The Secret Language of Sisters

By: Luanne Rice

Narrated by: Kate Rudd, Brittany Pressley

Length: 9 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times best-selling adult author Luanne Rice makes her dazzling YA debut with this gorgeous, pause-resisting story of love, hope, and redemption.

When Ruth Ann (Roo) McCabe responds to a text message while she's driving, her life as she knows it ends. The car flips, and Roo winds up in a hospital bed, paralyzed. Silent. Everyone thinks she's in a coma, but Roo has locked-in syndrome - she can see and hear and understand everything around her, but no one knows it. She's trapped inside her own body, screaming to be heard.

Mathilda (Tilly) is Roo's sister and best friend. She was the one who texted Roo and inadvertently caused the accident. Now Tilly must grapple with her overwhelming guilt and her growing feelings for Roo's boyfriend, Newton - the only other person who seems to get what Tilly is going through. But Tilly might be the only person who can solve the mystery of her sister's condition - who can see through Roo's silence to the truth underneath. Somehow, through medicine or miracles, will both sisters find a way to heal?

©2016 Luanne Rice (P)2016 Scholastic Inc.

I loved it!!

I loved it but I wish the author would of wrote about Roo's recovery and if she got better at all. But overall it's a really great book!

I Love this book so much

I love this book so much because it is really inspirational I feel like I can connect to the book and see the story through my eyes and I can feel the pain that the character is feeling. So I give this book a 5/5. Thankyou

it was awesome!!

the narrator read so cleary it was awesome!! I loved this book so much and want a sequel!!

Captures you from the beginning

This tugged at my heart and will forever change me. This book was very well written. The storyline is sensitive but much needed. You can't help but fall in love with both sisters. The journey will capture your heart. The narrators are two of my favorite and did a fabulous job. It's going to be hard to start another book after this one.

Nice story.

Good not too complex of a story. Has interesting items to discuss in book club.

Enjoyable

Grade: B-

While waiting for a ride, fourteen-year-old Tilly angrily texts her older sister. Against her better judgment, Roo responds to the text with near fatal consequences. The sixteen-year-old wakes in the hospital with a condition called Locked In Syndrome. She appears comatose and unresponsive, but is fully aware, paralyzed from the accident and unable to move anything but one eye.

To buy into one of THE SECRET LANGUAGE OF SISTERS's biggest premises, you've got to believe Tilly is equally or even more responsible than Roo for the accident, because she sent the texts. This theme is repeated by most of the main characters. I could understand Tilly feeling guilty, but would hear expected those around her to provide constant reassurance that the driver is responsible for not answering the phone or texts. Period.

I liked both sisters. They narrated alternate chapters. Luann Rice, in her YA debut, did a wonderful job describing the Roo's hell, trapped in her body, particularly before anyone realized she was cognizant. With the exception of best friend Isabel, I liked and related all of the characters. I particularly enjoyed the multigenerational relationship of Martha and the sisters.

Although the writing, characters and plot were interesting and I enjoyed reading THE SECRET LANGUAGE OF SISTERS, **something** was missing that prevented me from feeling a connection to the characters. I didn't feel immersed in the story. I'm a re-reader, but I doubt I'll pick up this book a second time, because it lacked that *special* feeling of excitement from the sheer pleasure of reading.

THEMES: sisters, family, grief, disabilities, romance, photography

THE SECRET LANGUAGE OF SISTERS is an above average story about how sisters, friendship and love can overcome extreme challenges.

It is the best book EVER

I LOVED THIS BOOK IT IS GREAT AND YOU SHOULD READ THIS BOOK!! Get now

Awesome!!!

Luanne Rice did an amazing job!!! Such a riveting and sad story, I just could not put it down. Wow!

Loved it loved it sooooo much

Amazing it soo much best book I have ever read or got read to thank you

Best Book Ever!

I would recommend this book to many teens and adults! This book showed patience and persistence in time! Most importantly it showed love! This book was by far my favorite and definitely will inspire many!