The Silence that Binds Us by Joanna Ho is a book that kept my interest throughout. But I must say that the cover of the book does not even remotely have anything to do with the story inside. The story follows a young teen in the year following the death of her brother who was very close to her. Maybelline (who is also called, May and May-May, and Yam, and Mei-Mei and several other nick names) has difficulty dealing with her brother's suicide. She is very fortunate to have friends and adults who are available to help her through the trying times the year will bring. Her parents are much more supportive than she is willing to believe during most of the book. But she comes to understand them and herself much better by the end. I am not sure she understands her brother Danny any better by the end of the book, but she does see him in a different light than what she remembers from her younger years.
The thing about the book that made me hesitate some to recommend it whole heartedly (even though I really enjoyed it) is that as a teacher, I felt that Maybelline had far more support than most young people have when they are facing trauma such as this. This huge amount of support is unusual and not something a teen should realistically hope for. Additionally, there was a second major focus of the book, racism. Tying those up in a neat bundle doesn't work all that well. This book, like many others, ends up with the last few pages or chapter tying up loose ends and smoothing over wrinkles in the story with a didactic summary intended to close it all out.

I almost stopped reading 50% of the way through. I pretty much started crying at 80% through the end. I 100% recommend this book for teens and anyone who wants an approachable, inclusive discussion of race in America.

It's a tough topic and Joanna Ho's use of passionate teenagers who are invested and motivated to action is a great plot device. The fact that it is not a black and white issue leads to alot of discussions from many points of view. It is great to see that there is no one right way. Sometimes the right path is personal and varied.

Great read.

Note: Topics of suicide and underage drinking are presented. Light romance

Rating: 5/5 ⭐️

Read if you like:
- Contemporary fiction
- Racism discussions through a YA lens
- Beautiful prose

TW: Loss of a loved one, grief, racism

Review:
When May Chen loses her brother Danny to suicide, her entire world shifts. Soon after, May's family receives racist accusations for putting too much "pressure" on Danny. But May and her parents have different ways of challenging this. May wants to take back the narrative but her parents want her to keep her head low. This book is one of the most unique books I've read. I cried probably 20 times reading this book. But it wasn't a heartbreaking cry everytime. Sometimes it was because the author's words cut through so much of my own thoughts as well.

While this book centres around grief, the overarching theme is one of hope and advocacy. Racism, legacy, and multigenerational trauma are explored in this book through various lenses. The storytelling is beautiful and three dimensional. Each character shares stories of grief through prose, art, and passion. As a Chinese-Canadian diaspora, I related to this more, being able to see the values that my own parents hold that differ from my own. The pacing of the chapters makes this book even more beautiful - Joanna Ho weaves May's poetry into the story creating a blend of art and storytelling.

The leitmotif of silence appears throughout the book but the meaning of this word develops as the characters develop. The silence that binds this community together becomes one that creates a space for conversation and understanding. I urge you to read this book.

thank you netgalleuy and harper collins canada for the earc in exchange for an honest review

“Hearts and minds are changed through stories.”

Maybelline Chen loves her brother Danny. He’s the perfect Chinese-Taiwanese-American son, he’s always been there for her, and now he’s going to Princeton. May’s always understood Danny– until he commits suicide. Reeling in her grief, May questions if she ever really knew her brother. Meanwhile, the community has turned against May’s parents, blaming them for Danny’s suicide. When May’s attempts to take back her family’s narrative spurs a controversy about racism, things start to spin out of May’s control. A schoolwide protest gets planned, her mom’s job is threatened, and May learns the consequences and challenges of breaking the silence.

