I had difficulty putting this charming book down before going to sleep. Steffi is a terrific protagonist; she suffers social anxiety and consequently is a selective mute, struggling to complete even the simplest of interactions with strangers, school peers and sometimes even her friends and family. Despite this, she is funny and kind, and her relationships are genuine.

The new school year sees Steffi paired with Rhys, a new student who is deaf. She can communicate through sign language, and the two quickly strike up a friendship. It’s clear from the beginning that they like each other and their conversation flows easily, but the two have spent so much of their lives feeling different and excluded that they take a while to begin properly communicating with each other.

Complications arise from this inability to communicate maturely; they are, after all, teenagers. Steffi has two families since her parent’s divorce, and she lives with the grief of her stepbrother’s premature death. She is very complex young lady and Rhys, similarly, has been challenged because of his deafness. Both of them, however, are interested in the world and they give each other the strength to push boundaries.

Author Sara Barnard incorporates text message formatting to show the conversations between Steffi and Rhys, which makes them just like any other teenagers. Her novel is accessible and engrossing, even if you have no experience with social anxiety or hearing impairment.

Reviewed by Julia Lloyd Bruin
Age guide 14+