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lizzieesposito's review
3.0
I am very grateful to have learned such an interesting piece of history and culture I have never encountered before. I also loved learning so much about the experience of being deaf, and how ASL differs from just a translation of American English, not only in structure but in meaning and expression. The plot line itself and characters fell second to these glimpses. I also wasn’t sure how many kids I would be able to sell on this book which lowered my rating a little. But I think adults would be very interested.
summyrenea's review against another edition
4.0
A thoroughly enjoyable juvenile/YA historical fiction. I learned a lot about isolated deaf communities in the 1800s as well as the origins of ASL. Perfect for middle grades through 10th grade.
jamiereads's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
dlberglund's review
4.0
I learned a lot while reading this book, but the main conflicting event was more disturbing than I prepared myself for. I would love to read more by this author and about this particular community.
earlgrachel's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
blessingo's review
I unfortunately stopped reading this because I had to turn it in back to the library before I got to finish.
It was a beautiful book, however. You can clearly picture the Wampanoag village Mary lives on and the intricate lives of everyone in the book.
It was a beautiful book, however. You can clearly picture the Wampanoag village Mary lives on and the intricate lives of everyone in the book.
julesleigh's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
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? Yes
4.5
This is a wonderful book that I think I will be referring to again and again! Having it set so close to home and paired with the disabilities of the main character this book makes for an amazing read and account of a little known part of history. To be able to create a children's book with this much information and historical resonance is a win for me.
sc104906's review
3.0
I received this as an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Set on Martha's Vineyard during the early 1800s, Mary has always loved her secluded home. Her community has a higher deaf population than other parts of the world. They use both spoken and sign language interchangeably. While this island has felt like paradise to Mary, after the death of her brother, mounting tensions between other townsfolk and native populations, as well as a scientist who is determined to figure out the cause of the deaf population numbers, Mary's world becomes a scary and sad place. She seeks harmony, grief and prejudice challenge her at every turn. When Mary is pushed further into the scientist's world, will she be able to survive his horrific experiments.
This book should be part of the Newbery discussion, though I don't necessarily believe that it is one of my front runners. This is a book that everyone should read. I moves quickly and shines a light on a lesser known history. I had no idea about this history of Martha's Vineyard. I think it is important to talk about deaf history, especially from an own voices perspective. This book is a conversation starter, should be taught in schools, which merits it for discussion in the Newbery award contender list. I think the writing could have been better, but the plot and characters were solidly built. The research was present, but not off-putting. The pieces were well-put-together.
Set on Martha's Vineyard during the early 1800s, Mary has always loved her secluded home. Her community has a higher deaf population than other parts of the world. They use both spoken and sign language interchangeably. While this island has felt like paradise to Mary, after the death of her brother, mounting tensions between other townsfolk and native populations, as well as a scientist who is determined to figure out the cause of the deaf population numbers, Mary's world becomes a scary and sad place. She seeks harmony, grief and prejudice challenge her at every turn. When Mary is pushed further into the scientist's world, will she be able to survive his horrific experiments.
This book should be part of the Newbery discussion, though I don't necessarily believe that it is one of my front runners. This is a book that everyone should read. I moves quickly and shines a light on a lesser known history. I had no idea about this history of Martha's Vineyard. I think it is important to talk about deaf history, especially from an own voices perspective. This book is a conversation starter, should be taught in schools, which merits it for discussion in the Newbery award contender list. I think the writing could have been better, but the plot and characters were solidly built. The research was present, but not off-putting. The pieces were well-put-together.
traceyreads2's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I really enjoyed this book but I'm a little lost about how everything was wrapped up in the end. I understand this is a children or middle grade book but I feel like some issues were just ignored and they should definitely have been addressed. I still recommend reading this book. You will understand.