Sydney Langford hit it out of the park with their debut novel, The Loudest Silence!

This is a YA realistic fiction with duel POV for readers who love robust and diverse casts of characters, messy friendships, platonic love, and High School Musical.

16-year-old Casey has dreamed of becoming a professional singer. The universe had other plans for her, though - sudden, permanent, and profound hearing loss. Casey and her family are set to move across the country, and now she not only has to navigate starting at a new high school but she is also faced with learning to navigate the world as a Deaf-Hard of Hearing person.

Hayden, the new soccer team captain, is expected to follow in the footsteps of the three-generation fútbol legends in his family, including his older brother. Hayden is hiding a big secret, though. He wants to quit soccer to pursue his dreams of performing on Broadway. What is stopping him from sharing this with others? His Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

Both Casey and Hayden are determined to hide who they truly are, even from those closest to them. After their paths cross at school, however, they begin to bond over a shared love for music and, though maybe reluctantly at first (at least for Casey), learn how to support and encourage each other.

The Loudest Silence is a new and unique YA contemporary story that brings together themes of grief, friendship, found family, and self-discovery. I absolutely adored this novel! From cover to cover, it carries readers through an emotional roller coaster of messy teens trying to find themselves in the world. 

The cast of characters is just delightful, too! Readers get to see so many of them open up throughout the book, and the friendships that formed into found family truly warmed my heart. 

While I am reading this book from an adult reader's lens, I know it will be one that many teen readers will see themselves in with its diverse cast of characters, strong conversations about difficult topics, and big dreams.