Hush book review

In a community that prides itself on tradition and following the ways of G-d, how do you deal with enemies from within?

Silence.

Hush by Eishes Chayil, provides a window into a community where ‘dirty laundry’--secrets and family problems--are best left buried in the closet. In such a world, what happens to those who cry out and are silenced? What happens to the witnesses who survive but are scared to speak up? This is a story friendship and betrayal; family and criminals; regret and courage; silence and voice.

Devory and Gittel have been best friends since birth. They go to school together, play together, and even dream of getting married on the same day. But when they’re nine-years-old, Gittel discovers a horrible secret about her best friend: she’s being molested at home. Devory tries to reach out to Gittel, but Gittel believes such things don’t happen to their people and refuses to truly listen to her friend.

Gittel has lived nearly a decade in regret after Devory was driven to suicide and must decide whether or not to become a ‘traitor’ in her community and speak up about Devory’s murder or let her friend’s memory die.

Hush is gripping, thought-provoking, and engaging; it’s a book you will begin reading and not put down until you’ve reached the very last page. The book explores issues in a community not often written about in fiction novels. Hush is based on experiences witnessed by the author, who has written this book under a pseudonym. If you’re looking for a realistic fiction book with a unique plot and characters you will come to care about, don’t miss out on this read!