Show Me a Sign: a story with heart first, deafness second

 

Show Me a Sign by Ann Clare LeZotte is a middle-grade, historical fiction story that centers on Martha's Vineyard island and its deaf community in the 1800s.  One part mystery, grief, race and prejudice, this story works in numerous layers that make it perfect for discussion and further study.

Mary, an eleven year old deaf girl, lives on the island with her (hearing) mother, (deaf) father, and has just recently lost her older (hearing) brother to a tragic accident.  The island is composed of Wampanoag people, Black former enslaved people, and descendants of English settlers.  Surprisingly, one in four people on the island is deaf, so they have all created and sustained a type of sign language that everyone speaks.  When a strange, young scientist arrives on the island to investigate the cause of the deafness on the island, Mary senses something is amiss in him and spies on his activities.  Unfortunately, the spying puts Mary right in harms way with no way back to her family, quite literally.

Thomas, a formerly enslaved, now free Black man who works for Mary's family tells her that "many people would like to turn back time.  We must move forward from where we stand.  The sun rises every day and time goes on."  This is especially important to the story because Mary is going over the accident that took her brother repeatedly in her mind and she is unable to get through the stages of grief.  Her relationship with her mother is strained and she must figure out a way to relieve the guilt she has for feeling responsible for her brother's death.

The most eye-opening part of the book is that it is told through a deaf person's perspective.  Since the author is part of the deaf community she can write first-hand about the deaf experience with authenticity.  LeZotte writes, "Silence.  I'm sure that many hearing people, especially those that don't know the deaf, imagine our lives are filled with silence. That's not true." Mary's persona and thoughts reflect a fully-formed, vibrant person who is shocked at the prejudice and ill treatment she receives when she travels to Boston.  This story would help to have readers empathize with people who are different and learn more about their lives.  

There are historical topics that readers can research after they've read the book.  Starting from the names for the objects and clothing that islanders used and wore, like mobcaps!  Readers can also look up more information on the history of deafness and deaf people in America.  The struggle for Wampanoag people to retain the rights to their land is another element of the story that is substantial, too.  Mary understands at one point that the same prejudice that exists for the deaf community also goes for the Wampanoag and Black community members of the island.  Readers can connect this racism to what they see in current events in America and find parallels between the issues that Mary dealt with and other marginalized groups today.

This award-winning book deserves to be read by all educators and middle grade readers and up.  LeZotte and the We Need Diverse Books group shared an interview about the book for more information.  Readers would also benefit from seeing and hearing LeZotte tell about her book in the Scholastic book trailer.