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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
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
This book is the best thing I've ever read. As a hearing person, I learned so much from this book about deaf culture! This was just the right amount of fluff and angst. Also, in most coming of ages, I usually hate the main character, but I actually loved the protagonist in this book!! Also, Isaac is so bf material. This was just overall such a good read!! Highly recommend.
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I am SO glad I got my grabby hands on an early copy of this one!! Anna Sortino’s writing feels so effortless and carries you right through the story as if you’re at camp with her characters. It’s such a pleasant, easy read I kept staying up way past my bedtime enjoying it. Protagonist Lilah is trying to find her place in the world as a Deaf girl who uses hearing aids, never feeling quite like she belongs in the Deaf nor hearing communities. Camp Gray Wolf helps her find that sense of belonging while also introducing her to a funny, sweet, diverse group of new friends and coworkers—including the extremely adorable Isaac. I really appreciate the way this book taught me, a hearing reader, a lot about Deaf culture without feeling textbook-like—it’s all threaded seamlessly into Lilah’s relatable coming of age journey and a truly swoonworthy romance. Sortino’s voice and representation of the Deaf community is so needed in YA and I can’t wait for more readers to fall in love with her debut!
~~Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Book for the ARC!~~
2.5/5 stars rounded down.
I took an ASL class at community college a while back and, even though I can only recognize the basics, I was familiar with a lot what was discussed throughout the book. From the details around Deaf culture to the difficulties of Deaf or hard of hearing people face with how much they feel the need to accommodate to the hearing world, all of this and more was very well represented in this book. I especially like how Sortino distinguished signing in her writing by italicizing the dialogue (This wasn't done all the time, but it's made clear the characters are signing when the dialogue is standard).
As for the story itself, it was fine for what it is. Outside the disabled rep, it's just a standard summer camp book. It does nothing too outstanding with the setting or characters besides them struggling with Deafness or blindness; it just makes them so one dimensional. I also found it so weird that the counselors, most of whom are underage, go out to a bar and don't make Lilah aware she's the designated driver until they got there? It doesn't help Lilah had to borrow someone else's glasses so she could almost accurately see the road. This is so irresponsible all around. This sort of stuff shouldn't be normalized.
All in all, if you're looking for good Deaf rep, that's here, but the lackluster story and questionable stuff around the drinking scene makes me hesitate to properly recommend it.
2.5/5 stars rounded down.
I took an ASL class at community college a while back and, even though I can only recognize the basics, I was familiar with a lot what was discussed throughout the book. From the details around Deaf culture to the difficulties of Deaf or hard of hearing people face with how much they feel the need to accommodate to the hearing world, all of this and more was very well represented in this book. I especially like how Sortino distinguished signing in her writing by italicizing the dialogue (This wasn't done all the time, but it's made clear the characters are signing when the dialogue is standard).
As for the story itself, it was fine for what it is. Outside the disabled rep, it's just a standard summer camp book. It does nothing too outstanding with the setting or characters besides them struggling with Deafness or blindness; it just makes them so one dimensional. I also found it so weird that the counselors, most of whom are underage, go out to a bar and don't make Lilah aware she's the designated driver until they got there? It doesn't help Lilah had to borrow someone else's glasses so she could almost accurately see the road. This is so irresponsible all around. This sort of stuff shouldn't be normalized.
All in all, if you're looking for good Deaf rep, that's here, but the lackluster story and questionable stuff around the drinking scene makes me hesitate to properly recommend it.
A YA novel that should be welcomed in the middle school/high school curriculum also for teachers to understand the why behind accommodations. A great introduction to deaf culture and standing up for what you need.
Can’t wait to do the audio version and hear the sign interpretion
Can’t wait to do the audio version and hear the sign interpretion
emotional
reflective
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:
Complicated
The representation and education in this book is great and very important, but unfortunately everything else fell flat for me. The character development was lackluster, the “romance” felt random, and the writing was a bit juvenile even for YA. That being said, I would still recommend this book strictly for educational purposes because it excels in that.
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
From page one, Lilah had my attention. She’s relatable and endearing—I was rooting for her the whole book. Her struggles, joys, and character development were so much fun to read. I stayed up late to finish the last 100+ pages because I couldn’t put it down.
Though her romantic life is def a focal point of the plot, it shares the spotlight. There were several key friendships and exploration of Lilah’s family dynamics. A large part of the plot also focuses on her relationship with being Deaf, her use of sign language, and her experiences with Deaf culture. I’d never read representation like this before, but I want more of it now. The author packs so much into this book.
Though the style at times was too tell-y and there was a personal peeve in the plot, in terms of enjoyment, it was a 5-star all the way. I devoured it.
Though her romantic life is def a focal point of the plot, it shares the spotlight. There were several key friendships and exploration of Lilah’s family dynamics. A large part of the plot also focuses on her relationship with being Deaf, her use of sign language, and her experiences with Deaf culture. I’d never read representation like this before, but I want more of it now. The author packs so much into this book.
Though the style at times was too tell-y and there was a personal peeve in the plot, in terms of enjoyment, it was a 5-star all the way. I devoured it.
I would 100% recommend to those wanting a cute summer camp romance book with a great coming of age story focused on Deaf culture. I’ll be reading the author’s next book(s) for sure!!
3.5/5 this was sweet but pretty predictable, but learning more about Deaf culture was pretty cool