Jordon Greene’s ‘Every Word You Never Said’ Deserves the Big Screen
With many book-to-film adaptations out there, choosing which ones to adapt can take time. Success, popularity, or the author’s appeal often play a role, but Jordon Greene’s Every Word You Never Said stands out as a strong candidate due to its compelling plot, representation, and more.
It’s the Plot!
Every Word You Never Said tells the emotional story of two teenage boys, Skylar and Jacob, who are both dealing with struggles. Skylar, who is mute, has recently been adopted by a new family and is starting over at a new school. Unfortunately, he becomes a target for bullies, not just because he can’t speak but also because he wears skirts. Skylar’s choice to express himself through his clothing isn’t accepted by many of his classmates, making his school life even harder. Jacob, on the other hand, lives in a strict, religious household where his father disapproves of almost everything he does. Whether it’s playing in a punk band, painting his nails, or being openly gay, Jacob constantly faces criticism at home. When Skylar and Jacob meet, their connection changes everything. However, their happiness is threatened when Jacob’s father runs for town congressman. His platform focuses on traditional values, and one of his first actions is to change the school’s dress code, targeting students like Skylar and restricting their self-expression. This creates tension not only at school but also in Skylar and Jacob’s relationship.
Every Word You Never Said fits into the genres of young adult literature, romance, and gay fiction. While many books in these categories are often written by female authors, who bring distinct perspectives to LGBTQ+ stories, this novel stands out as it’s written by a male author, Jordon Greene. Greene has experience in this genre, having written other LGBTQ+ books, bringing his voice to the growing collection of young adult fiction.
Representation
The representation in Every Word You Never Said is excellently done, bringing different identities and experiences into the story in a natural way. One of the best parts is how the author focuses on LGBTQ+ characters and their stories. Even though there are more queer books being written and read nowadays, they can still be hard to find and don’t always get the attention they deserve. Greene’s book is special because it puts LGBTQ+ characters at the center and makes their stories feel real and important.
Along with LGBTQ+ themes, Greene also explores other crucial issues like disability and mental health, adding depth to the characters. Skylar, one of the main characters, is mute and struggles with trauma that affects his mental health. His story shows the challenges that people with disabilities face, especially the feeling that others either pity them or treat them differently because of their condition. Skylar feels torn between being treated like a child and being seen as a “freak,” which reflects how society often treats people who don’t fit the norm.
Then there’s Jacob, who struggles with his father’s strict religious beliefs, making him feel like an outsider in his own family. This conflict is something many LGBTQ+ readers can relate to, as they often face rejection or misunderstanding from family members. Greene does a great job demonstrating Jacob’s pain and how difficult it can be to deal with these kinds of issues. By exploring these topics, LGBTQ+ identity, disability, mental health, and family struggles, Greene doesn’t just include diverse characters but also shows why their stories matter.
Personal Message
Jordan Greene shared on Instagram that he began writing Every Word You Never Said—which is part of his Noahverse book series—because of his experience growing up in a fundamentalist religious family, which he described as a cult. He talked about how growing up in that environment was painful, and writing these stories became a way for him to expose that pain while also offering hope. Finding support from those close to people can be difficult in such situations, and it seems that Greene wanted to send a message to others like him, as well as the characters in his books, that hope and acceptance are possible.
In Every Word You Never Said, Skylar enjoys wearing skirts, even though he has strange looks and rude comments because of them. However, his story is one of love and support. His family embraces him for who he is, and his small group of friends stands by him. Similarly, Jacob’s family may not be accepting of him being gay, but he finds support from his friends at school, showing that even when a family falls short, there are others who can lift you up. Through these stories, Greene seems to be sending a message to readers who may feel like outsiders: even when the people closest don’t offer the love and acceptance they deserve, others are out there who will. These characters reflect a journey of discovering where true belonging lies and realizing that change isn’t required to be worthy of love and support. Greene’s writing not only exposes the harm caused by intolerance but also shines a light on the possibility of hope, acceptance, and chosen family.
Conclusion
This book should be adapted into a film because of the powerful representation and the important message it conveys. Greene wasn’t afraid to tackle difficult topics, knowing they needed more visibility. Themes like sexuality, religion, politics, and homophobia often get overlooked in mainstream discussions. By bringing these themes to the screen, the hope is that the film will capture more attention and encourage people to engage in these crucial conversations. Every Word You Never Said is both captivating and well-written, offering valuable insights into topics that deserve more attention, all skillfully explored by Jordan Greene.
Find Every Word You Never Said at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Books-a-Million, Bookshop, Blackwell, Indigo, Booktopia, Scribd, iTunes, Kobo, Spotify, Waterstones, Target, and Walmart.
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Author
Janaye is a graduate student at Rowan University, pursuing a degree in Writing Arts. She previously earned her bachelor's degree in the same field, specializing in creative writing and public publishing.
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Janaye T Robertshttps://deadtalknews.com/author/janayetroberts/
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Janaye T Robertshttps://deadtalknews.com/author/janayetroberts/
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Janaye T Robertshttps://deadtalknews.com/author/janayetroberts/
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Janaye T Robertshttps://deadtalknews.com/author/janayetroberts/
Elke Simmons' writing portfolio includes contributions to The Laredo Morning Times, Walt Disney World Eyes and Ears, Extinction Rebellion (XR) News/Blog, and Dead Talk News.
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Elke D. Simmonshttps://deadtalknews.com/author/elke-d-simmons/
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Elke D. Simmonshttps://deadtalknews.com/author/elke-d-simmons/