Silent to the Bone
Read Silent to the Bone Online
Authors: E.L. Konigsburg
HONORS FOR
SILENT TO THE BONE
An ALA Best Book for Young Adults
A
Booklist
Editors' Choice
A
School Library Journal
Best Book
A
Horn Book
Fanfare Book
A
New York Times
Notable Book
An Edgar Allan Poe Award Nominee
A
Publishers Weekly
Best Children's Book
PRAISE FOR
SILENT TO THE BONE
“E. L. Konigsburg is one of our brainiest writers for young people . . . a brisk, often tart stylist, Konigsburg conveys an astute sensitivity toward the ways people feel about one another but wants her characters to think first.”
â
The New York Times Book Review
“With this impeccably crafted novel two-time Newbery Medalist Konigsburg . . . again demonstrates her keen insight into the needs and tastes of a middle-grade audience . . . [an] extraordinary achievement.”
â
Publishers Weekly
, starred review
“Connor's voice shines throughout the novel. It is cleverly written, and full of wit, plot twists, and engaging characters.”
â
School Library Journal
, starred review
“Everything makes you want to go back and reread the story . . . for the wit and insight, the farce, and the gentleness of the telling.”
â
Booklist,
starred review
“No one is better than Konigsburg at plumbing the hearts and minds of smart, savvy kids . . . [the book] is written with Konigsburg's characteristic wit and perspicacityâan incisive understanding of psychology that cuts to the bone and an awareness of human emotion that pierces the heart.”
â
The Horn Book,
starred review
“Konigsburg's characters and the textures of their relationships are fascinating and worth every minute spent with them.”
â
Kirkus Reviews
Mysterious Edge of The World
Excerpt
For:
Anna F. Konigsburg,
Sarah L. Konigsburg,
and
Meg L. Konigsburg
âuntil eponymy
ONE,
TWO,
&
THREE
1.
It is easy to pinpoint the minute when my friend Branwell began his silence. It was Wednesday, November 25, 2:43
P.M.
, Eastern Standard Time. It was thereâor, I guess you could say not thereâon the tape of the 911 call.
Operator
:
Epiphany 911. Hobson speaking.
SILENCE.
Operator
:
Epiphany 911. Hobson. May I help you?
SILENCE. [Voices are heard in the background.]
Operator
:
Anyone there?
A woman's voice
[screaming in the background]:
Tell them. Tell them.
Operator
:
Ma'am, I can't hear you.
[then louder]
Please come to the phone.
A woman's voice
[still in the background, but louder now]:
Tell them.
[then, screaming as the voice approaches]
For God's sake, Branwell.
[the voice gets louder]
TELL THEM.
SILENCE.
Operator
:
Please speak into the phone.
A woman's voice
[heard more clearly]:
TELL THEM. NOW, BRAN. TELL THEM NOW
SILENCE.
A woman's voice with a British accent
[heard clearly]:
Here! Take her! For God's sake, at least take her!
[then, speaking directly into the phone]
It's the baby. She won't wake up.
Operator
:
Stay on the phone.
British Accent
[frightened]:
The baby won't wake up.
Operator
:
Stay on the line. We're transferring you to Fire and Rescue.
Male Voice
:
Epiphany Fire and Rescue. Davidson. What is the nature of your emergency?
British Accent
:
The baby won't wake up.
Male Voice
:
What is your exact location?
British Accent
:
198 Tower Hill Road. Help, please. It's the baby.
Male Voice
:
Help is on the way, ma'am. What happened?
British Accent
:
He dropped her. She won't wake up.
Male Voice
:
Is she having difficulty breathing?
British Accent
[panicky now]:
Yes. Her breathing is all strange.
Male Voice
:
How old is the baby, ma'am?
British Accent
:
Almost six months.
Male Voice
:
Is there a history of asthma or heart trouble?
British Accent
:
No, no. He dropped her, I tell you.
LOUD BANGING IS HEARD.
British Accent
[into the phone]:
They're here. Thank God. They're here.
[then just before the connection is broken]
For God's sake, Branwell, MOVE. Open the door.
The SILENCES were Branwell's. He is my friend.
The baby was Nicoleâcalled NikkiâBranwell's half sister.
The British accent was Vivian Shawcurt, the baby-sitter.
In the ambulance en route to the hospital, Vivian sat up front with the driver, who was also a paramedic. He asked her what had happened. She told him that she had put the baby down for her afternoon nap and had gone to her room. After talking to a friend on the phone, she had started to read and must have dozed off. When the paramedic asked her what time that was, she had to confess that she did not know. The next thing she remembered being awakened by
Branwell's screaming for her. Something was wrong with the baby. When she came into the nursery, she saw Branwell shaking Nikki, trying to get her to wake up. She guessed that the baby went unconscious when he dropped her. She started to do CPR and told Branwell to call 911. He did, but when the operator came on the line, he seemed paralyzed. He would not give her the information she needed. He would not speak at all.
Meanwhile the paramedic who rode with the baby in the ambulance was following the ABC's for resuscitationâairway, breathing, and circulation. Once inside the trauma center at Clarion County Hospital, Nikki was put on a respirator and wrapped in blankets. It was important to keep her warm. A CAT scan was taken of her head, which showed that her injuries could cause her brain to swell. When the brain swells, it pushes against the skull, and that squeezes the blood vessels that supply the brain. If the supply of blood to the brain is pinched off, the brain cannot get oxygen, and it dies.
The doctor drilled a hole in Nikki's skull and put in a small tubeâno thicker than a strand of spaghettiâto drain excess fluid from her brain to lower the pressure. Nikki did not open her eyes.