The Silence that Binds Us by Joanna Ho delves into topics of suicide, grief and racism.
May’s older brother seemed to have it all: favor with their parents, popularity as a star senior on the school’s basketball team, and a recent acceptance into Princeton.
His shocking suicide turns May and her parents’ world upside down. Especially when an influential businessman/parent of one of May’s classmates blames the recent suicides and stress among teens in their community on Asian parents’ pressure on their kids.
May sends a rebuttal to the town newspaper which creates further division in her community and negative consequences for her mom’s job.
Despite her parents’ warnings to stay quiet, May teams up with her closest black friend and her brother to confront racism. They discover that everyone has stories that deserve to be shared.
Through this process, May continues to work through her own grief and her relationship with her parents- specifically her mother.
This book handles tough topics with a direct yet sensitive approach.
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