Joanna Ho’s debut YA novel hit home in so many different ways. I appreciate how this book digs into how our culture– regardless of skin color or immigrant status– perpetuates the value of competitive success. I love seeing the intimate and casual representation of Chinese families, from the food and language to the cultural customs. I cried so much because of May’s grief and mourning, a testament to Ho’s beautiful prose and poetry. And yet, throughout all of the really difficult themes in this novel, I never lost the book’s sense of hope and heart. May’s arc does a great job of examining intersectionality and systemic racism on personal and community levels. May’s closest friends Tiya and Marc are Haitian-American and strongly advocate for racial justice for Black Americans. Tiya and Marc are the best support system for May, and they’re major contributors to May’s growth as a character. They’re the kind of friends who get real and have the hard conversations that force May to confront her own biases and ignorance. I loved seeing that dynamic in a YA book. There are also really fun pop-culture references, ranging from Broadway musicals to Star Wars, as well as a vibrant cast of characters that we get to meet. I recommend The Silence That Binds Us to all readers, especially my fellow Chinese/Taiwanese book lovers. This story isn’t easy because it’s so real, but I think this book can allow those who know these experiences to feel really, truly seen.

(Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change upon final publication.)

Wow. The Silence that Binds Us is a heavy book, but so beautiful. Through this story we see a family grieving the loss of a son and brother, but also the complex ways in which racism manifests in their lives. May Chen is a strong, likable, but also imperfect protagonist. One of the things I appreciated in this book was the way she grappled with her own blindspots when it came to race, despite being Asian American. I think readers will be given a lot to think about with that part of her journey. There are somewhat complicated family and friendship dynamics at play, which are all well done. This is an excellent YA debut that I will be buying for my classroom library!

A seemingly thriving senior, Danny dies by suicide leaving behind his sister, parents and friends.

May is lost without her brother. Their family ceases to function for months while drowning in their grief.

When May re-emerges into her world of school she (and her parents) are struck down emotionally at a school event when a big man local parent blames ‘the Asians’ for pressuring their children to suicide and causing all students to stress enormously.

In defense of her family May writes a poem that the local paper prints. Then the big man responds, doubling down on his racism.

The school, May’s friends and family and the community are thrown into a tumult of faxing the reality of racism and it’s effects.

The Silence That Binds Us is heartbreaking and hopeful. There's a lot to unpack in this book about a teenage daughter of immigrants attending a high-pressured public high school in California. Suicide, grief, mental health, racism, parental expectations, friendship, community organizing, privilege, and even a little bit of romance are all included. The actual writing at times felt disjointed/didn't flow as well as it could have but there is so much about this book that is worthy and amazing that I can overlook that. This would make an excellent book club book for students in 8th grade and above.

THE SILENCE THAT BINDS US
Overall, this book was absolutely lovely and I felt a lot while reading it which makes it nearly perfect in my opinion.
THINGS I LIKED
The prose is beautiful and the imagery is vivid. I love the way that I felt like I was a part of the family.
I really like how strong Tiya and Maybelline's dynamic is- you can see it from the beginning. The exposition immediately made it clear they were close without stating it directly which was perfect.
The grieving process was so real and realistic. A lot of May's reactions in particular made me upset but because they made sense, I actually liked them.
I enjoyed Celeste and May getting close- I thought their relationship was so sweet.
The social commentary integrated into the plot was amazing and very cohesive.
The ending was absolutely perfect.

THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE
If she lives in a super progressive area and she's a junior in high school, how come May doesn't know anything about BLM or police brutality? It was weird that her immediate reaction was to ask why the police killed the Black kid instead of understanding.
The subplot romance between May and Marc felt kind of forced at times- I wish she'd had a crush on him as a kid or something. Or that the romance had been with Ava or Celeste, like someone she had history with.
I wish that Josh didn't have romantic feelings for May and that he was truly realizing it was wrong what his dad did instead of trying to win her over.

Rating 5/5
Plot 5/5
Spice .5/5
Character Development 5/5

[I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book]

The Silence That Binds Us by Joanna Ho tells the story of Maybelline Chen who isn’t the Chinese Taiwanese American daughter her parents expected her to be. May has different preferences than her parents including the clothes she wears and her dream of becoming a writer. On the other hand, May’s brother, Danny, is everything their parents would hope for in their child. Although Danny is intelligent and was accepted into Princeton, he secretly struggles with depression. When Danny takes his life, May’s world changes drastically and as racist accusations are made against May’s parents for being too “harsh” towards May and Danny, May tackles these stereotypes through her writing. Rather than being silenced, May aims to use her voice and writing to tell her story and take back the narrative from those who try to create false stereotypes based on her situation.

