Till Human Voices Wake Us

November 20, 2023
When she was five, Cia lost her entire family—and her leg—in a mysterious fire. Now 17, Cia’s best friend Alice claims she has a secret surrounding her recently disappeared ex-boyfriend Noah that could also shed light on that terrible night. But Cia doesn’t want to dig up the past. Following an argument, the friends part ways, only for Alice’s body to be discovered in the quarry hours later. Though the police believe Alice died by suicide, Cia and her friend Will aren’t convinced. Together with Will and Noah’s twin brother Judah, Cia conducts her own investigation into Alice’s death and discovers clues pointing toward a suspicious pattern of missing youths from the neighborhood. As the trio delve deeper into the town’s seedy underbelly, they realize that Alice’s death, the disappearances, and the fire that killed Cia’s family are connected to a larger web of crime. Debut author Roque confidently weaves together dynamic characters with complex histories to riveting effect. Cia is at once a brave and vulnerable, trusting and wary heroine whose empathy propels this suspenseful mystery thriller. Main characters read as white. Ages 12–17.

December 15, 2023
Seventeen-year-old Silencia Lucero investigates the disappearances of teens in her town after her best friend dies under mysterious circumstances. Despite insinuations by the Summerset police, Cia is certain that Alice Booker, an aspiring journalist, did not drown herself in the local quarry over a broken heart. Alice's search for her ex-boyfriend, Noah, had led her down a trail that connected his case to those of other missing teens from their town, and the morning before she died, Alice told Cia what she'd learned. Alice also voiced her suspicions about the relevance of bonedust, the drug that's been sweeping through Summerset in recent years. Cia is no stranger to bonedust: Her biological father produced it in his basement, until he was killed in the same house fire that left 5-year-old Cia an orphan with burn scars and a prosthetic leg. When Cia finds Alice's carefully hidden phone, it reveals that Alice had stumbled onto something much more dangerous than she could handle. Roque delivers a gripping debut centered on a town that has turned away from its most vulnerable population and allowed them to fall prey to sinister forces. Themes of addiction and systemic corruption weave through the tense central mystery, which pits Cia against a killer who doesn't hesitate when choosing targets. Cia is white and has two dads; there's diversity in race and gender identity among the supporting characters. An absolute nail-biter. (Thriller. 13-18)

COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

August 9, 2024

Gr 10 Up-Silencia, known as Cia, is the sole survivor of a fire that claimed her entire family, resulting in her bearing burn scars and a prosthetic leg. Cia is adopted by the compassionate fireman who rescued her and his husband; her story is one of survival. Set against the backdrop of a town plagued by a high rate of missing youth, often dismissed as suicides, overdoses, or victims of random fires, the book does not shy away from gritty realities. The plot thickens when Cia's best friend, Alice, delves into the mysterious disappearances only to turn up dead in what authorities hastily rule as another suicide. This loss propels Cia into a quest for the truth, refusing to accept the official narrative. Roque's debut tackles a range of complex themes, including abuse, teen pregnancy, and the concept of expendable people. As the story unfolds, readers are drawn into Cia's world as she navigates the challenges and dangers that come her way. The conclusion provides a satisfying resolution while simultaneously setting the stage for the next installment in the trilogy. Despite some slow moments, Roque delivers an engaging thriller with a kickass female protagonist at its heart. VERDICT This book will appeal to fans of contemporary fiction who appreciate mystery and suspense. Recommended for purchase in libraries where these genres are popular.-Claire Covington

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.