Ketchup Clouds both won awards and I’m sure Silence is Goldfish will certainly follow in their footsteps.

The main character, 15 yr old shy, overweight, Tess Turner is as real as one can get between pages of a book. Her thoughts are true to a young teen whose world has been tipped upside down by the truth. I loved how Tess explains who she is and how she feels about people around her – all who are outside of her lonely ‘Pluto’ orbit (the planet furthest from the sun).

This story shows a normal, shy, teen’s search for family, truth, inner strength against bullies and lies, and about wanting to fit in and belong – all the while dealing with a strong sense of betrayal by those she loved the most.

I was a little confused by the title – until I discovered Mr Goldfish. When Tess is planning to run away, she buys a cheap plastic Goldfish torch from the Texaco station. This tiny torch becomes her imaginary friend – talking to Tess about the decisions she’s making and how she is feeling. To Tess, Mr Goldfish is real, even though she knows it’s not possible. She doesn’t speak to Mr Goldfish either – every conversation between them, only in her thoughts.

Tess Turner is 15 (just). She’s overweight and a loner, her only friends is Isabel, a self-confessed Tolkien Geek, writing her own version of the Hobbit in a journal she takes everywhere. They are in Year 7 (UK) and in contrast to Tess, others around her are confident – like Anna, Sarah and Tara. These girls are pretty and popular, but nasty. Anna especially, calls Tess names and is the ring-leader of both cyber bullying and face-to-face trouble in this story.

Tess gets on well with her doting parents (especially her dad), even though they are constantly fussing and worrying about her non-existent social life. She is keen to please her dad, doing her homework straight after school etc, following his rules. She fancies her maths teacher (Mr Holdsworth) and tries to impress him too, being an ideal student.

Everything changes one night when Mum burns the spaghetti. She’s freaking out, not sure how to put it out, when Tess dives onto Dad’s laptop to Google it and save the day. But what she reads on the screen defines the rest of the story.

I loved her first novel more - but still a GREAT read. ...more

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Dec 03, 2016 Sandra rated it really liked it

Silence is Goldfish by Annabel Pitcher

I was sent this book for the Goodreads Giveaways.

By the author of Ketchup Clouds and My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece, Silence is Goldfish is about fifteen-year-old Tess who discovers her father isn't her real father. She starts out by realising what has happened, that she feels she has been living a lie for the past few years, deciding she will pack a few of her things and go looking for her real father, regardless. Tess would love nothing more than to Silence is Goldfish by Annabel Pitcher

I was sent this book for the Goodreads Giveaways.

By the author of Ketchup Clouds and My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece, Silence is Goldfish is about fifteen-year-old Tess who discovers her father isn't her real father. She starts out by realising what has happened, that she feels she has been living a lie for the past few years, deciding she will pack a few of her things and go looking for her real father, regardless. Tess would love nothing more than to tell her mother how she feels about her recent awful discovery, but she instead holds her disappointment inside, letting it fester away at her.

She packs her children's torch, which is in the shape of a goldfish, tissues, two chocolate bars and a magazine and it will be a big leap for her from living in Manchester to going to London. The story's heroine sounds like a female version of Adrian Mole with her trying to find meaning in her teenage life away from home. Jedi the dog and her Star Wars duvet (she has a thing about Luke Skywalker). From the start, Tess takes the reader on a journey through her young life before she leaves for London and after. She has thought of what her father left on his computer that let Tess to her decision to not call him her dad, and leave home as she feels invisible to her parents, especially her mother who rarely spoke to her. She wants to confide in Isabel, her best friend, but she wimps-out every time. The reality of what she viewed on her dad's computer haunts her all the way though.

There are pop culture references a plenty in this; Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and TV series characters spring off the page, giving both Tess and Isabel humorous one liners. Silence is Goldfish is a normal book at first, then Tess's goldfish torch talks while she stays mute. Annabel's story is funny, witty and worth reading as it spans a few months in the life of a young teenager who has everything going for her with friends, school and one time her father leaves an email open on his computer, Tess feels as though she loses it all and feels the need for her real father and even a new life. ...more

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Jun 10, 2016 April rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: absolute-favorites, publisher-reviews

In this first US printing of a novel published and set in Great Britain, Tess Turner has just accidentally discovered that her father isn't her real dad. And her current dad? If the blog post she stumbled across on his laptop is any indication; hated her from the moment she was born. Adrift in her confusion; 15 year old Tess falls mute.

