Chelsea Knot has the perfect life for a sophomore in high school. Well known by the jocks, she and her best friend Kristen are the most popular girls in the high school. In celebration of New Years, Kristen throws a party at her house inviting just about everyone at school. With the hum of rumors, secrets, and drunken teens, Chelsea in her haste to use the guest bathroom discovers Noah Beckett, a classmate from school, all over some other guy. Before she realizes it, she tells everyone at the party that Noah Beckett is gay.

Because of her actions, Noah is later found unconscious and is hospitalized. Now, after her so-called friends make her an outsider, and with Noah's health constantly in the back of her mind, she takes a vow of silence. She now knows the secrets that she does not keep end badly for that person.

Chelsea takes a sense of comfort during her school day going to art class, knowing none of her old friends even thought of taking the class. Just as Chelsea settles into the class on the first day of her vow, her mood abruptly changes when Sam Weston, Noah's best friend, walks into the class. With no other seats available, he has no choice but to sit next to Chelsea. With her luck, they are assigned as partners. Chelsea wonders if Sam will blame her for Noah's injuries.

When I first started reading SPEECHLESS, I disliked Chelsea. She would not be my choice of a friend. I would not even want to meet her at school. Once she told everyone Noah's secret, I wanted to shut the book, but I didn't. I am glad I didn't because I like the person Chelsea becomes during her vow of silence. She begins to find her true self and not the person her so-called friends wanted her to be. I was able to connect better with her once she began to learn what true friendship is and finding herself, all without saying a word. I couldn't put SPEECHLESS, by Hannah Harrington, down until I finished. There is something to be learned between the covers of this attention-grabbing story.