Speechless

Speechless by Aron Nels Steinke (Graphix an Imprint of Ashton Scholastic) Graphic Novel RRP AU$22.99 ISBN 978-1-76172-109-0

Reviewed by Robyn Gillies

Mira is starting middle school but there is just one problem: she struggles to speak in class. The thoughts form in her head but they just don’t come out of her mouth as words. And the more she tries, the harder it becomes. At home it’s a very different story - she talks all the time with her parents and her annoying little sister. Mira’s parents are unaware of what is happening at school until they receive a call from one of her teachers.

To make things worse, Mira discovers her mother has offered to let Chloe, her once inseparable best friend but now her sworn enemy, stay with them for a few months while Chloe’s mum goes away to care for her sick mother.

To help her cope with her social anxiety, Mira channels her creativity into making short films using stop animation. She works for hours on end and anonymously publishes them online. Kids love them!

Can she find her voice, make new friends and mend the rift between her and Chloe?

This is an easy-to-read graphic novel but one that cleverly speaks to any young person who suffers with social anxiety. The detailed illustrations, also by Steinke, add layers of depth about the challenges that can be experienced in middle school which become amplified if you feel you are different from other students. Specifically, it deals with selective mutism and draws on the author’s own experience of growing up in a world of social anxiety making it authentic and believable. The story shows that with support, help, and a formal diagnosis, that there is a way forward and that sometimes it can come in surprising ways. This book would suit middle to upper primary ages and could easily be used in the classroom for a range of learning activities.

The author provides some useful resources at the end of the book for children who may suffer from selective mutism or social anxiety. Teaching Notes can also be found on the Ashton Scholastic Australia website.