"Speaking" only in her mind to a flashlight she calls "Mr. Goldfish"; we follow Tess through the fallout of choosing to remain silent and then of seemingly being ...more

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Jan 13, 2016 Josie rated it liked it

Shelves: young-adult

I found this compulsively readable, even though I didn't really like what I was reading. Tess's voice in this was possibly too realistic, i.e. she's a whiny teenager and she doesn't hold back on her whine. Her immaturity and the way she leapt to conclusions was intensely frustrating. I was also left feeling unsettled by the fact that the severe bullying that goes on during the book is never actually addressed or resolved. ...more

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Oct 17, 2015 Karen Barber rated it liked it · review of another edition

Back in October I got a sneak peek at three chapters (hence rating)
Now I've got the full text!
After reading the whole novel, this still remains a three stars read for me.
Tess grew on me, and it was a good attempt to look at family relationships and how you come to terms with growing up/finding yourself. A little earnest for my tastes. ...more

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Nov 12, 2016 Amy Martin rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: Everyone

Shelves: completely-satisfying

This book is a lovely story in which a girl finds out a terrible secret she then goes completely silent to avoid being hurt again. In her silence she meets heaps of people who change her perspective on the secret. I recommend this book to both boys and girls. Ages 11 and up. Great book!

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Nov 05, 2015 Debra rated it really liked it

Shelves: review-copy-read

For a more detailed review, check out my review below:

Debra's Book Cafe

Debs :-) ...more

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Mar 14, 2018 Denise rated it liked it

Shelves: read-2018

All her life, Tess has been trying to fit in, saying and doing whatever her parents and teachers wanted to hear - until she sees something she wasn't meant to, a blog post by her dad from which she learns that he's not her dad at all and apparently didn't want her, either. The revelation turns her world upside down, and in response she stops speaking entirely, leaving everyone around her puzzled and concerned while she also tries to find out who her real father might be.

This took me quite a whil ...more

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Mar 17, 2016 Kelly Gunderman rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Check out this and other reviews on my young adult book blog, Here's to Happy Endings!

"At primary school when people tried to find friends, I tried to find space that my imagine could fill with whatever it wanted, nearly always butterflies because to me they were perfection, like real-life fairies with prettier wings."

Tess has always been different - she never fit in, and she has always been okay with that. She spent a good deal of time by herself while growing up, rather than with other kids, b Check out this and other reviews on my young adult book blog, Here's to Happy Endings!

"At primary school when people tried to find friends, I tried to find space that my imagine could fill with whatever it wanted, nearly always butterflies because to me they were perfection, like real-life fairies with prettier wings."

Tess has always been different - she never fit in, and she has always been okay with that. She spent a good deal of time by herself while growing up, rather than with other kids, because she never really felt like she belonged. Her dad, Jack, always told her to try her hardest to fit in and make friends, because that's what you're supposed to do. In fact, he was always telling her what he expected of her and what she was supposed to do and be like - and Tess, being the dutiful, good daughter, always tried her hardest to make him happy and be the child he wanted.

However, one day, when Tess is looking at her father's computer, she comes across a blog post from him saying how he found it difficult to love Tess when she was a baby, because she wasn't his biological daughter. Hurt and confused, Tess tries to make sense of what she reads. The man who raised her wasn't her father? And then things start to make sense to Tess: both of her parents have blue eyes - so how did she get brown eyes? Many of her father's traits and features were unlike anything she herself possessed - so she wonders how she could have missed this her entire life.

After discovering this, Tess makes plans to run away - she stops at a convenience store and picks up some essentials, along with a goldfish flashlight (who will later become her confidant and best friend).

