Silent Days, Silent Dreams

by Allen Say (Author)

Silent Days, Silent Dreams
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade
A Caldecott Medalist brings his lavish illustrations and hybrid narrative and artistic styles to the story of artist James Castle. This fictional biography allows readers to experience Castle's emergence as an artist despite the overwhelming difficulties he faced. Full color.
Select format:
Hardcover
$24.99

Publishers Weekly

Starred Review

Say (The Inker's Shadow) tells the haunting story of outsider artist James Castle, a deaf and autistic man whose talent was not recognized until late in his life. Narrating in the voice of Castle's nephew, Say describes how Castle was born in 1899 into an Idaho farm family with no resources to help their son. He never learned to speak or read; when upset, he shrieked uncontrollably. But he found consolation in drawing and made some 15,000 pictures, often with soot and sharpened sticks after teachers confiscated his drawing materials. Many of Castle's drawings accompany the story--blocky, sometimes surreal human figures and houses--and Say contributes pen-and-ink vignettes, drawings that mimic Castle's style, and anguished charcoal portraits of the bullying the man endured throughout his life. After living alone in outbuildings on family properties for decades, Castle at last came to the attention of local artists and gained some financial security. Say's moving portrait of Castle's work and life ("I think he was happy," he concludes) pays tribute to a man who was compelled to create despite the torments he underwent. Ages 8-12. (Oct.)

Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

School Library Journal

Starred Review

Gr 3-7--In this fascinating longform "imagined" biography about James Castle, author-illustrator Say plays with artistic and literary formats. Castle was born deaf and premature in Idaho, was considered to be autistic and dyslexic, and was abused and bullied for his inability to speak or read. He was discouraged from creating art by his parents and principal, and had his art supplies confiscated and artworks destroyed many times, yet he still created a huge and compelling body of work. The biography is written from the perspective of Castle's nephew, Bob Beach, and the back matter provides detailed information about the artist and Say's connection to him. Say's art, inspired by the many styles of James Castle, vibrates on the page in a variety of media, including matchsticks, shoe polish, liquid laundry bluing, and cardboard, and he even switched hands to imitate Castle. Just as Castle's art leapt in styles and emotions, Say's work shows the trials of a beleaguered and prolific artist. VERDICT A phenomenal and profoundly artistic and biographical work.--Lisa Nowlain, Nevada County Community Library, CA

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes




Allen Say
Allen Say was born in Yokohama, Japan, and came to the United States when he was sixteen. His many treasured books for children include Tree of Cranes, Allison, and the Caldecott Honor-winning The Boy of the Three-Year Nap by Dianne Snyder. He lives in Portland, Oregon. Visit his website at www.hmhbooks.com/authors/allensay.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780545927611
Lexile Measure
790
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Arthur A. Levine Books
Publication date
October 31, 2017
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV003000 - Juvenile Fiction | Art & Architecture
JUV039150 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Special Needs
JUV004000 - Juvenile Fiction | Biographical | General
Library of Congress categories
Artists
People with disabilities
Deaf
JUVENILE NONFICTION / Biography & Autobiograp
Castle, James
JUVENILE NONFICTION / Art / Drawing
JUVENILE NONFICTION / Social Issues / Special
Schneider Family Book Award
Winner 2018 - 2018

Subscribe to our delicious e-newsletter!