A Quiet Leader

Author: Marie Drury

Description: 

She didn’t speak in class. Not because she didn’t want to—but because she couldn’t. In A Quiet Leader, Marie Drury invites readers into the deeply personal, often misunderstood world of Selective Mutism (SM)—an anxiety disorder that silences the voice while the mind runs full-speed.

With warmth, vulnerability, and unshakable hope, Drury chronicles her life from a childhood spent navigating SM in silence to ultimately becoming a teacher, mother, and fierce advocate for children like her. Through vivid storytelling—set against the backdrop of swim meets, mountain trails, and summer camps—Marie shows how resilience isn’t always loud. Sometimes, it’s quiet. Sometimes, it whispers.

Part memoir, part guide, A Quiet Leader offers insight not just for those with SM, but for the parents, teachers, counselors, and friends who walk beside them. Readers will discover the power of gentle encouragement, the importance of safe spaces, and the hidden strength within a child who may not speak… yet.

Whether you’re navigating SM yourself, supporting a loved one, or simply seeking to understand, this book will open your eyes—and your heart. Because every quiet voice deserves to be heard. And every quiet leader deserves to shine.