The River Speaks

Twelve-year-old Roman Avery finds solace in the creek behind his family's house—the one place where his selective mutism doesn't make him feel broken. When his parents announce they're selling their home to move closer to a specialized school, Roman's carefully constructed world begins to crumble.

As moving day approaches, Roman discovers his mother's childhood journal buried by the creek bank, revealing a surprising connection between his mother's past and his present struggles. When a devastating flood threatens an elderly neighbor's life, Roman must find his voice both literally and figuratively.

At his new school, Roman navigates friendships with the enthusiastic Lily, the analytically brilliant Elijah, and other members of the river monitoring team. As he learns to bridge the waters of his past with his present, Roman discovers that his unique way of seeing the world has value—and that sometimes the quietest voices have the most important things to say.