You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
The Honest Bunny Review:
All my in-depth book reviews are available at https://theliterarymeadow.blogspot.com/
Bookstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehonestbu...
Rating:
All my in-depth book reviews are available at https://theliterarymeadow.blogspot.com/
Bookstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehonestbu...
Rating:
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
wow. i am just BEYOND grateful to have read a book like this. i went through a rollercoaster of emotions reading this. the humor and lightness, coupled with the blatant annoyances and discrimination made for an incredible novel because i can so clearly see how these things happen in daily life. i really appreciated getting to know lilah and isaac, as well as every other character in this book. it sparked so many conversation in my relationships (as well as boiling rage during that one certain part…)
thank you thank you thank you for this beautiful book
thank you thank you thank you for this beautiful book
emotional
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
I really enjoyed this book about a summer camp for the hard of hearing and visual disabilities. It reminded me a little bit of Sharon Draper's Out of My Heart, the second book in the Melody series where she goes to a summer camp for kids with disabilities and finally experiences what so many of her "normal" friends have always done. However, this reads a little older, and our main character is a junior counselor rather than a first-time camper.
I appreciated the deaf rep, although it's impossible to represent the full spectrum of those who are hard of hearing. Still, I learned a lot about what it's like to navigate this world as a child who has been mainstreamed with the help of a hearing aid but still doesn't hear like other people. There was a lot of discussion about what accommodations could help, not just in school, but from friends and family as they interact with them daily. I also appreciated the author taking on the more serious topic that took place in the second half of the book. This scene could be triggering for others, so just be aware that it involves a huge misunderstanding that results in the police being called.
I really liked how Lilah and Isaac's friendship developed, and how patient he was with her lack of experience with ASL. ASL is another topic that is discussed in this book, and I learned a lot about different dialects, and that if you really want to learn to communicate in ASL with those who are hard of hearing, you should learn it from one of them, rather than in a class or something you watch online.
There were two things that prevented me from giving it 5 stars. First, as much as Lilah was tired of feeling judged by her friends at school or by those who she felt thought she wasn't "deaf enough", I felt that she was constantly judging others. She had some valid reasons for feeling the way she did, but I also thought she approached a lot of people with a preconceived notion about who they were and what they thought. But I do feel that she did a lot of growing during the story, which also included giving herself grace. The other thing that gave me concern was about the drinking. There was quite a bit of underage drinking, and those in charge who were of age didn't seem to be too concerned. But it wasn't the underage drinking so much as them making her the designated driver without her knowing ahead of time, which meant she didn't have her glasses with her. (I think kids under 21 can drink with responsible adults around, at the discretion of the adults.)
Overall, I enjoyed reading this summer romance story that included some serious topics, and I will be looking for more books from this author.
I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley and the publishers, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I appreciated the deaf rep, although it's impossible to represent the full spectrum of those who are hard of hearing. Still, I learned a lot about what it's like to navigate this world as a child who has been mainstreamed with the help of a hearing aid but still doesn't hear like other people. There was a lot of discussion about what accommodations could help, not just in school, but from friends and family as they interact with them daily. I also appreciated the author taking on the more serious topic that took place in the second half of the book. This scene could be triggering for others, so just be aware that it involves a huge misunderstanding that results in the police being called.
I really liked how Lilah and Isaac's friendship developed, and how patient he was with her lack of experience with ASL. ASL is another topic that is discussed in this book, and I learned a lot about different dialects, and that if you really want to learn to communicate in ASL with those who are hard of hearing, you should learn it from one of them, rather than in a class or something you watch online.
There were two things that prevented me from giving it 5 stars. First, as much as Lilah was tired of feeling judged by her friends at school or by those who she felt thought she wasn't "deaf enough", I felt that she was constantly judging others. She had some valid reasons for feeling the way she did, but I also thought she approached a lot of people with a preconceived notion about who they were and what they thought. But I do feel that she did a lot of growing during the story, which also included giving herself grace. The other thing that gave me concern was about the drinking. There was quite a bit of underage drinking, and those in charge who were of age didn't seem to be too concerned. But it wasn't the underage drinking so much as them making her the designated driver without her knowing ahead of time, which meant she didn't have her glasses with her. (I think kids under 21 can drink with responsible adults around, at the discretion of the adults.)
