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Dr. Gordana Smith, DAOM, is the author of Book of the Silenced: a fearless work of literary nonfiction that confronts the moral, spiritual, and human cost of modern medicine when truth is inconvenient and suffering is dismissed.
A holistic primary care physician and the founder of Phoenix Rises Acupuncture, Dr. Smith brings rare authority to her writing rooted equally in clinical practice, lived trauma, and rigorous moral inquiry. Her work is shaped by a life marked by war, displacement, motherhood, and prolonged immersion in healthcare systems that too often confuse protocol with care.
Her Book of the Silenced is a witness account written from inside the fire, composed between hospital rooms, legal battles, and moments where faith itself had to be interrogated to survive. With uncompromising clarity and lyrical restraint, Dr. Smith exposes the collision between institutional medicine and the sacred responsibility to protect life, while asking the questions most are trained not to ask: What happens when expertise eclipses humility? When systems protect themselves before the vulnerable? When silence becomes policy?
Her voice is exacting and unsentimental—at once clinical and prophetic—refusing both despair and easy redemption. Readers encounter a narrative that does not seek pity or absolution, but insists on presence, accountability, and truth. The result is a work that resonates deeply with clinicians, caregivers, parents, and anyone who has sensed that something essential has gone missing in the spaces where healing is supposed to occur.
Reviewed by Carol Thompson for Readers' Favorite
Book of the Silenced by Gordana Smith tells the story of a mother, her son Mikey, and a long struggle that unfolds across continents and hospitals, spanning years of uncertainty. The narrative begins with the author’s early life in war-torn Bosnia. As the war reshapes her world, she grows into adulthood, carrying the marks of those years while searching for purpose and stability. She meets an American soldier named Larry, and their relationship leads her to a new life in the United States. Their son, Mikey, was born after what once seemed an impossible pregnancy. As Mikey grows up, he is portrayed as curious, thoughtful, and unusually compassionate. The story changes dramatically after a minor incident involving a rescued kitten leads to an infection that begins to affect his health.
Gordana Smith merges memoir, storytelling, and reflection, moving between past and present. The pacing varies between quiet family moments and intense turning points, creating a rhythm that reflects the unpredictable nature of illness and recovery. Dialogue and personal memories add personality to the story, making the people feel real. Readers interested in memoirs centered on family bonds, spiritual reflection, and personal perseverance will find much to admire. The book may also appeal to those drawn to stories about medical journeys and the emotional world of caregiving. Through its personal perspective and carefully crafted scenes, Book of the Silenced tells a story of love, faith, and a family's resolve to speak when silence might seem easier. It’s an emotional and moving read that won’t be forgotten.
