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The Loud Silence of Francine Green Audiobook
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(3.04) - 491 listener ratings
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Francine lives down the street from a Hollywood film studio, adores screen dreamboat Montgomery Clift, and sometimes sees her home life as a scene from a movie: Dinner at the Greens. She wishes she were a movie star, brave and glamorous and always ready to say the right thing. In reality, she’s a “pink and freckled” thirteen-year-old, and she doesn’t speak up because she’s afraid she’ll get in trouble. She’s comfortable following her father’s advice: “Don’t get involved.” That is, until Sophie Bowman transfers into her class at All Saints School for Girls. Fearless, articulate, and passionate, Sophie questions authority and protests injustice. She not only doesn’t care about getting in trouble, she actually seems to be looking for it. And she’s happy to be Francine’s best friend. The nuns think Sophie is a bad influence on Francine. Francine thinks just the opposite. Because of Sophie, Francine finds herself worrying about things that never bothered her before–the atom bomb, free speech, Communists, the blacklist . . . and deciding, for the first time, that she wants to be heard.
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"I am always uncertain on how to rate a book. I liked this book very much, but I'm not sure how Junior High students will like it. I identified with the quiet girl who tried to fly under the radar and never get into trouble (and the conflict this caused in standing up with courage for things she belived to be right). The setting is the late 1940's and early 1950's during the Cold War and was a little before my time. Still I remember the duck and cover drills we had at school in case we were attacked by a nuclear bomb. (I am so old that my early memories are regarded as hisorical fiction!) The depiction of Catholic education during that time also rings true as attested to by my friend, Gladys, and my husband who both attended Catholic school in the early 60's. At any rate, I think that Junior High students will be able to relate to the misgivings, conflicts, and courage involved in standing up for individual rights and freedoms in a fearful and suspicious world environment."
— Jean (4 out of 5 stars)
The Loud Silence of Francine Green Listener Reviews
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" Especially loved the complexity of the characters in this one -- children and adults -- and the questions the main character struggles with. Reminded me a bit of a Judy Blume-type book (mostly in terms of theme, I guess), though I find I like Cushman's style better. "
— Renee, 2/14/2014 -
" I liked it because it was about a time period not written about very often (post-WWII). "
— Jess, 2/12/2014 -
" Really captured the fears, questions, and unknowns of the early 50's. Francine is a character you can readily identify with. "
— Mary, 1/29/2014 -
" This book is brilliant. It's quiet and heartbreaking and has fantastic voice. I loved it. I want to meet grown-up Francine and talk to her. "
— Lucy, 1/22/2014 -
" I really like Karen Cushman's style. One of my favorite authors of children's historical fiction. This one is quite different from her medieval stories, and I wasn't sure I'd like it after the first chapter or so, but it grew on me. About a girl living through the MacCarthy era, and how she learns to think for herself and stand up for what she thinks, and befriend others who are different. The non-conformity message sometimes seemed like just a "let's break the rules to show people we think for ourselves" message, which bugged me. I didn't love that Francine didn't stand up for her friend while she could, and then when at last she decided to face the teacher who'd bullied Sophie for asking rude questions, she didn't do it in a particularly meaningful way. But there was some great stuff, too, and I always admire her craft. "
— whalesister, 1/21/2014 -
" Interesting story which took place in 1949...in Hollywood going to school at a Catholic School where the nuns disprove of her friend and learning to think for herself. "
— Gina, 1/13/2014 -
" Well-written and historically accurate account of growing up in the cold war era. I found the characters to be likable and real. "
— Sharon, 1/2/2014 -
" I enjoyed the book, but again, if I were younger, would have enjoyed it more. "
— Jin, 1/1/2014 -
" I think I liked this book more than most people because it's not circulating much at my library... I try to hand it to people during the historical fiction assigments at the local schools. "
— Julie, 12/8/2013 -
" A funny book by a good author that really brings to life what it was like in the 50's going to a Catholic school and worrying about the bomb, communists, McCarthy,taking a stand, and growing up. "
— Linda, 12/7/2013 -
" The group decided this was a great book. The Red Scare during the 1950s in Hollywood is not well-known so it was interesting to learn about. "
— Lansing, 11/3/2013 -
" Took me a while to get into it but I was sad to see it end. "
— Suzanne, 8/18/2013 -
" I was thoroughly enjoying this book, but I became distracted by other books I was reading like The Bourne Identity (way too long) and Sold. Something about the days become shorter that makes me read less. "
— Rakisha, 3/29/2013 -
" WWII. Catholic girl leans to be more free from a free spirit. Mother's character is left hanging in the end. "
— Dana, 9/23/2012 -
" really well written about the perspective of young girl & how we were raised back then..... Ok, so I'm younger by a bit but it seems similar. "
— Deb, 7/9/2012 -
" Set during the beginning of the mccathy era, Francine Green begins to find her voice... "
— Kelly, 4/23/2012 -
" This book was really good! All about standing up for what you think is right, it made me feel lucky! I recommend it. "
— Posie, 12/31/2011 -
" I absolutely loved this book! It is about a girl living in Hollywood and going to Catholic school during the evil days of McCarthyism. There are many parallels that can be drawn with what is happening in our country today. "
— Nancy, 6/17/2011 -
" This book went on way too long. She was too idealistic and her friend was somewhat stereotypical anti-establishment. I found that hard to believe given their ages. "
— Kimberly, 5/22/2011 -
" Really captured the fears, questions, and unknowns of the early 50's. Francine is a character you can readily identify with. "
— Mary, 2/17/2011 -
" Covers an era that doesn't get a lot of YA coverage. "
— Renfrew, 10/8/2010 -
" I think this book illustrates the struggle that kids who conform to the rules of the family, school, and society experience and the subsequent upset when they have had enough. It was a good read, humorous at times, with likeable characters that I understood. "
— Felicia, 9/13/2010 -
" I liked this book. I don't know that another book would have been more deserving as a Newbery Winner, anyway, I'm glad I read it. If you can't tell I'm reading a great deal of juvenile literature right now, that is because my youngest daughter is teaching 7th grade and I'm doing research. "
— Catherine, 9/6/2010 -
" Interesting story which took place in 1949...in Hollywood going to school at a Catholic School where the nuns disprove of her friend and learning to think for herself. "
— Gina, 7/23/2010
About Karen Cushman
Karen Cushman is the author of many acclaimed historical novels including Catherine, Called Birdy, a Newbery Honor winner, and The Midwife’s Apprentice, which received the Newbery Medal.