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a_manning11's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Religious bigotry and Physical abuse
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Ableism, Death of parent, Cancer, Bullying, Alcoholism, and Infidelity
purplepenning's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
This is genuinely one of the best books I've read — in fiction or nonfiction — for introducing a reader to the world and experiences of a person who is living a very different kind of life from the reader's. The story, at times heartrending, heart-pounding, and joyous, lagged in the middle for me and some of the JW content may be difficult to read for those who have experienced controlling religious groups. The writing, however, carried me through. The author does a beautiful job of conveying the voice and experiences of these characters and it's full of information about DDBHH (Deaf, DeafBlind, Hard of Hearing) communication. It also avoids, calls out, and subverts lazy tropes and stereotypes (including the savior trope) and avoids lapsing into inspiration p*rn. It is inspiring, though — it's an inspiring look at the kinds of discussions we should be having and services we should be expanding for our disabled communities.
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Abandonment, Alcoholism, Blood, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Violence, Cancer, Confinement, Homophobia, Sexual content, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Cursing, Police brutality, and Excrement
kimveach's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Blood, Cancer, Homophobia, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Ableism, Addiction, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Violence, Death of parent, Grief, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Cultural appropriation, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, and Medical trauma
bel017's review
- 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 hadn't realised there was neglect, confinement and emotional abuse of a child on the page. I wouldn't have read it if I'd realised, so I skipped all those sections as best I could. Lots of fascinating, terrible and excellent information about the DeafBlind community, wrapped in a challenging but heartfelt story. By the time I realised the triggers I was in too deep and had to find out what happened.
I was shocked at how many parents of Deaf children don't learn sign language. The idea that they ... choose not to? Don't have the resources to? I don't understand. Everything was distressing.
I didn't realise this had been listed as a romance. It's not really a romance, it's a bildungsroman (coming of age story).
Graphic: Bullying, Ableism, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, Forced institutionalization, and Grief
Moderate: Infidelity, Medical content, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Medical trauma, Child abuse, Confinement, and Terminal illness
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Cancer, Excrement, Outing, Blood, and Sexual harassment
uranaishi's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Abandonment, Bullying, Ableism, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Excrement, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Toxic friendship, Violence, Medical content, Outing, Terminal illness, Death, Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Cancer, Colonisation, and Cursing
Minor: Suicide attempt, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Deportation, Physical abuse, Vomit, Blood, Child death, Xenophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, and Self harm
jenlovesbooksandcoffee's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Bullying, Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, Ableism, and Cursing
Moderate: Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Homophobia, and Cancer
meliroo's review
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Ableism, Chronic illness, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Sexual harassment, Sexism, Racism, and Infidelity
caseythereader's review
- 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
3.5
- I feel divided on THE SIGN FOR HOME. I love that this is a story with perspectives we rarely, if ever, see in fiction: Deaf and DeafBlind people and culture, Jehovah's Witnesses, interpreters. There's so much here about the relationship between a DeafBlind person and their longtime interpreter, about different types of language and communication for DeafBlind people, and about confronting ableism at every turn.
- However, as much as this book was about Arlo finding himself and his liberation, I still felt a weird savior-y vibe from Cyril for a lot it. There were several completely unexamined fatphobic comments from both Arlo and Cyril. Arlo's love interest wasn't a fully developed character. And finally (SPOILER!), I absolutely did not buy Molly's abrupt change of heart.
Graphic: Abandonment, Ableism, Alcohol, Confinement, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Blood, Bullying, Grief, Suicide, Cursing, Death, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Medical content, and Rape
literallycorey's review
- 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
3.0
Thank you to the author and Atria Books for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
This book was unlike anything I've ever read before. The story unfolds via two POVs, a DeafBlind man named Arlo and his interpreter Cyril. This is a story of coming of age, of love, loss, and learning to stand up for yourself. I really enjoyed the story but what I loved most was learning about the day to day life of a DeafBlind person and the services and technologies available.
I had concerns that the book was villainizing Arlo's religion at first, but by the end I really just saw it as portraying how attempts to keep a person with disabilities safe can sometimes limit opportunities for them to live their lives to the fullest.
The author bio mentions that Blair Fell has been an ASL interpreter for more than 25 years. What a gift it is for him to share his background and insights through this work of fiction.
⭐⭐⭐
Graphic: Ableism, Religious bigotry, and Sexual content
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Bullying, Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Grief
Minor: Alcohol, Death of parent, Homophobia, Infidelity, Alcoholism, Cancer, Chronic illness, and Cursing
kerrygetsliterary's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Ableism, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Confinement, Cursing, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Homophobia, Infidelity, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Blood, Cancer, Child abuse, Death of parent, Terminal illness, and Sexual content
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, and Rape