Overall, I enjoyed reading this summer romance story that included some serious topics, and I will be looking for more books from this author.
I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley and the publishers, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
My summer camp novel frame of reference is more, There’s A Bat in Bunk Five by Paula Danziger–this reminded me of that in all the best ways: new friendships, factions, and some good old fashioned teenage hijinks. Lilah has some hearing loss, as does her younger brother, and reads lips. She will be a counselor all summer at a camp for the deaf and blind, while brother will be spending two weeks of overnight. Lilah’s parents have put a lot of emphasis on implants and mainstreaming, but part of Lilah’s decision in coming to camp was to become more fluent in ASL. She’s frustrated by a tone-deaf hearing person who might be misrepresenting on her popular sign language YouTube channel, frustrated by mixed messages from other counselors, and stressed trying to fit in.
This was a little bit of a slog for me somewhere in the middle, possibly because I always want more romance, and the character growth was more important. Overall, it was a solid read and excellent insight into something I am not so familiar with. The ableist comments made towards Lilah and her friends, and an unsavory situation at a store, really made an impact to the narrative about what it’s like to move through the world as a deaf person. Author Sortino does a fantastic job not slipping into too much telling (it is a bit inevitable) or getting preachy. Many YA novels are about finding your place in the world, and Lilah does experience significant character growth and forms a more solid identity.
I received a free advance reader’s review copy of #GiveMeASign by #NetGalley.
This was a little bit of a slog for me somewhere in the middle, possibly because I always want more romance, and the character growth was more important. Overall, it was a solid read and excellent insight into something I am not so familiar with. The ableist comments made towards Lilah and her friends, and an unsavory situation at a store, really made an impact to the narrative about what it’s like to move through the world as a deaf person. Author Sortino does a fantastic job not slipping into too much telling (it is a bit inevitable) or getting preachy. Many YA novels are about finding your place in the world, and Lilah does experience significant character growth and forms a more solid identity.
I received a free advance reader’s review copy of #GiveMeASign by #NetGalley.
4.25 Stars! The audiobook for this was so great! I loved that you could hear the narrator signing when the characters spoke with one another. I didn't love the ending conflict as much as I hoped, and it did feel a little too preachy from time to time, however, overall I enjoyed this novel. I'm really looking forward to reading Sortino's next book as well.
This was a super sweet summer YA romance that is squeaky clean (just kisses and handholding) and a fantastic Own Voices story about D/deafness, ableism, and accessibility. While the plot and story can occasionally get bogged down by some preachiness in the narrative, even those moments teach the reader something important, especially if they are not at all familiar with Deaf culture.
Lilah's fears about not being "Deaf enough" will resonate with anyone who has ever felt imposter syndrome (which is basically everyone), and the diverse cast of Camp Gray Wolf provides a great primer for how to interact with D/deaf and/or blind people respectfully. I would love to see a sequel follow Lilah's college journey or focusing more on her brother Max, future summers at Camp Gray Wolf, and his experience with the cochlear implant!
Lilah's fears about not being "Deaf enough" will resonate with anyone who has ever felt imposter syndrome (which is basically everyone), and the diverse cast of Camp Gray Wolf provides a great primer for how to interact with D/deaf and/or blind people respectfully. I would love to see a sequel follow Lilah's college journey or focusing more on her brother Max, future summers at Camp Gray Wolf, and his experience with the cochlear implant!
Once I started I couldn’t put it down. It is beautifully written and gives such a clear picture of Deaf culture and demonstrates how young deaf people often have to navigate through experiences with hearing people and a world that struggles with accessibility and inclusion. I became hard of hearing myself due to an accident later in life and have been learning how to adjust in a sometimes murky space of my hearing abilities. Reading the characters experiences was meaningful to my own world. I’m looking forward to reading the author’s future books.
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated