May 1, 2024
Two teens find each other while dealing with disability and ableism. Ellie, an 18-year-old Deaf girl, must move back in with her family when her residential Deaf school closes. Now she faces the ableism of her public school classmates, an unprofessional and incompetent interpreter, and living with her hearing (and prejudiced) family members, who don't understand how to respect her Deafness. Jackson is another senior at Amber High. He's a disgraced soccer star who cost his team the state championship when he unexpectedly collapsed on the pitch. His dad has dangerously high expectations for him, both in athletics and in life, and his mom thinks everything can be cured with alternative medicine, including Jackson's mysterious and worsening symptoms. One thing Ellie and Jackson do have is each other. This story is, most simply put, a sweet, well-written romance with just a touch of drama for excitement. The book never feels preachy or lags narratively in the interest of didacticism, yet it also tells a meaningful story about ableism, audism, and self-determination. Readers will pick it up for the plot, but some will come away validated in their own experiences of disability; some will leave with more knowledge and awareness of ableism. That said, what the characters go through avoids any whiff of exploitative "inspiration," and the story leaves plenty of room for Sortino to explore differing experiences of disability. Ellie and Jackson read white. A skillfully executed, nuanced, and engaging book. (language note, author's note) (Fiction. 12-18)
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April 29, 2024
When Ellie Egan’s Deaf boarding school closes, it means she’ll have to move home to Cincinnati, where she’ll be forced to complete her senior year at Amber High as the only Deaf student. It starts out poorly: one of Ellie’s interpreters continually misrepresents what Ellie is saying, leading to an emotional outburst that sparks rumors that Ellie is “pretending to be deaf.” Meanwhile, Jackson Messina doesn’t understand the constant numbness in his legs or why he’s feeling so fatigued. Following a disastrous outcome at his last soccer match, he’s been avoiding his team, who are still angry. Asked to give the new student a school tour, Jackson agrees but fumbles when he realizes she’s Deaf. However, Ellie’s prickly personality intrigues Jackson, and he begins teaching himself ASL. Via Jackson and Ellie’s alternating perspectives, Sortino (Give Me a Sign) details Jackson’s health challenges and Ellie’s conflicts at home taking downward spirals, which leave the teens wondering if they’re better off alone. The pair’s sweet courtship leans into missteps and aching human moments in this empathetic romance that intricately depicts Deaf and disabled experiences. Protagonists cue as white. Ages 12–up. Agent: Kari Sutherland, KT Literary.
Starred review from August 16, 2024
Gr 8 Up-Sortino's sophomore novel is a brilliantly honest romance with two teens learning how to handle surprising life changes. With budget cuts closing Ellie's school for the Deaf, she is forced to enroll in her hometown's public high school for senior year. Being the only Deaf student creates new struggles, the least of which is dealing with her school guide Jackson. Jackson is the all-around nice guy student athlete; however, he's recently been thrown off-balance by unexplained health issues, and showing Ellie around school is an unanticipated addition to his daily schedule. Feeling a little lost and disconnected, Ellie and Jackson find understanding and community as connecting with each other leads to some very important discoveries. Sortino, who is Deaf and also lives with multiple sclerosis, positively translates Ellie and Jackson's individual struggles and triumphs with each of their disabilities (Jackson is diagnosed with MS during the story). The candid internal struggles enrich the characters' growth as readers see differing experiences within the vast disability community. The sweet romance between Ellie and Jackson is built on trust and healthy communication as their interactions open up a dialogue for readers who have been pushed aside or ignored in our often ableist society. Ellie and Jackson are cued white. VERDICT An earnest romance that strikes the perfect balance of hope and resilience while challenging readers to consider a world outside of their own. Purchase this title.-Emily Walker
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