Silent Sam

Selective Mutism is a childhood anxiety disorder where children consistently remain silent in certain social situations, despite being able to speak freely in others.

Sam is a 6 year old boy who enjoys playing sports and spending time with his family. He recently started elementary school in hopes of making new friends, playing at recess, and exploring his new classroom. But after only the first week, Sam began to discover his inability to speak. At lunch, he didn't have the courage to sit with his classmates. During recess, he played basketball alone. In group activities, he sat in complete silence while the other children talked and bonded. Over time, the other children started calling him "Silent Sam". This made Sam feel very embarrassed and lonely.

Fortunately, although Sam can't speak at school, at home, his personality is the complete opposite. He is energetic, jubilant, and can express himself freely around his parents. However, once he walks out the door, he becomes a different person: quiet, anxious, and unsure.

Feeling miserable one night, Sam has a dream. In the dream, he encounters other children struggling to talk in school, similar to him. This ultimately sparks a newfound hope in Sam and a powerful feeling of belonging. After Sam wakes up, he begins his journey through highs and lows with his loved ones by his side, in hopes of conquering the anxiety disorder of Selective Mutism.



About the Author

A.C. Lee is a 17 year old high school student who shares a personal connection with Selective Mutism, having had it through preschool and elementary school. As a young child, A.C. struggled to speak in many different social situations, primarily in school. He refused to speak to anybody, though he really desired to on the inside. All he wanted was to make new friends and feel comfortable around individuals not in his family.

On the other hand, at home, his personality was the complete opposite. He was jubilant, humorous, and enjoyed having conversations with his parents and sister. However, every time he stepped out the door into the outside world, he became mute everywhere he went. A.C. dedicates this book to his family and his therapists, who were by his side and never stopped believing in him even during times where it seemed like a full recovery was impossible.