Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for providing me with a free DRC in exchange for an honest review.

Inspired by true events, during the era of WWII, this poignant historical fiction written in verse tells the story of young Henry, the sister who loves him, and the conscientious objector who helps him. Henry was born an intelligent, healthy baby boy, however, around the age of four he fell ill. The illness would steal not only his hearing but also the world around him. Though Henry was intelligent and did well trying to be aware of language, he still needed to be formally educated. His family found a school for the deaf that could educate him, but due to his resistance to interact with strangers at all, the school refused to take him and labeled him “unteachable”. Therefore, Henry is sent to Riverview, an institution for the mentally disabled. Something Henry was not. And it would take the love of his sister and the kindness of Victor, a conscientious objector, for the truth of who Henry truly was to be revealed.

This was a very sweet and heartbreaking story. The author captures what children who lived in these facilities suffered through daily. As well as how many children didn’t belong there at all.The book also covers neglect and abuse at the hands of some of the workers at the institution. This is very much a middle grade book and the details are not graphic or disturbing. My only negative for this book is that it isn't very well written stylistically, yet the topic is interesting and engaging. I would definitely recommend this for middle schoolers who are interested in that particular time period.