The Silent Boy

The Silent Boy is set in turn-of-the-century 1900s America, a period when the term “neurodivergent” was not widely known or used. Today, we have a much different—and more nuanced—understanding of the various forms of neurodivergence in society, from dyslexia to ADHD to autism spectrum disorder.

How is Lowry’s portrayal of Jacob a reflection of this time? Reflect upon the character of Jacob: how other characters react to him, his own emotional depth, and his ultimate fate in the book. Would you consider Jacob to be a “bad” figure? What, perhaps, is left out in Lowry’s portrayal of Jacob?

Teaching Suggestion: Use this discussion as an opportunity to help students understand how the portrayal of Jacob must be viewed through two key contextual lenses: the fact that The Silent Boy is historical fiction set in the 1900s, and the fact that the book was published in 2003. Lowry’s portrayal of Jacob is mostly that of a tragic figure, though not necessarily a “bad” one. That said, the conversation around neurodivergence and/or autism was different in the early 2000s, and Jacob is not portrayed by Lowry as someone with full, emotional depth. For further background and context, teachers may want to read School Library Journal’s “