The Silent One: The Moving Story of a Special Friendship

The Silent One is Jonasi, sent from the sea as a baby to grow up in an isolated Pacific village. Separated from the villagers by his silence and their prejudices, Jonasi finds solace in his underwater world where he develops a special relationship with a huge white turtle. However, the superstitious villagers see both Jonasi and the turtle as evil spirits. A series of natural disasters and a struggle for leadership within the village sweep Jonasi toward his strange destiny. On a Pacific island, a deaf-mute boy's devotion to a great white turtle provokes prejudice and the anger of a superstitious shaman. Unable to speak, Jonasi is blamed by superstitious villagers for the drought on their island. Suggested level: intermediate, junior secondary The story of Jonasi, sent from the sea as a baby to grow up in an isolated Pacific village. Separated from the villagers by his silence and their prejudices, Jonasi finds solace in his underwater world where he develops a special relationship with a huge white turtle.