Unspoken Stories

This book reveals the inner worlds of non-speaking young people with intellectual disabilities. Drawing on many months of immersive observation of Cassie and Owen, two young people living in a specialist residential school, author Beverley Samways reveals the emotional depth and intelligence often overlooked in ' behaviour' , showing that when we truly listen - beyond speech - we can discover rich inner worlds and the profound human need for connection. Eschewing formal academic approaches, she instead uses ethnography and narrative non-fiction to offer a tender, beautifully written journey into Cassie and Owen' s emotional, sensory and relational worlds. Exploring how feelings can pass between people non-verbally, shaping behaviour and relationships, and how adults must hold and process these emotions carefully for a young person to feel safe, she challenges the systems intended to support these individuals, and reimagines what it means to listen to those who so often go unheard. Featuring cover artwork by Nnena Kalu, winner of the 2025 Turner Prize.