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4.2 AVERAGE
4.2 AVERAGE
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
hopeful
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:
No
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
informative
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:
Complicated
I wanted more to the story but that’s because I was invested not because I blame the author the fact that there was a literal bomb with 10 minutes remaining is wild but I get why
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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:
N/A
I will be revisiting this book many times over. The characters are engaging, the plot sucks you in, and it really challenges the reader to grow and develop as new layers are introduced. I had heard but I never fully realized how rich and full Deaf culture is and this book puts that wonderfully in perspective. This is a truly engaging piece of literature and one of the best novels I've read this year.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Medical trauma, Death of parent
Moderate: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Alcohol
emotional
informative
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
True Biz is a coming of age story, a narrative which enraptures the reader with a culture and community which not a lot of people are familiar. True Biz is slang in ASL which roughly translates to real talk or tell it to me straight. Novic tells a story of Charlie, a deaf high school sophomore who has to rely on a cochlear implant and lip reading to get by in school, until she is transferred to a deaf school and language becomes more accessible through ASL. She meets Austin whose family prides themselves in generational deafness, it’s what connects them. And behind the scenes, we get the story of February, the school’s head administrator, who is the hearing child of deaf parents. The school is most likely going to be closed for good at the end of the school year, and when the students get word of this, decide to do something about it. The author worked with an artist who specializes in ASL artwork. The novel is interlaced with ASL history, culture, and tutorials on the language itself. Not only was the story intriguing with realistic characters, it teaches readers little lessons in ASL, Deaf Culture, and the fight for equality within a society that sees deafness and the use of ASL as only a disability instead of something to be celebrate.
What a great book that goes out to a community that often feels overlooked (in my opinion).
The ASL and fun facts that is built into the book was great for extra relevant information for the back story and information to the story in the book.
One thing that I wish the book would have done, is keep the POV between two MAYBE three of the characters. There were just too many switching between the POV for my liking, while I understand the purpose of the switching, it was just too much for me.
But I love the book and what it stands for.
This coming of age story follows a girl who is choosing between what she wants for herself and what her mother wants for her and her hearing ability. While finding herself at a new school designed for helping her understand her disability.
It also follows the head mistress that is fighting to keep her school alive all while struggling with her own grief following the death of her mother.
The ASL and fun facts that is built into the book was great for extra relevant information for the back story and information to the story in the book.
One thing that I wish the book would have done, is keep the POV between two MAYBE three of the characters. There were just too many switching between the POV for my liking, while I understand the purpose of the switching, it was just too much for me.
But I love the book and what it stands for.
This coming of age story follows a girl who is choosing between what she wants for herself and what her mother wants for her and her hearing ability. While finding herself at a new school designed for helping her understand her disability.
It also follows the head mistress that is fighting to keep her school alive all while struggling with her own grief following the death of her mother.
challenging
emotional
informative
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:
Complicated