Reviews

Show Me a Sign by Ann Clare LeZotte

kellyreadingbooks's review

DNF pg 91. The story just isn’t pulling me in, it’s a me problem because this book seems well loved and received. I think it’s time to stop seeking out middle grade for a little while, the pacing just isn’t for me lately. 

celestialsheep's review against another edition

hopeful informative inspiring mysterious 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? It's complicated

3.75

Read for ASL I

mdpbernal's review

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

bibliobrandie's review

3.0

"Silence. I'm sure that many hearing people, especially those who don't know the deaf, imagine our lives are filled with silence. That's not true. If my mind and heart are full of energy and fun, and I'm looking ahead with excitement, I don't feel silent at all."

This own voices historical novel is a great introduction to the history of Martha's Vineyard, the deaf community, and the native community, especially for middle grade. Set in 1805 on Martha's Vineyard, readers are introduced to the deaf community that were some of the first settlers on Martha's Vineyard. The author does a good job of talking about the native inhabitants, the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head, and the colonization of this land.

Spoiler

There is a weird kidnapping plot here that kind of threw me, which is why I only just liked this book. I get what the author was trying to do with that plot, showing how isolating and lonely it was for the protagonist to be away from her community and unable to communicate, but I think I'd have preferred to stay on the island and learn more about the people there.

The author incorporated the motions of hands into the dialogue, she put you inside the mind of the deaf protagonist, and her historical notes in the back were really insightful. I definitely thought about my own ability to hear in a way I hadn't before.

"As I caress the shell, I wonder, does it still make the sound of the ocean without George's ear to hear it, or is the sea magic gone?"

lizbit44's review

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad 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? It's complicated

4.75

juneberry0123's review against another edition

adventurous

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

evamadera1's review against another edition

5.0

Any time a book evokes strong emotions from me while reading, I know I'm in for a ride. LeZotte created a masterpiece with this book, showcasing an aspect of history that I knew nothing about, the deaf community on Martha's Vineyard. Lezotte speaks from personal experience when she conveys how Mary experiences the world. This became utterly heartbreaking when Mary faced a world full of abhorrent ableism. (This is when I became the most angry.) I highly recommend this book!

hilaryannbrown's review

4.0

Written by a Deaf author, this young adult book takes place in the Deaf community of Martha's Vineyard in 1805. I was fascinated by that premise because I'd never heard anything about this history! Through the eyes of its young heroine, the book also explores the early settlers' relationships with the island's indigenous people as well as freed slaves who had married into native tribes - all of which was so interesting. The book is written for a very young audience - I would even give it to a 4th or 5th grader.

erinsbookshelves's review

emotional 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? No

5.0

trenando's review

emotional informative tense medium-paced

3.75