This book was so heartbreaking yet so so so beautiful. Although Danny passes early in the novel, I love how May’s memories of Danny keeps him alive and continue to build a strong presence in the book. I also love how close the friend group remained. Even after Danny passed, Tiya and Marc continued to be so supportive of May and I appreciated how Tiya and Marc stood by May’s side throughout everything she endured in the novel. Ho does a phenomenal job discussing themes of racism against Asians and exploring and deconstructing racist stereotypes. The structure of the book was written in a unique and creative way. Ho does an incredible job balancing grief toward the loss of Danny, anger towards the hateful stereotypes, and love between May and her friends and family.

First of all, that cover is absolutely apt for this book. It was what drew me to it. I have anxiety and depression and sometimes it feels like I’m drowning and the surface feels too far away. This cover emphasized that and resonated with me.

Maybelline’s brother was the perfect one, who had his life all figured out, who he wanted to be, where he wanted to go to college whereas Maybelline can’t seem to get her mother’s approval for even one achievement. Then the unthinkable happens and Danny takes his own life, leaving May and her family reeling in the aftermath.

The author’s writing was exceptional. She did a remarkable job emphasizing and showing difficult issues such as mental health and racism. I liked that she didn’t just focus on Asian but Black people and the ignorance of others over the prejudice they have to endure.

Best of all, you could see May’s character growth as she fell down and picked herself back up, how she learned to see the world as it was and not how she wanted it to be. And you couldn’t help but love Tiya, Marc, Hugh, and Celeste.

The emotions in the story surged through and had a huge impact on me. The grief and the guilt, the sibling love between May and Danny, the friendships, that glimmer of hope at the end. And there were scenes that ripped your heart out and left you in tears.

The fact that the author could pull these powerful emotions in me says it all. This is by no means an easy story, with powerful scenes that will change you forever. And that is exactly why you need to read it.

The Silence That Binds Us was somehow, impossibly, as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside. Which is no small feat, have you seen the cover? Easily one of my favorites of all time. But let's move onto the inside, shall we?

I obviously knew this one would be emotional, since we know that main character May is dealing with her beloved brother Danny's death. And it was, but that definitely wasn't all it was, so I will explain the other things that really made this story such a win for me!

►Huge focus on family, of course. May's family is, as you can imagine, totally shattered by the death of Danny. But a big plot point of the book is the whole family trying to rebuild their relationships with each other as they all try to cope with the loss of Danny. They all handle it in very different ways, but it is very clear to see that these people all love each other, and it's incredibly heartwarming even though there is such a layer of sadness.

►Grief and rebuilding were very well handled. Speaking of the loss of Danny, I thought the author did a tremendous job portraying the various grieving processes of all characters. Sure, we're more focused on May, but the author doesn't shy away from the other characters' grief, either. Not only do each of the members of May's family carry it in their own ways, but their friends also have to process this loss. I especially loved the perspective of Danny's best friend, Marc, who is the brother of May's own best friend Tiya. The author also portrays seeking help in a positive light, which is really important.

►Loved that May had the support of her friends, too. Speaking of friends, I was so, so glad that May had such great support, especially in Marc and Tiya. She also found some other support along the way, from some people she had not necessarily expected. The friendships were lovely, and represented in a very realistic way. They had their ups and downs, and several disagreements along the way, but you could tell these were forever friends, and I loved that.

►Another big focus was tackling racism. There were really two situations covered in depth in this story. The first, as the synopsis alludes to, is the anti-Asian racism that has been bleeding into society since... well, since American society started. The absolute heinousness of a local businessman standing up and blaming the Asian families for the depression and suicide of their own children is straight up appalling. The worst part is, I wanted to be shocked but I couldn't even, because here we are. May was raised in what she thought of as a fairly liberal-leaning, open minded area, but the truth is, there are always people waiting in the wings for the chance to spew their hate and vitriol. In this case, it was Basic Rich Shitty White Guy™ Mr. McIntyre, father of a student at her school, and her mom's boss. May cannot remain quiet while he breaks her parents down even more, while he attacks her whole community, while he slanders Danny. So, she speaks out, and seeks to make her truth known.

