Give Me a Sign by Anna Sortino
Though she’s hearing-passing (using hearing aids & lip reading), every day feels like an uphill battle to Lilah: struggling through interactions others find easy, guessing at bits and pieces of missed conversations, and pretending like everything’s totally fine. One of the few times she remembers feeling fully accepted and accommodated was at a summer camp for Deaf and blind kids that she attended many years ago. So when she gets the opportunity to return as a junior counselor, Lilah is thrilled…never mind that the camp is running out of money.
Sortino seamlessly blends spoken & signed dialogue, highlights a myriad of systemic issues facing the Deaf community, and showcases community thriving around disability difference. A sweet, summery coming-of-age story (with a hint of romance) that’s equal parts fun and important!
Give Me a Sign by Anna Sortino, (List Price: $18.99, G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, 9780593533796, July 2023)
Reviewed by Talia Smart, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina