The Loudest Silence

Coming July 30, 2024 from Holiday House

Two disabled, queer teens find belonging in this poignant platonic love story about singing, signing, and solidarity.

Casey Kowalski once dreamed of becoming a professional singer. Then the universe threw her a life-altering curveball—sudden, permanent, and profound hearing loss—just before her family’s move from Portland to Miami. Now, she’s learning to navigate the world as a Deaf-Hard of Hearing person while trying to conceal her hearing loss from her new schoolmates.

Hayden González-Rossi is also keeping secrets. Three generations of González men have risen to stardom on the soccer field, and Hayden knows his family expects him to follow in their footsteps, but he wants to quit soccer and pursue a career on Broadway. If only his Generalized Anxiety Disorder didn’t send him into a debilitating spiral over the thought of telling the truth.

Casey and Hayden are both determined to hide who they really are. But when they cross paths at school, they bond over their shared love of music and their mutual feeling that they don’t belong, and the secrets come spilling out. Their intimate friendship is the beating heart of this dual-POV story featuring thoughtful disability representation, nuanced queer identities, and a lovably quirky supporting cast.

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  • Cover illustration: Jacqueline Li Cover design: Chelsea Hunter

    ALT (credit to Sydney Langford): Cover of THE LOUDEST SILENCE by Sydney Langford. Medium purple curtains flow down the sides & the background is ombré curtains: lavender to baby pink to light orange. At the bottom, a purple stage & dark purple audience, who raise hands for ASL clapping & form “I love you” signs.

    Main characters are onstage. Hayden on the left, on a lavender stool. He has brown curly hair, tan skin, hazel eyes, freckles, silver braces. He’s in a pink soccer jersey, khaki shorts, & white cleats. He’s playing a guitar with stickers: a green iguana, a heart with asexual pride colors, Cuban & Italian flags, a soccer ball, a palm tree.

    Casey’s standing on the right, singing into a mic. She has pale skin, wavy brown hair, & blue eyes. Shes in a white crop top, a navy blue button up with pink & purple ASL letters, jean shorts, brown boots.

    Above them ‘THE LOUDEST SILENCE’ is in plum purple letters. ‘The’ & ‘Silence’ are in a blocky font, ‘Loudest’ in a calligraphy font. Sydney Langford is in baby pink blocky font at the bottom.

  • This novel includes themes and/or depictions of anxiety attacks, ableism, cyberbullying, and grief (non-death related).

Preorder The Loudest Silence!

Note: More preorder links will be added as they become available

Praise for The Loudest Silence:

  • “Langford highlights social & accessibility issues Casey faces, including auditory fatigue & ableism, alongside Hayden’s realization that he’s struggled with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Her embrace of Deaf identity & culture is a welcome and important touchstone of her journey. The friendship between acerbic, tough, bisexual Casey and soft-hearted, earnest, aroace Hayden is sweetly and unconditionally loving as well as refreshing, given the relative scarcity of portrayals of boy-girl friendships.”

    Kirkus Reviews

  • "In Sydney Langford's "The Loudest Silence," prepare to embark on a heart-warming journey through the power of found family, queerplatonic love, and the magic of music. Through moments of laughter, tears, and deep connection, Langford crafts a story that resonates long after the final page. Heartfelt and hilarious, this book is sure to strike a chord with readers."

    Aiden Thomas - #1 NYT-bestselling author of Cemetery Boys and The Sunbearer Trials

  • “The Loudest Silence is a sweet, poignant, beautiful story about friendship, finding your people, and the true meaning of home. A debut that will make so many readers feel seen.”

    Rachael Lippincott - New York Times-bestselling author of She Gets the Girl

  • “Hilarious and heartfelt, Langford has crafted a story that will mean so much to so many readers. A story of friendship and loss that will tear your heart to pieces before stitching it back together. A stunning debut from a much-needed voice.”

    Mason Deaver - bestselling author of Okay, Cupid

  • “Exploring expression through language and song, TLS will make your heart sing. Sydney Langford crafts a delightfully captivating story that doesn’t shy away from the realities of grief and change.”

    Anna Sortino - award-winning author of Give Me a Sign

  • “A witty and nuanced debut! The Loudest Silence is an extraordinarily crafted love song to language, grief, vulnerability, and finding community. With a captivating voice and poignant storytelling, Sydney Langford is destined to become a new favorite for many readers.”

    Julian Winters - award-winning author of Right Where I Left You

  • “Comforting, authentic, and at times laugh out loud funny, TLS deals with facing your fears and finding your people through music and language. Langford handles themes of friendship, acceptance, and grief with a deft hand, delivering both a poignant look into the Deaf experience and a compelling depiction of platonic love. The distinct voices of this dual-POV debut make for a heartwarming read—one that is not to be missed by fans of contemporary YA."

    Kelly Andrew - New York Times-bestselling author of Your Blood, My Bones

  • “With The Loudest Silence, Sydney Langford has written a brilliant, perceptive story that beams with wit, compelling characters to root for, and the resolute and heartfelt journey of pursuing and rediscovering one’s passions.”

    Christina Li - award-winning author of True Love and Other Imposible Odds

  • “Witty and full of heart, TLS is a genuine portrayal of what it's like to become disabled at the same time you're trying to find your way in the world. Langford approaches the narrative and their characters with an abundance of empathy that is present in every page. A lovely debut.”

    Lillie Lainoff - author of One For All

 Resources

Disclaimer: these resources are for informational purposes only. Author is not responsible for the content, accuracy, or applicability of resource websites’ information or materials.

Art + Mood Boards:

  • Cred: @Alilyushka

  • Cred: Sarah Street

  • Cred: @Kiwadaki.art

  • Cred: Bhavna Madan

  • Cred: Layla Noor

  • Cred: Bhavna Madan