# The Silent History — Groundbreaking digital novel > Groundbreaking digital novel about silent children with unique skills. (iPhone/iPad app by Sudden Oak.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-silent-history/id1034208751 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Sudden Oak](https://appshunter.io/developer/937995000) - Category: Entertainment, Books - Price: $2.99 - Rating: 4.43/5 from 7 App Store ratings · 2 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 12+ - Requires: iOS 10.3 · 48 MB - Languages: English - Released: 2015-10-09 - Data updated: 2026-06-10 - Monetization: paid - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-silent-history/id1034208751/reviews.md ## What is The Silent History? The groundbreaking digital novel, the story of a generation of unusual children — now updated and rebooted. One of Apple's Best Apps of the Year. “Entirely revolutionary.” —Wired. “Will change your reading experience forever.” —Buzzfeed. The Silent History is a groundbreaking innovation in digital fiction, the story of a generation of unusual children, told through serialization, collaboration, and exploration. “Entirely revolutionary.” —Wired “A landmark project that illuminates a possible future for e-book novels.” —LA Times In the early years of the 21st century, doctors begin to notice more and more children being born with a strange condition: silence. No speech, no comprehension, and soon a complete lack of engagement with most human interaction. The kids are seen as not much more than empty vessels, and many are sent to orphanages and group homes — until a teacher at one of these facilities realizes that the children have developed enigmatic, powerful skills of their own. Testimonials are presented in the form of oral histories told by characters directly affected by the condition — parents, teachers, doctors, cult leaders, faith healers, and government officials, with unexpected intersections and unifying narratives. The 120 Testimonials provide the central backbone of the story. The Field Reports are short, site-specific accounts that deepen and expand the central narrative, written and edited in collaboration with the readers of the Testimonials. To access and comprehend a Field Report, the reader must be physically present in the location where the Report is set. Reports are deeply entwined with the particularities of their specific physical environments — the stains on the sidewalk, the view between the branches, a strangely ornate bannister, etc — so that the text and the actual setting support and enhance each other. Each of these reports can be read on its own, but they all interrelate and cohere within the larger narrative. The project is the result of a unique collaboration between the former managing editor of McSweeney’s (Eli Horowitz), award-winning authors (Kevin Moffett and Matthew Derby), Wired magazine’s “Most Wired Storyteller” (Russell Quinn), and contributors on five continents. "Exquisitely designed… The overall effect is one of total immersion." —Boston Globe "A book-app chimera with the weight and flow of a good novel and the open-ended world-making potential of a collaborative game. … A revelation." —Contents "One of the most talked-about new experiments." —NY Times "Absolutely stunning… Brilliant. I am firmly hooked." —AppAdvice "The Silent History is both an experiment and a dramatic statement: what is possible when fiction and technology merge in a meaningful and innovative way?" —KQED "Incredibly interesting." —TUAW "No interactive or electronic book in existence has ever come close to the creativity or the uniqueness or the altogether newness of The Silent History." —TeleRead "Will change your reading experience forever." —BuzzFeed ## Key features - Groundbreaking digital novel format - Story of children with a unique condition - Serialized testimonials - Collaborative field reports - Location-based content - Immersive reading experience ## Recent user reviews (2 of 2) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-silent-history/id1034208751/reviews.md ### 2/5 — Still no field rework for people who can’t travel *2021-02-16, version 2.6* It would be nice if there was a way to read the field reports. Yes, it’s a cute idea to do a whole Pokémon Go thing, but there’s a literal pandemic going on so I can’t just walk around other countries to pick up parts of the story. If you force your users to pay for the whole story, we should get the whole story. You could be inventive and make people walk a certain number of steps or something to get the story :( unfortunately this is still an app for rich people all these years later ### 4/5 — Great story, solid idea *2016-10-15, version 2.2* The story is really well written though it perhaps loses steam in the end. The user submitted stories is a great idea though it's a shame that more people haven't participated. ## Frequently asked questions about The Silent History ### What is The Silent History about? The Silent History is a digital novel that explores the story of a generation of children born with a condition of silence. It delves into their unusual skills and the impact on their lives and the world around them. ### How does The Silent History work? The novel is presented through serialized testimonials from characters affected by the condition, and collaborative field reports that are unlocked by being physically present in specific locations. ### Is The Silent History interactive? Yes, it is described as a groundbreaking innovation in digital fiction, blending the weight of a novel with the open-ended potential of a collaborative game, offering an immersive experience. ### What devices does The Silent History support? The Silent History is supported on iPhone, iPad, iPod, and Apple Watch, offering a versatile reading experience across Apple devices. ### What is the age rating for The Silent History? The Silent History has an age rating of 12+, making it suitable for a young adult and adult audience interested in its mature themes. ### When was The Silent History last updated? The Silent History was last updated on September 20, 2019, indicating it has received ongoing support and potential improvements since its release. ### What is the price of The Silent History? The Silent History is available for a one-time purchase of $2.99, offering full access to its unique narrative experience. ### What do users like about The Silent History? Users have praised The Silent History for its revolutionary approach to reading, immersive experience, and the unique way it merges fiction and technology. ## Version history (last 1 release) ### 2.6 — 2019-09-20 + Fixed an iOS 13 problem where map tiles didn't load in the Field Report map view. ## Apps similar to The Silent History | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Coffee Hound Electric](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/coffee-hound-electric/id1583017711) | 3.9 (8) | Free | Entertainment | | [Black Terminus AR](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/black-terminus-ar/id1576567873) | 5.0 (29) | Free | Entertainment | | [VToobi](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vtoobi/id1567785044) | 4.3 (36) | Free | Entertainment | | [Artists & Illustrators](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/artists-and-illustrators/id488153500) | 4.4 (46) | Free | Entertainment | | [The PRIDE App - Lehigh Valley](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-pride-app-lehigh-valley/id6450653242) | 5.0 (2) | Free | Entertainment | | [LovePercent: AI Girlfriend](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lovepercent-ai-girlfriend/id6463616240) | 4.6 (62) | Free | Entertainment | ## More apps by Sudden Oak - [Typing Writer](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/typing-writer/id892249870) - [Touch Sensitive by Chris Ware](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/touch-sensitive-by-chris-ware/id1144394426) All apps by Sudden Oak: https://appshunter.io/developer/937995000 --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*