After Zero by Christina Collins

I was kind of iffy about reading this one because I'm supposed to be working on finishing my Popsugar Challenge, and this isn't one of the four books I still have to read. But I'm sooo glad I did!

Blurb from Goodreads:

Elise carries a notebook full of tallies, each page marking a day spent at her new public school, each stroke of her pencil marking a word spoken. A word that can't be taken back. Five tally marks isn't so bad. Two is pretty good. But zero? Zero is perfect. Zero means no wrong answers called out in class, no secrets accidentally spilled, no conversations to agonize over at night when sleep is far away.

But now months have passed, and Elise isn't sure she could speak even if she wanted to—not to keep her only friend, Mel, from drifting further away—or to ask if anyone else has seen her English teacher's stuffed raven come to life. Then, the discovery of a shocking family secret helps Elise realize that her silence might just be the key to unlocking everything she's ever hoped for...

I could relate to Elise so much! I have never been diagnosed with selective mutism, but I was (and still am) painfully shy, and I can see how the demands of 1) public school after years of homeschooling and 2) middle school (!!!) could trigger Elise in this way. A very sour home life also means no support for Elise outside of school, My description makes this book sound terribly depressing, but Elise does find a new friend, and the magic realism sprinkled throughout makes her journey more hopeful. 

I did find Elise's mother problematic. She's mourning, but she's also been, at best, a neglectful parent. Not in terms of food and clothing and shelter, but emotionally. Frankly, I was surprised by the turn of events at the end of the novel. Let's just say that everything seems a lot more hopeful all around, but it felt a bit flimsy. 

On the other hand, I wanted Elise to have a happy ending! So I don't know, guys. I'm torn.

Have you read this book? What did you think?