I was looking forward to reading this book about a young girl with autism because I am a teacher who has had students with various learning differences through the years. I always want to learn more and find books I can share in my classroom. However, the main reason I picked this book is my own nephew has autism. You see 19 years ago my brother and sister adopted a special needs baby who as he grew up we saw that he looked at things differently than other children. After many doctors and testing, sometime when he was in grade school he was diagnosed as autistic. Unlike Jaxon the 12-year-old girl in the story, my nephew is not mute but he does have many of the other characteristics of Jaxon.

Jaxon MacKenzie lives with her grandparents and cannot talk but does read though no one realizes it. Her grandparents are very loving and supportive. Her grandfather tells her the story of his childhood friend, Oliver who dies in the greatest train wreck in American history. Jaxon loves her grandfather and his stories.

In her grandfather’s parlor is an old painting that one night as she is looking at it the children in the picture pull her into their world. They all quickly become friends and Jaxon realizes that something is going on because Dewey, one of the boys has her same last name. She also begins to wonder about Oliver, as he is also black like her grandfather’s friend. She works with them and a girl, helping around the farm but becomes worried when Oliver leaves on a train for a job. She realizes this is the same train her grandfather told her about and that it is going to wreck. She is determined to save Oliver and her new found friends help.

This was a great historical adventure story. Mary Calhoun Brown made the characters interesting and children will enjoy this story and it will help them to understand others who might be different than they are. I plan to read it to my nephew.

Caution: in the second chapter, p. 21, Jaxon’s mother makes a brief appearance and uses the word “hell”. It is used to show how she does not care for Jaxon but as some autistic children repeat things obsessively I will be leaving that word out as I read it to my nephew.

Reviewed on 03/12/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Janice Hidey

There Are No Words

BY: Mary Calhoun Brown

PUBLISHED BY: Lucky Press, LLC

PUBLISHED IN: 2010

ISBN: 978-09776300-2-8

Pages: 127

Ages: YA & Up

Reviewed by Billy Burgess

“There Are No Words” tells the story of a 12-year-old autistic girl named Jaxon McKenzie. She is mute, but she secretly loves to read. After her father passed away, her mother left her to be raised by her grandparents.

Late one night, Jaxon went downstairs to look at the painting her uncle had made. The painting of a path in the woods with two small figures in the background. One of the figures moves closer. The figure is of a girl. The girl whispers, “Come with us. We’ve been waiting for you.”

Jaxon reaches out for the girl and steps into the painting. She is now out of her time and somehow able to talk. She befriends Sara, Dewey and Oliver. Soon she learns that she is in the year 1918. The year of the great train wreck.

“There Are No Words,” is a fun, exciting adventure. Author Mary Calhoun Brown has created a wonderful tale surrounded by actual events. The book includes a reader’s guide for parents and teachers. Children and adults will easily connect with the main character, Jaxon. I enjoyed reading the book and recommend it to anyone who likes historical fiction.

Reviewed on 02/11/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Billy Burgess

 There are no words

By: Susan Pettrone

Jaxton MacKenzie is a mute.  She lives in a small town with her grandparents, her mother having left her there under the auspices of not being able to care for her or perhaps not caring for a daughter who is mute. But not is all that it seems with Jaxton, she is a literate child, in fact, she doesn't even remember NOT knowing how to read. She listens intently to those around her who usually ignore her as if she weren't there except for her grandparents Sarah and Dewey MacKenzie.

Jaxton is exceptionally attached to her Grandfather, Dewey MacKenzie. There is a bond between them that cannot be denied and it grows even deeper as her grandfather tells her tales of his childhood. Though most of the tales are happy ones, one in particular, is especially sad and touches Jaxton's heart. It is the day her grandfather's best friend Oliver Pack was saved and 121 persons killed with 57 injured in one of the worst train collisions in history. Though Oliver was a negro, and his friendship with Dewey was frowned upon by many, it was a deep sincere friendship and Dewey never forgot the day his friend died with others on their way to word at a gunpowder plant.

