What the Silent Say

De: Emerson Ford

Narrado por: Justin Price, Stephanie Einstein

Inspired by a remarkable true story and brought to life in cinematic detail, an unforgettable tale of courage, sacrifice, and the unbreakable bonds of family.

Florence, South Carolina 1944: Lieutenant Raymond Sellers bids farewell to his brother Jimmie, the weight of what lies ahead hanging heavy in the air. The brothers have always been inseparable—Raymond, the steady protector, Jimmie, the wild-hearted dreamer. But as Raymond embraces his pregnant wife Evelyn one last time, war is about to test the bonds of family in ways they never imagined.

As a summer storm shakes the windows, Evelyn brings her baby into a world at war. Across the vast Pacific theater, Raymond leads his men through brutal combat while Jimmie fights in the skies. One battle forces Raymond to choose between the family he promised to protect and the brothers he swore to never leave behind.

Eighteen years later, a daughter finds a cache of letters in her father's desk and is shocked to find that some acts of courage echo across generations.

From the flowering dogwoods of South Carolina to the chilling trenches of Okinawa, What the Silent Say reminds us that even in our darkest hours, the human spirit has the capacity to endure. If you love anything by Kristin Hannah, Amy Harmon, or were moved by Band of Brothers, this book is a must-listen.

©2025 Emerson Ford (P)2025 Dreamscape Media

What the silent say

I really enjoyed the flow of this story line. The characters are all very realistic.

Great Story, a great listen

This was one of the best books that I've listened to. Knowing that it was based on a true story, made some of it difficult to listen to. My Father was a WWII veteran and served in the Pacific, so the fighting and war stories that took part in Japan, struck a personal note for me. This book made me laugh and also cry in places, where it didn't turn out the way I wanted. But the lessons and morals that were offered made this book one of a kind! I recommend this book to everyone.

Importance of friends and family in this WWII story!

I love WWII fiction, and What the Silent Say did not disappoint. It's based on a true story, which makes me appreciate the story and the author even more. The characters were so real to me, and I dearly love a few of them. I just wanted to hug Evelyn and pray for the soldiers. There were definitely some teary moments. Highly recommended!

This light-hearted moment was one of my favorites:
Evelyn: "I'm not marrying anybody just because there's a war on "
Rosie: "Evelyn Noble, that is the most unpatriotic thing I've heard anybody say. Think of it as doing your part for the war effort."
***
Evelyn: "And which boy are you going to marry to do your part?"
Rosie: "I'd marry more than one if I could."

I listened to the audiobook, which is well done.

Superb Debut - Highly recommended!

I had already read this book and loved it enough to what to enjoy it again. Listening to the audiobook brought the characters to life, and this WWII story engages all the emotions.

Good behind the scenes story of World War II

The book did a very good job of telling the story on a personal level of what went on in the final days of World War II and also earlier. It brought a personal view of one families story of two brothers going to war

Greatest Generation

Another moving story about the Greatest Generation . The sacrifice of so many who died for our freedom. Most of those who died were young and never had wives and children to carry on their memory.

Wowza!

If you know and love a veteran, you need to read this book. More importantly, if you do NOT know and love a veteran...you need to read this book.

Emotional and Engaging

The narrators did a wonderful job. The main narrator really captured the feel of the characters and story. My only complaint is that the author note is not included in the audio and I really wanted to know what parts were true or not. Luckily a friend with a physical copy sent me pictures of it and it made me love the story even more to read that and see how much of the story is true to the author's family.

Wow, what a deep hitting and beautiful story! I was bawling while doing dishes at one point! It took me on a full gamut of emotions but ended in a quietly satisfying way. I love that this was closely based on the author's own family and that she wanted to make sure this history wasn't lost to time. I feel like she captured the imperfect but lovable characters, the time period, and the complicated situations so well.

I have mentioned this many times before, but I love when letters play a role in stories. Letters were the catalyst for this story ever being discovered and told. Reading this right on the heels of discovering a tub full of letters between my grandparents and seeing some parallels in their stories made this hit even deeper for me.

Wonderful story. top book read in 2025.

This is a 10 star read. I will read anything Emerson Ford writes in the future, her writing style is stellar. She places you right next to the characters. WOW, is the best word for her. Kudos, high 5. Amazing debit.

Powerful, Moving, Still thinking about it

This story is still taking up residence in my head, weeks after finishing it. Knowing it's a true story makes it even more powerful. Each chapter is important for the payoff. If you have a chance, grab the ebook and read the author's note, which wasn't included in the audio version--it opened up a whole new understanding of these characters and their story. This is the real story behind the 77th Division (of Desmond Doss and Hacksaw Ridge fame), the men who lived it, their families... The male narrator, who reads the vast majority of the book, makes it come alive--you feel like you're there, living it.