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A review by bibliobrandie
Show Me a Sign by Ann Clare LeZotte
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. 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?"
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."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?"