Silent Reader is about Owen, an avid reader who solves a mystery about his missing bike by finding clues in books. When his bike disappears and his best friend may be moving away, Owen begins noticing patterns others miss - in school hallways, neighbourhood streets, and at the bike park. As he joins the wrestling team, he discovers surprising strength in both his muscles and his mind, moving from practice to competition and proving himself in ways no one expects. Bright but unseen, funny in sideways ways, and always one step from trouble, Owen navigates bullying, family tension, and the quiet loneliness of middle school. Part detective story, part coming-of-age, Silent Reader is an honest middle-grade book about a kid who realizes he isn't invisible after all. Silent Reader is a breathtakingly intimate journey in the mind of a middle schooler. Rich Théroux captures the vibrant, complex inner world of Owen with such grace that you don't just read his story, you live it... The novel is a reminder of how the perceived "chaos" of a neurodivergent mind can be appreciated and understood. - Nikki Pun, language arts consultant.
