School has always been Ian's sanctuary.  No matter what happened at home he could be somebody else at school.  Somebody who didn't have problems at home.  He didn't have divorced parents and he didn't have an autistic brother.  Until now.

SCREAMING QUIETLY is the story of Ian Taylor.  He is a varsity football player and dating one of the hottest cheerleaders in school.  Life is good for Ian at school until his mom  tells him that his brother Davey is going to be going to Adams High school. What? This can't be! Davey is going to be going to the same school as Ian? Nothing will ever be the same for Ian.  No one at school knows about Davey.  Ian has never told anyone about his autistic brother.  What if he has an episode and all his friends see him kicking and screaming and hitting? How is Ian going to survive this?

Ian's mom Melissa is trying the best she can.  Since she divorced Ian's dad she has dated some guys but once they get too close she pushes them away.  Ian realizes he is the exact same way.  He won't let his girlfriend Jessica into his inner circle.  He doesn't tell her about Davey.  He doesn't want her to know.  Every time after a game, she wants to meet his family and Ian always comes up with an excuse.  Ian feels like no one cares about him and every time he tries to talk to his mom or dad about it, they get a phone call and basically blow him off.  

One day after being dismissed by his dad, Ian leaves his Dad's house and just starts walking.  He has no idea where he is going and soon he is lost.   He is in a bad area and he gets jumped by some thugs.  He manages to get away and right after Jessica calls him and tells him she will come and pick him up.  After that, Ian spills his guts to Jessica.  He tells her all about Davey, even though she already knew.  He told her about his Dad and his Mom. About football and how it is the only thing he is good at and how he is hoping to get a scholarship from it so he can go to college.  He is afraid that if he isn't a big football star then she would want nothing to do with him.   She  is understandably angry at how he feels about her.  It is the farthest thing from the truth.

After his meltdown, life gets better for him.  SCREAMING QUIETLY was a very quick read and I learned a lot about dealing with a person who is autistic.  It isn't easy, but that doesn't mean it's bad or that you have to be ashamed.  Once Ian owns up to who is family his life gets much easier.  I enjoyed how the author, Evan Jacobs, wrote about a difficult situation.  He handles it with much heart and soul.