The Weight of Silence

When two little girls disappear in the night, the truth about what happened lies in the words they cannot speak.

As dawn's shimmering light drenches the humid Iowa air, two families wake to find their little girls have gone missing. There's seven-year-old Calli Clark, a sweet, gentle dreamer who suffers from selective mutism brought on by a tragedy that pulled her deep into silence as a toddler, and Petra Gregory, Calli's best friend, her soul mate and her voice.

Desperate to find their children, Calli's mother, Antonia, and Petra's father, Martin, are forced to confront dark truths about the role each of them may have inadvertently played in the girls' disappearance. Inextricably tied together, these two families are trapped in the silence of unspoken family secrets. Will they find their daughters before it's too late?

Heather Gudenkauf's bestselling and groundbreaking debut is a gripping novel packed with dark secrets and deep emotion. This chilling tale of two families' desperate search will linger long after the final page is turned.

And don't miss Heather's latest book, AN OVERNIGHT GUEST! You'll be chilled and riveted from start to finish with this story of an unexpected visitor and a deadly snowstorm!

Check out these other riveting novels of suspense by bestselling author Heather Gudenkauf:

These Things Hidden
One Breath Away
Little Mercies
Missing Pieces
Not a Sound
Before She Was Found
This is How I Lied



Author: Heather Gudenkauf
Publisher: Mira Books
Published: 07/28/2009
Pages: 384
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.73lbs
Size: 8.27h x 5.58w x 1.00d
ISBN: 9780778327400

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 5.3
Point Value: 14
Interest Level: Upper Grade
Quiz #/Name: 145134 / Weight of Silence


Award: Iowa High School Book Award - Nominee
Award: Edgar Allan Poe Awards - Nominee


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 06/22/2009 pg. 33
Romantic Times 08/01/2009 pg. 54 - Very Good

About the Author
Heather Gudenkauf graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in elementary education and for the past sixteen years has worked with elementary children. Currently, along with writing, Heather is an Instructional Coach, an educator who provides teachers with curricular, student, and professional development support. Heather lives in Dubuque, Iowa with her husband and children. In her free time Heather enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and running.