J.R. Sawyer

Zoe is a high school girl, who like many struggle in silence. However, for Zoe the silence starts talking back to her. The silence is attentive, charming, alluring, and understanding. The dangerous thing about silence, is it forces you to really hear, really see, and really feel.

Zoe has attempted suicide once before. Her parents saw it more of a burden and less of what it is, the need for help. Although she is attending therapy, its just not helping. Zoe knows the script, and knows how to play her part. She smiles and responds with just the right answers. This behavior goes beyond therapy. In school , at home with her family, even when looking in the mirror.

One day, the mask and the script she has set for her daily life, start to crack. Once the cracks start to show, the silence creeps in. Soon the world starts to blur, and she starts to fall deeper into the cracks, deeper into the silence.

This story is raw , and will touch uncomfortable subjects for many. With that being said its topics that need to be discussed even if it makes people uncomfortable. Mental health has a stigma, and we need to beat that stigma. Mental health is health, and seeking help should never be shamed.

What Zoe goes through is something many people go through, and like Zoe many are not surrounded by good supports. If you or someone you know needs help please remember, this is not the end of your story, it does get better.

The suicide hotline is 988.
you can call or text.

Thank you J.R. Sawyer for covering such an intense topic. My hopes are that this book gets in to the hands of those who need it most.