Rep: Deaf

Deer Run Home / Ann Clare LeZotte

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment 
Deer Run Home
By: Ann Clare LeZotte
Genre: Middle Grade / Novel in Verse
Number of Pages: 224
Published: October 1, 2024
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Dates Read: November 2, 2024
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

Trigger Warnings: Neglect, communication neglect, sexual abuse

Effie is Deaf and no one in her family can speak sign language – her own father communicates with her by stomping, pointing, and making thoughtless jokes. Even if they could understand each other, Effie doesn’t think she could share her biggest secret about what happened before moving in with him.

When Effie’s school interpreter, Miss Kathy, drops by the house with food during a surprise visit, she sees the poor conditions Effie and her sister Deja are living in (no food, dirty house, no clean clothes). Miss Kathy immediately asks for permission for Effie to live with her, and her father surprisedly agrees. Now, Miss Kathy is trying to figure out a more permanent solution.

I’ve picked up this novel because I’ve enjoyed Ann Clare LeZotte’s Show Me a Sign series and as an author who is Deaf, I know the experience of the d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing characters in the book will be more genuine. The story is actually based on a legal case back in the 90’s where an interpreter fought for custody of a student they worked with.

This novel in verse does an amazing job at putting everyday challenges of d/Deaf children into words – ranging from parents who refuse to learn ASL, to teachers not understanding the difference between English spoken grammar and ASL grammar (which is highly different!) and how to best accommodate d/Deaf students. 

Overall, this is a heartbreaking story, but with a beautiful ending. Even those who haven’t really read novels in verse before I think would enjoy this book because it gives even more insight to the d/Deaf culture with Effie’s experience.

Sugaring Off / Gillian French

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Sugaring Off
By: Gillian French, Caitlin Davies (narrator)
Genre: YA, Thriller
Number of Pages: 352
Published: November 1, 2022
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Dates Read: June 20, 2024 - June 23, 2024
Format: Library Book / Audiobook

Left partially deaf by an early childhood tragedy that ended with her father incarcerated, seventeen-year-old Owl lives with her aunt and uncle on their maple sugar farm. Owl and her aunt and uncle never speak of the attack that brought her to them, but Owl is perfectly content with hiking the steep forested acres surrounding their farm. After meeting a stranger trespassing among the maples, Owl’s sheltered life is blown wide open by Cody – the new farmhand hired to help with the sugaring off. 

Cody seems to see her, the real her, and the duo challenge each other. But, when Owl learns that Cody always seems to head towards self destruction, she must reevaluate their relationship at the same time her father is released from prison and requesting contact. When a motiveless murder draws attention to Cody, Owl realizes that Cody is in far more serious trouble than first realized – and he’s brought it up the mountain.

This book deals with a lot more than the description gives off truthfully (much like life), such as Owl trying to figure out how to best utilize both the help from her ASL tutor at school, and using ASL in general. The author also did an excellent job at showing how someone who is partially deaf might feel. Including how Deaf she is. Owl also deals with attempting to figure out how a new romance can teeter the balance of other relationships.

My only thing is – I wouldn’t really market this as a mystery. It can definitely be a thriller, but any “mystery” that was happening in the novel, I feel like readers were given enough information to piece everything together rather quickly.

I really enjoy Caitlin Davies as a narrator. I think she did an amazing job at the different voices and the pacing.

Overall, I loved being inside Owl’s head during this journey. I’ve got another book to add for my Rep: Deaf or Hard of Hearing character titles.

Give Me a Sign / Anna Sortino

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Give Me a Sign
By: Anna Sortino
Genre: YA, Romance
Number of Pages: 320
Published July 11, 2023
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Dates Read: July 8, 2023
Format: eBook / ARC

Lilah has always struggled with her identity; she has hearing loss but doesn’t feeling “deaf enough” to identify as Deaf, but she’s also not hearing enough to fit into the world’s expectations. But this summer, Lilah wants to change.

When she gets accepted to be a junior camp counselor at the Deaf and Blind Summer Camp she went to as a kid, she’s excited to brush up on her American Sign Language (ASL). Once there, she finds the community she’s been searching for, and then some. Like the two British lifeguards, an Interpreting Student YouTuber who’s just a little too desperate for views, the campers Lilah’s responsible for (including one who’s practically glues to Lilah’s leg), and the dreamy Deaf counselor helping Lilah with her signing.

Romance wasn’t ever on the agenda for the summer, especially since Lilah isn’t positive Isaac likes her the same way. Everything points to yes, but maybe Lilah is reading the signs wrong? 