Meanwhile, Marc and Tiya, who are Black, have been rallying against another police shooting of a Black child. May, lost in her own grief, kind of overlooks the importance of this. And Marc and Tiya want her to realize that she shouldn't just care about this issue because she's friends with them specifically, but because this should be everyone's fight. During May's attempt to bring awareness to the plight of the Asian community, and the racism toward them, she needs to open her eyes to the huge injustices other groups are facing all around her. I think the author handled it very well, if a bit preachy at times, but the message is certainly an important one.

►Obviously, the emotions. But not just the sad ones, not even close! While of course this story pulled at the hearstrings, and I certainly cried more than once or forty times, there were a lot of other emotions at play, too. The story as a whole had a very hopeful, healing tone, and I absolutely laughed and cheered just as much as I cried. May is rebuilding and growing, mending and creating relationships, but still keeping Danny alive in heart. The whole story was beautiful, from start to finish.

Bottom Line: A lovely exploration of grief and loss, but also family, friendship, rebuilding, and standing up for all the right things.

I received an e-galley of The Silence That Binds Us by Joanna Ho from HCC Frenzy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved it. Add it to the best books of 2022. Be ready to have your heart broken. Be ready to heal. Be ready with a box of tissues. The Silence That Binds Us is a story about May, a young Taiwanese American teenager who struggles with living up to her mother's expectations. She seeks solace and companionship from her older brother who seems to be perfect - until that illusion is broken with Danny's death by suicide. The grief that follows pushes May and her parents to the edge - and when the family is only starting to recover, hurtful and racist accusations that her Asian parents drove Danny to his suicide are made. While May is enraged and wishes to respond, her parents would rather keep their heads down and not draw more attention. May and her parents struggle with how one deals with such hateful and racist words and actions in the community. And as May continues to deal with grief, she also begins a journey of understanding the racism that has always been present in her community - even when it did not personally and directly affect her.

I loved it. As much as it also tugged at my heart and enveloped me in the grief - Joanna Ho is an incredible writer - it also made me reflect on so much. The relationship between May and her parents. Discussion about grief. The model minority myth and the history of the Asian community in America. Black and Asian solidarity against racism. An honest and brutal look at how communities of colour have and have not supported one another while fighting against the very same systems that strive to pit them against one another. The Silence That Binds Us is, without a doubt, a new favourite read of mine that I will be returning to time and time again.

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 4.5/5 stars.

TW: Suicide, discussion of suicide, depression, grief, racism, AAPI hate

I was ugly crying, sobbing, by the end of it. I think that could be the review all in itself. This novel pulls you in real fast with the synopsis explaining how Danny dies but...you don't expect it to happen so fast in the novel and the way it does. I was already crying by like...chapter 5? Then the end...WHEW...the TEARS.

This novel is beautiful. Authentic. Vulnerable. I like how May's growth following Danny's death is a combination of finding her voice but also learning more about the world -- including how she contributed implicitly with antiblackness. Her and Tiya's friendship is SO well written. I also like the addition of Marc. Tiya, May, and Marc are also all healing after Danny's death. The dynamics with Celeste were amazing, too. I also like how the privilege is explained well within the novel, along with the pressure of academics.

There were just a LOT of things I appreciated about this novel. May's family relationships, dealing with grief, finding her voice, discussions of AAPI racism and discrimination, family norms, expectations, etc., truly make this a fantastic novel. I only deducted the 1/2 star because it did drag at some points, but it was beautiful.

It also is a combination of prose and poetry to reflect May's writing abilities, and I LOVE that in a novel.

So many good things. SO MANY.

When May’s brother commits suicide her world, and her parents world is completely turned upside down. But while in the process of their grief hate is spewed saying it was the pressure Asian American parents put on their children and children in the community to commit suicide.

