Our blog doesn’t just deal with HIV and AIDS related topics but we also try to provide some books, podcasts, documentaries or TV shows which we have found particularly inspiring four our on line project. And “I hope you’re listening” book, by Tom Ryan, is one of those.
I hope you’re listening: the plot
We quote the entire plot from on line book stores:
In her small town, seventeen year-old Delia “Dee” Skinner is known as the girl who wasn’t taken. Ten years ago, she witnessed the abduction of her best friend, Sibby. And though she told the police everything she remembered, it wasn’t enough. Sibby was never seen again. At night, Dee deals with her guilt by becoming someone else: the Seeker, the voice behind the popular true crime podcast Radio Silent, which features missing persons cases and works with online sleuths to solve them. Nobody knows Dee’s the Seeker, and she plans to keep it that way. When another little girl goes missing, and the case is linked to Sibby’s disappearance, Dee has a chance to get answers, with the help of her virtual detectives and the intriguing new girl at school. But how much is she willing to reveal about herself in order to uncover the truth? Dee’s about to find out what’s really at stake in unraveling the mystery of the little girls who vanished.
This book inspired us for an idea about our fictional talking virus investigating anonymously to solve cold cases, through a podcast and we’re gradually developing it.
Our impressions about the book
We bought it one morning after reading a brief introduction on a blog and finished it three days later. Let’s admit it, we behaved like kids with candies, seduced by the plot involving podcasts, mysteries, child abductions, and above all, because its author is sensitive to LGBT+ issues being gay himself.
We didn’t pay too much attention to its category (“young adult”) so our expectations, while reading, were somewhat disappointed, but in the end it doesn’t matter because we enjoyed it anyway.
Don’t expect to find characters delving deep into their emotions and narrating their stories like in Angela Marsons’ “The Silent Scream.” We won’t get a detailed psychological profile of the antagonist or a deep dive into the kidnapped victim’s feelings. Instead, the story centers on Delia “Dee” Skinner and her quest to atone for her guilt towards her kidnapped friend, Sibyl “Sibby” Carmichael.
There are moments when things feel a bit too convenient. For instance, when Delia brings her girlfriend to the annual dance event at school, no one protested. No homophobic teacher or director. Quite abnormal, in our opinion.
Conclusion
The podcast’s story is simply amazing. A young girl, so aware and savvy, harnesses the power of social media to help others. And it’s those same people who come to her rescue when she’s in dire need.
We’re tired of the countless crime books that demonize the internet and portray teenagers in a negative light. “I hope you’re listening” is a refreshing change, showcasing the positive side of online communities.
We’re big fans of Tom Ryan and wonder if there’s a chance for a continuation of Radio Silent. Imagine the protagonist and her followers investigating complex cases! It’s a fantastic concept with endless possibilities. While we doubt it will happen, there’s no harm in dreaming.
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