Quiet as Mud

We need more books about introverts and/or non-verbal kids, but this one was not it for me.

On the plus side: The writing when the kid talks about themselves resonated heavily with me, for example “I just like to hear the world spin by / and the songs that the rocks all sing. / I like to think of words that could go along / and the heavy way the winds all ring. / It makes me happy to hear my heart beat, / with its own steady thud-thud-thud.” This is how I experienced the world as a child and still do to this day. :) I also like that the kid is distracted and that their plate is still full while everyone else has finished or almost finished their plate. That was a nice touch :)

On the other side: The first part of writing was less uninspired and sometimes grammatically off, I didn't like the art style, and the design of the text was bad, with the text too small and crammed into corners. Please make the text bigger!

Also, some of the metaphors didn't make sense to me (the snail on a crate?), and too much of the book was about the perception of others about this kid, and not enough about this kid's inner world (only the second half). Also, I'm not sure what to think about the entire family being in the mud at the end... Is it supposed to show the approval of the mud-lover kid? The fact that everyone is in the mud removes the uniqueness of the kid, and that's not how I would prefer to show acceptance and support from the family.

Also, I'm confused about the garden. Do people cross through the pond to go to the gate? The rocks seem slippery... Do they go around? Then why is there not a path around or... mud from repeated foot steps. It boggles me.

Well, I like reading books from this publisher, as they often highlight less marketed topics and marginalized characters, so I will continue. Thank you!

I received a free ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.