We are in the midst of a mental health epidemic, and Joanna Ha’s book is one students need to have in their classroom. To see how their lives impact others, and also that their voices matter when speaking up against hate. I can’t wait to read more by Joanna Ha…her writing is absolutely magnificent.

Maybelline may not fit the perfect model of a Chinese Taiwanese American daughter with her hoodies and desire to become a writer, or agree with her parents about a lot of things, but the one person she has always been able to count on to support her is her big brother. Then one day Danny isn’t there anymore, and the family is forced to deal with the aftermath of his suicide. With adults fearful for their kids after the fifth teen suicide in their community, tensions are high and now Maybelline is not only dealing with the loss of her brother but the vocal and racist accusations of many in the community.

Joanna Ho set herself a high bar with her debut novel, The Silence That Binds Us. The book is powerfully written with a story that pulls the reader in. It tackles so many topics head on that our society often remains silent on. The characters grow and development as their strength and courage bring them toa central point.

To date, The Silence that Binds Us is probably the top 2022 YA novel I have read, and I have definite plans to use this as selection for the teen book discussion group I run. It’s beautiful and sad while being simultaneously empowering and offering the reader hope.

Disclaimer: A copy of this book was provided by the publisher.

A powerful YA debut that is in turns heartbreaking, hopeful, and empowering.

This is the kind of story that will stay with readers long after they finish. It is written with such strength and searing honesty, portraying the nuances of grief and loss. At its heart, this is a story about stories, specifically those that have been historically suppressed. It is about the power narratives can wield for good and evil and the hope they can bring when brought into the light.

Every aspect of the book: plot, character, voice, and etc. was executed with mastery, and further developed these deeply important themes.

I cannot recommend this highly enough, and I eagerly await more from Ho.

This book was everything I wanted– heart-wrenching, powerful, well-written. The way that this book tackled grief and the cost of standing up for oneself, all while focusing on familial and chosen family relationships, was truly beautiful.

When Maybelline Chen's older brother commits suicide, her family is brought under scrutiny, and soon targeted with anti-Asian sentiments blaming them and the Chinese-American community for his death. May and her friends are determined to set the record straight, but their actions and words cause ripples throughout their community, both positive and negative.

All of the small details really made this book stand out to me. All of the small memories between May and her brother and May and her friends made the characters feel real. The way that May's relationship with her parents was developed made my heart ache. I loved the way social justice issues were discussed, and how May grew in her understanding of them. I also appreciate the nuanced view that this book gave to mental health issues, particularly depression, since May's brother did not exhibit any obvious signs.

I do wish that one relationship in the book had been expanded on a bit more, as its development felt rushed to me.

I'm excited to see what Joanna Ho writes next!

I waited a few days after finishing this book before writing the review. I had to let all the ideas and thoughts behind the book sink in and see how I felt about it as a whole. This was a quick read because the author thoroughly sinks you into the world. Even though I had read her picture books (they are amazing) I did not expect all that this book entailed. It Is realistic because it doesn’t just deal with one issue , suicide, but many as we do in life. It never felt forced but flowed. The transition from text to prose to text messaging was excellent and I hadn’t experienced that before. It also left me with several questions that have stuck with me and in how I view what others say. Family trauma, suicide, racial justice, there is just so much covered but it will have you asking yourself questions. If you want a story for self growth this is for you.

I loved this book. If you have to pick one YA book from the new releases coming out in June for your library, get this one. Joanna Ho's YA debut is absolutely incredible.

The Silence that Binds Us is a heavy story involving immigrants and first-generation families, discrimination, elitism, and mental health in the California suburbs. Maybelline grieves the loss of her brother while the larger community blames his death on the pressures of Chinese family stereotypes.

The story is especially timely considering the increased focus on student mental health and the renewed racism facing the AAPI community. The characters were engaging and the plot incredibly realistic with characters delving into their own family histories and calling out/calling in peers.

My one qualm is the didactic nature that the narration took in one or two spots. While I agree with the sentiments, I felt it went into telling rather than showing, losing the voice of teenage Maybelline in favor of adults.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for this ARC in exchange for my opinion.