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4.2 AVERAGE
4.2 AVERAGE
emotional
informative
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
I can't believe how much I learned reading this book. The premise immediately had me intrigued, but what kept me hooked was how much I learned about the deaf community. I tandem read the physical book and listened to the audiobook which I would recommend. The book had some really great sign language diagrams and additional context. And the audiobook was different than anything I've listened to - any of the parts that were signed, they had someone in studio signing and you could hear the movements of the hands.
The story itself fell flat for me unfortunately. It started out promising and then derailed into too many storylines.
The story itself fell flat for me unfortunately. It started out promising and then derailed into too many storylines.
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
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:
Yes
I learnt so much about the deaf community, absolutely fascinating, this will stay with me for a long time.
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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:
Yes
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
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:
Complicated
Whoa whoa whoa!
This is one of the best books I’ve read in recent times. The pace is perfect for me - changing between characters in a way that is not confusing, and exploring each part of the plot in an interesting and gripping way. I also really loved the snippets of information after the chapters - and it helped me learn so much about Deaf culture and language. A must read!
This is one of the best books I’ve read in recent times. The pace is perfect for me - changing between characters in a way that is not confusing, and exploring each part of the plot in an interesting and gripping way. I also really loved the snippets of information after the chapters - and it helped me learn so much about Deaf culture and language. A must read!
Loved the unique structure and learning about ASL, deaf culture, and the history of struggles in the deaf community. This book is a standout in a lot of ways. That said, there were too many storylines that felt shoehorned in just for the sake of added representation. For example, I really felt the whole February/Wanda storyline was completely unnecessary and those pages could have been better spent rounding out characters like Eliot - and then pretty much all of those storylines are left with loose ends! I feel equal parts admiration and frustration toward this book.
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I have never read anything like this but it was such an interesting, fascinating and fun read! We follow a group of people at a school for deaf kids that I would say is partly a coming of age story, partly a political awakening, and partly a heartfelt love letter to the deaf community. Sara Novic beautifully explores the ways language can include, exclude, or help forge an identity. I would definitely say this is one of the most educational stories I have read in a while and in my opinion it should be required reading in schools. True biz means seriously, definitely, real-talk in ASL and this does a great job with that. I’m not deaf myself and I dont know anyone close to me that is but I saw some reviewers that are saying that this made them feel seen which I love!
There are three main characters - the headmistress February, a student named Charlie whose mom doesn’t accept her deafness and wants to fix it by getting her a cochlear implant thinking it would solve everything, and another student named Austin who comes from a family with multiple generations of deaf people.
Austin and Charlie do a great job at portraying the deaf community and demonstrating the difficulties that come along with it but it’s also shown in a great way how to overcome those difficulties. I love that we are given the adults pov as well to really get the full picture. I still think the story could have succeeded without the adults and I was definitely more invested in Austin and Charlie but I still really appreciated that part of the book. I love watching Charlies character development throughout the story and really watching her come out of her shell and be more confident with sign language. I also found it really interesting to read about what Austin was going through, his mom gives birth to his sister that is born hearing but she’s slowly losing her hearing and the parents wants to buy her a cochlear implant. I also love that there is a bit of lgbt representation since February is married to a woman
This book also talked about some issues/things that I was unaware of - the history of deaf people and their civil rights battles, the problems with cochlear implants, difference between ASL and BASL, the fact that some parents don’t allow kids to learn ASL etc.
I also love that there were nonfiction parts in the book that showed sign language, the history of ASL and more - that was really interesting and a fun addition in the book.
This isn’t a complaint about the book it’s more just a me thing but since this was ASL (American Sign Language) as a swede this really got me more interested in learning more about Swedish sign language because I know ASL and Swedish sign language isn’t the same. I really want to read more about the deaf community in general
There are three main characters - the headmistress February, a student named Charlie whose mom doesn’t accept her deafness and wants to fix it by getting her a cochlear implant thinking it would solve everything, and another student named Austin who comes from a family with multiple generations of deaf people.
Austin and Charlie do a great job at portraying the deaf community and demonstrating the difficulties that come along with it but it’s also shown in a great way how to overcome those difficulties. I love that we are given the adults pov as well to really get the full picture. I still think the story could have succeeded without the adults and I was definitely more invested in Austin and Charlie but I still really appreciated that part of the book. I love watching Charlies character development throughout the story and really watching her come out of her shell and be more confident with sign language. I also found it really interesting to read about what Austin was going through, his mom gives birth to his sister that is born hearing but she’s slowly losing her hearing and the parents wants to buy her a cochlear implant. I also love that there is a bit of lgbt representation since February is married to a woman
This book also talked about some issues/things that I was unaware of - the history of deaf people and their civil rights battles, the problems with cochlear implants, difference between ASL and BASL, the fact that some parents don’t allow kids to learn ASL etc.
I also love that there were nonfiction parts in the book that showed sign language, the history of ASL and more - that was really interesting and a fun addition in the book.
This isn’t a complaint about the book it’s more just a me thing but since this was ASL (American Sign Language) as a swede this really got me more interested in learning more about Swedish sign language because I know ASL and Swedish sign language isn’t the same. I really want to read more about the deaf community in general
funny
hopeful
informative
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