Scan barcode
neonpomegranate's review against another edition
This harmful, ableist book needed a Deaf sensitivity reader or a linguistics consultant.
I know it’s not the point, but I just could not get past the harmful access theater of pretending signing and speaking at the same time is intelligible communication in the signed language. This book is propagating a dangerous widespread myth that harms Deaf and hard of hearing people. This is a real world issue that is alive in classrooms right now and harming real people.
There are lots of natural signed languages. (Natural meaning came about through usage, not made up all at once by a single entity) No signed languages can be used at the same time as a spoken language. The spoken language syntax always makes the signed language syntax in to gibberish. The spoken mouth movements remove and garble the facial movements that are also a part of signed languages’ morphemes.
Yes this book takes place in a fantasy world, but there’s nothing to indicate language functions differently there. This is not a fantasy exploring language. It seems clear the writer is just ignorant and wants to blandly claim Deaf people can be demigods in this world. They think they’re depicting inclusion, but they’re actually depicting a form of real world lack of access, a performance for ignorant, well meaning hearing people that harms Deaf people. Sim comming (the English term that stands for simultaneous communication, signing and speaking at the same time) comes out of a long history of hearing people controlling, oppressing, and deny educational access to Deaf people. It’s disrespectful to signed languages.
I couldn’t get over it as a reader. Every time it came up - which is often - I became furious. I think this book is very harmful and I hate it.
I know it’s not the point, but I just could not get past the harmful access theater of pretending signing and speaking at the same time is intelligible communication in the signed language. This book is propagating a dangerous widespread myth that harms Deaf and hard of hearing people. This is a real world issue that is alive in classrooms right now and harming real people.
There are lots of natural signed languages. (Natural meaning came about through usage, not made up all at once by a single entity) No signed languages can be used at the same time as a spoken language. The spoken language syntax always makes the signed language syntax in to gibberish. The spoken mouth movements remove and garble the facial movements that are also a part of signed languages’ morphemes.
Yes this book takes place in a fantasy world, but there’s nothing to indicate language functions differently there. This is not a fantasy exploring language. It seems clear the writer is just ignorant and wants to blandly claim Deaf people can be demigods in this world. They think they’re depicting inclusion, but they’re actually depicting a form of real world lack of access, a performance for ignorant, well meaning hearing people that harms Deaf people. Sim comming (the English term that stands for simultaneous communication, signing and speaking at the same time) comes out of a long history of hearing people controlling, oppressing, and deny educational access to Deaf people. It’s disrespectful to signed languages.
I couldn’t get over it as a reader. Every time it came up - which is often - I became furious. I think this book is very harmful and I hate it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
The word “audism” isn’t even available to pick as a trigger warning, but that’s the appropriate warning. Audism is discrimination against Deaf peoplesome_random_person_hi's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I have missed the intensely fast pacing of certain YA/middle grade books and this fully delivered on that front. The plot hard carried the book by so much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, Grief, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Bullying, Cursing, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Ableism, Confinement, Animal death, and Death of parent
Bullying is done both by characters you're not supposed to root for and characters you're supposed to vote for. Ableism is unchallenged & specifically anti-npd ableism.harmonique's review
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Ableism
Moderate: Death and Kidnapping
More...