Jaxton spends much of her day wandering, humming to herself or just absorbing the world around her. One day as she lay on the couch looking at a painting her uncle had painted, she thinks she sees movement. But that can't be! Paintings can't move. One night though, Jaxton cannot sleep and she creeps downstairs to look at her uncles painting that she likes so well. But the painting has changed. Not only is the sky a deeper blue but there is a girl in the painting who says, "Come with us, we've been waiting for you." reaches out her hand and Jaxton steps into the painting and into another time altogether.

Jaxton finds herself thrust back into time to the era where Sarah, Dewey and Oliver spend their days in 1918 enjoying each others company. But that is not the best part of the travel Jaxton has made. She finds she can speak since stepping through the painting. She is thrilled to be able to communicate with her new friends and though she enjoys their time together, she is troubled with knowledge that is just beyond her grasp of comprehending. She knows something is going to happen but she hasn't quite put the pieces together yet.

As time goes on, the day comes when Oliver and his cousin George Scott board the train to go to the gunpowder plant to work. Jaxton helps Sarah with a heavy heart prepare sandwiches for them, all the time, knowing that if they board that train, they will die in the crash. Saying Good-bye to Oliver and George, it suddenly comes to Jaxton that this is the very train that Oliver will die in, that Dewey is her grandfather and Sarah her Grandmother. She knows she cannot let Oliver die, so she makes her way onto the train to convince him to leave before it is too late. As she is a white girl, she makes quite a scene when she goes through the all black cars. As these things always do, the children are caught by Mr. Corbitt who asks for their tickets, stalling for time, they spy a grassy place alongside the track and they jump. But what about Oliver? They can't leave him after all they've been through.

Jaxton and Dewey begin to run as though their lives depended upon it. But it isn't their lives, it is the life of their friend Oliver. Dewey reaches the train first but is hurt trying to grab hold of the back of the train and Jaxton takes over the lead, reaching the back of the train only to see Oliver reach out his hand to her to help her aboard. Instead, Jaxton grabs Olliver and with a mighty heave, pulls him from the train. Moments later, they hear the sound of a mighty crash and they know instinctively there has been a crash. They rush to the wreck and begin to help as best they can. But it is a disaster like none they have ever seen. The wooden cars which housed the negroes are all but gone. Blood and gore are everywhere and there seems as though there will be no one left alive. Mr. Corbitt was found amongst the rubble and declared dead, only to revive hours later on the morticians table. It was a miracle and though he later lost his leg, he commented, "Better than losing' my life!"

This book is one that makes the reader look at lives of others I a whole different light while it adds a bit of whimsy and “what if” to round it out. I suggest this book for readers of all ages, and especially those who want a more positive book about autism than they have previously read. It is a “keeper” in every sense of the word.

Reviewed on 02/04/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Susan Pettrone

“There Are No Words” is a poignant story of a 12 year old girl autistic girl, Jaxon. Although she is unable to speak , she possess the secret that she can read. Living with her grandparents, Jaxon stumbles upon an old newspaper clipping that yellowed, describing the greatest train wreck that America has ever seen. Jaxon soon notices that her grandfathers best friend was among the dead. Unable to rid her mind of the event she read off Jaxon finds herself in the painting that has often entranced her. Now in year of 1918 she finds herself able to speak, Jaxon sets off on a mission to save her grandpa’s friend. Meeting three friends Hale, Dewey and Oliver, Jaxon must save the life of the man who means so much to the man who means so much her. Will see succeed?

Mary Calhoun Brown has provided a voice for the voiceless, in this riveting tale that draws attention to the plight of autism. An epic story that touches the heart “There Are No Words” is truly a story of love and devotion. With actual family photo’s scattered throughout the book and a carefully crafted story Mary Calhoun Brown has given “There Are No Words”, a heart beat of its own. The perfect blend of history and fiction, I would recommend this book to everyone.

Reviewed on 01/16/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Angela Simmons