Faced with the knowledge of this, coupled with the fact that she is incredibly unpopular at school and is often made fun of - called "Man Skull" by her peers, Tess decides to take a stand - she simply stops speaking one night when she is supposed to be in a play with Jack. While everyone keeps trying to figure out why Tess refuses to speak, Tess simply does not know how to even begin telling everyone what she feels. She is hurt, she is angry, and most of all, she has been lied to all her life.

When Tess is silent and not speaking to anyone else, she is talking to her goldfish flashlight in her head (and he offers her advice and reassurance when things get bad). The longer that Tess doesn't speak, the more concerned everyone around her gets - her teachers, her friend at school, and her family.

"No one seems to understand that it's a choice. I could speak right now if I really wanted to, stand up in the middle of the restaurant and open my mouth to let out a blizzard."

Tess is convinced that she can start speaking again whenever she wants to, but as time goes on, it becomes harder and harder for her, until she no longer tries.

However, when she is getting blackmailed in school by a teacher, who is using her silence against her to be unfaithful to his wife, Tess starts to wonder if she's truly had enough. If she doesn't take a stand for herself, he will keep walking all over her, accusing her of doing things she didn't do, lying, etc., and Tess knows she must stand up for herself eventually.

"You might not be a lion, Tess. That's fine. Neither am I. But we're still cats, aren't we? Just because we don't roar, doesn't mean we have to be silent."

Armed with that bit of advice from her grandmother, Tess begins to wonder if it's possible to fix things before they go any further, and confront the man who has lied to her about who she is.

I absolutely loved this book. I found it heartbreaking and painful to read at times, especially with how cruel the kids in school were to Tess. They were pretty much relentless, and since Tess didn't talk much, it was really difficult for her to stand up for herself. Also, her best friend kind of abandoned her at her time of need (even if she did lie about her existence), not only ignoring her but becoming fake friends with someone else and flaunting that friendship in Tess's face every chance she got. Needless to say, I really disliked her character, and I felt like Tess could have done a lot better.

The whole thing with Tess and her talking goldfish flashlight made the entire book so different and fun to read. I found myself laughing at quite a few spots, and I loved the banter that occurred between the two. I mean, seriously...a talking goldfish flashlight? How can you not want to read this book, just to check out how that ends up working itself into the story? It's such a great concept - Tess found comfort in that flashlight at a time when she felt most alone, and it's so easy to feel connected to it, as well. Tess's character was so well written - I felt like I was really getting inside her head and living this along with her.

This book tried to tackle a few really difficult situations in one book, and add a bit of humor and light-heartedness to it, and it worked out wonderfully.

Silence is Goldfish is such a wonderful book - fun to read, and it left a really deep impact on me. It was powerful and enjoyable, and it brings forth what it really means to be a family and discover your voice.

Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Oct 28, 2018 Katie rated it really liked it

Shelves: library-books

I really enjoyed this book there were so many elements to it that were unusual and unique for a young adult/teen book.
It dealt with the normal teen subjects like love, friendship and bullying
But it also dealt with imaginary friends, manipulative teachers, adultery, non biological parents, and much more.
The writing style is very easy to read and the chapters are short which makes you want to keep reading.
All in all a really unique read.

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Feb 21, 2018 Jem rated it liked it

Pretty good. Slow in parts but enjoyable and had a good plot. Interesting take on mutism in young people.

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Jun 14, 2020 Devon Campbell rated it liked it · review of another edition

Took all of 4 hours to finish this book. Nice easy YA book with an interesting story line.

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Nov 14, 2017 montserrat rated it it was ok

Shelves: l-like-library

schizophrenia, cyber-bullying and weird affairs... I'm sorry, this book just wasn't for me. There were metaphors in all the wrong places, and the entire plot was basically just one big misunderstanding because the main character had given up speaking. ...more

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Jan 28, 2020 Sara Grimes rated it really liked it

This book took a turn! Im glad i pushed through to finish it!!

