Muted

Kennan has been chained in his parents’ attic, held prisoner for over thirty years. Having been born a disfigured mute, he has been caged in order to protect him from “a world that he can never be a part of.” When his mother dies, his brother, Karl, moves into the house with his wife and two daughters and becomes Kennan’s caretaker. For a year, Karl’s wife, Diane, puts up with her “retard” brother-in-law. But when she tires of the situation, she delivers her ultimatum: Karl’s family or his brother. Who will Karl choose? And will Kennan ever be free? Until the family secret is released, the Wesley’s will forever be Muted.

This novel was inspired by my uncle, Kenny Shown. My uncle was a wonderful, kind, intelligent, practical jokester who lived with down syndrome. Throughout his life, I noticed his insecurities in interacting with others. He noticed the sneering faces and pointing fingers, and they made him uncomfortable. I longed to give him a voice. I felt that if only he could talk then he wouldn't be subject to such ridicule, that he could at least complain. It was my longing to give my uncle a voice that inpsired this novel. While Muted is entirely fiction, my aim in this book was to give Kennan Wesley, and people like him a voice, a chance to be seen as more than a disability or disfigurement, a chance to be normal, if only for a moment.