The Loudest Silence

By: Sydney Langford

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

Sixteen-year-old Casey Kowalski once dreamed of becoming a professional singer. Then the universe threw her a life-altering curveball—sudden, permanent, and profound hearing loss—mere months before her family’s cross-country move from Portland to Miami. Now, faced with the dual challenges of starting over at a new high school and learning to navigate the world as a Deaf–Hard of Hearing person, Casey is mourning the loss of her music while trying to conceal her hearing loss from her new schoolmates.

Soccer captain Hayden González-Rossi is facing challenges of his own. Three generations of González men have risen to stardom on the soccer field, including Hayden’s older brother, who just became Inter Miami CF’s hottest new recruit. Hayden knows his family expects him to follow in their footsteps, but he has a secret: all he wants is to quit the soccer team 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 his family the truth.

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


"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, author of Okay, Cupid

“Comforting, authentic, and at times laugh out loud funny, The Loudest Silence 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, author of The Whispering Dark

“Witty and full of heart, The Loudest Silence 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

"Exploring expression through language and song, The Loudest Silence 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, author of Give Me a Sign