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Oct 08, 2016 Laura rated it liked it

Actual rating: 3. 5 stars

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Apr 24, 2016 Ameya rated it really liked it

Silence as a way of protest.
Tess Turner is 15. Despite having loving parents, she has the same pains and feelings of inadequacy as every other teenager; until that is, she peeks at her father’s computer screen, and her world is turned upside down. What do they say about not spying or eavesdropping, or you will sorely regret it? Well, every one of Tess’ self-professed inadequacies came to light in her own mind: her weight, height, looks, not least her square jaw, which she regards as being unflat Silence as a way of protest.
Tess Turner is 15. Despite having loving parents, she has the same pains and feelings of inadequacy as every other teenager; until that is, she peeks at her father’s computer screen, and her world is turned upside down. What do they say about not spying or eavesdropping, or you will sorely regret it? Well, every one of Tess’ self-professed inadequacies came to light in her own mind: her weight, height, looks, not least her square jaw, which she regards as being unflattering. (Other teen authors talk about square jaws in flattering terms.)

Then, all the differences, both physical and emotional, between she and her loved-up parents come to light in her teenage head, and drive a huge chasm in the filial relationship.

Silence is golden, but in this case, silence is goldfish, for the author’s authorly imaginative reasons. And it works. We have a teen novel that turns on the foundation of the protagonist seeing words she was not meant to see, and building a mountain of stories in her head about them, on which she takes the actions that form the narrative of this 363-page novel.

There were episodes from the 25% to 75 % points of the novel where the repetitions of Tess’ personal self put-downs, bullying episodes and those words, forbidden to her eyes, made a soggy middle. Yet, Annabel Pitcher’s voice made me turn the pages to find out what Tess did do, and how it all ended up. And it was a satisfying ending.

Tess is unique in Young Adult literature. She is not a swan who thinks she is an ugly duckling. The author lets us think she is an ugly duckling. She does not hanker for the hot guy, like the other girls do. These things help give the story its pulling power. What I wished was for Tess to have more backbone. But then the story is not written by me. The author can do whatever she wants, and she has done so, very well for the most part.

The humour that went with the goldfish was laugh-out-loud in cases. And the Jack versus Jack as father was poignant. Two sides of the spectrum in a novel is rare, and this is what makes “Silence is Goldfish” enjoyable.

Now to the best part. 17-year-old Henry Richardson is one of my favourite teen characters in Young Adult books, ever. Not only the best-looking boy in the world, but also wise in an old-head-on-young-shoulders kind of way, empathetic, not frightened by silences, aware of the world and of its shortcomings but not in a didactic way. In a ‘I am a vulnerable 17 year-old, and I am trying to make sense of my place in the world’ way. And he is clean-thinking. Move over Edward Cullen. ...more

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YA Buddy Readers'...: Silence is Goldfish by Annabel Pitcher - Starting September 14th 2016	13	7	Sep 14, 2016 01:42PM

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About Annabel Pitcher

Annabel Pitcher

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Annabel Pitcher studied English at Oxford and has since worked as a script writer and an English teacher. She lives in Yorkshire with her husband. MY SISTER LIVES ON THE MANTELPIECE was her first novel. She is a full-time writer.

Books by Annabel Pitcher

Annabel Pitcher Collection 3 Books Bundle With Gift Journal (My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece, Ketchup Clouds, Silence is Goldfish)

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Kerine Wint is a software engineering graduate with more love for books than for computers. As an avid reader, writer, and fan of all things...

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Quotes from Silence is Goldfish

“You might not be a lion, Tess. That's fine. Neither am I. But we're still cats, aren't we? Just because we don't roar, doesn't mean we have to be silent.” — 2 likes

“They think it's what we need to hear, but it's the opposite. Inviting glamorous people to school, asking them to parade their glamorous lives onstage, getting them to inspire us with their message that anything is possible if only we believe. Dream. Reach for the stars. Well, no thanks. That's not for me. I'm not going to get there, and neither are most people that I know, and that's fine by me. It is. It really is. When did it stop being fine for everyone else? The normal stuff. Sunday dinners and, I don't know , taking a walk in the park and listening to music and working in an ordinary job for an ordinary wage that will allow you to maybe go on holiday once a year, and really look forward to it too because you're are not a greedy bastard wanting more, more, more all the time. That's who should be doing a talk at school. Seriously. Show me someone happy with a life like that, because it's enough. It should be enough. All that other stuff is meaningless.” — 1 likes

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