I’m always curious to read books with Deaf or Hard of Hearing characters, especially written by authors within the Deaf Community. I’ve studied American Sign Language (I have a Minor in ASL), but I am nowhere near fluent, and unfortunately I don’t always have the ability to practice as much as I would like. There weren’t books with Deaf or Hard of Hearing characters as a main character while I was growing up, so I read them any chance I got.

This book gives a lot of insight to the Deaf Community and what it’s like for those with a range of hearing loss. Of course, cochlear implants were discussed for a variety of reasons, including someone from a Deaf family getting one (a lot within the community frown upon the procedure). There is also an incident with someone who is Deaf who has a confrontation with the police.

This book will be high up on my list for recommendations, especially those who enjoyed books like The Words in my Hands by Asphyxia, The Silence Between Us by Alison Gervais, and True Bix by Sara Nović.

*Thank you G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

First 2 Books of 2023 Read

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I started my new year with the last two books of a manga series I started at the end of last year. A Silent Voice by Yoshitoki Oima. I originally found the series at a Barnes & Noble as a full volume set back in December. I’m a conversationalist in American Sign Language (definitely not fluent by any means, but can still have a conversation). I have always been curious to see how authors portray Deaf characters – and how they show them when it’s graphic novels or manga, so when I found out what this was about, I immediately put the whole series on Hold at work.

A hand is holding up two manga books from the series, "A Silent Voice" by Yoshitoki Oima. They are volumes 6 and 7.

Overall, this was a good series and I enjoyed it quite a bit! There were some slow parts and some redemption arcs that didn’t quite hit the mark, but I still can still see myself recommending it and possibly purchases the collective volume in the future too!

An image of "A Silent Voice, Volume 6" by Yoshitoki Oima. A girl with purple/pink hair and an arm sling stand in water, looking sad.
A 4 Star Gold Rating
A Silent Voice, Volume 6
By: Toshitoki Oima, Steven LeCroy (Translator)
Genre: Manga
Number of Pages: 184
Published: April 19, 2016 (1st Published October 17, 2014)
Publisher: Kodansha Comica
Dates Read: January 4, 2023 - January 5, 2023
Format: Library Book / Paperback

With Shoya in a coma, Shoko tries desperately to fix what she made wrong with her friends, who are also desperately struggling with their own stuff.

This volume focused on nearly everyone and their emotions a little bit at a time as they waited for Shoya to wake up. Each chapter focused on someone differently. While some chapters allowed me to understand the character a bit more – others made me hate the character more. It just kind of goes to show that no one is perfect and people react to stuff in different ways. Example – I still don’t like Naoka and Miki’s chapter didn’t redeem her for me either.

Oima did a wonderful job at Shoko’s struggle with communicating with hearing individuals and showing how much she misses and struggles.

I have loved the journey so far and can’t wait to see how this all comes together in the last volume.

!!SPOILER!!

I was nearly having a heart attack at the end of the volume though when I thought Shoya had died

An image of the manga "A Silent Voice, Volume 7" by Yoshitoki Oima. A teen boy with spiky black hair, a nice white shirt and tie with dress pants on stands next to a teen girl with long hair, white shirt and a black skirt with tights stand together and wave.
A Silent Voice, Volume 7
By: Toshitoki Oima, Steven LeCroy (Translator)
Genre: Manga
Number of Pages: 190
Published: May 24, 2016 (1st Published December 17, 2014)
Publisher: Kodansha Comics
Dates Read: January 5, 2023
Format: Library Book / Paperback

Shoya reunites with Shoko and the group works on finishing the movie together even though there is a strain in their relationships.

This was a good ending to the series. I felt like Shoya actually grew as a person and we were able to see his redemption arc. Though, personally, I don’t understand his life journey he’s planning on going down, but it was left a bit open ended, so I can always play around with that.

I still do not understand Naoka and her storyline… she’s still a jerk and she physically assaulted half the group (and Shoko multiple times), and yet everyone is okay with her?? I know we get her background and story but none of that was redeemable to me. It just kind of made me dislike her even more.

I was really happy about where we left off with Yuzuru and I’m so proud and happy for her journey she will be going on. I honestly hope she gets everything she ever wants.

I know this is somewhat marked as a romance, though it was more teen puppy love I feel like… it didn’t necessarily end with people getting together, but that they understood how important the other person was to them. That’s a good thing to be able to show teens that things don’t always end in a relationship and that that’s okay.

Overall, this is a cute and emotional ride of a manga that I can see myself purchasing for my own collection down the line. I shall be watching the movie at some point in the near future as well.