As a Sibling of Deaf Adult (S.O.D.A.), my interest was piqued upon learning that the storyline revolved around a young adult romance set in a deaf/hard-of-hearing camp, featuring a deaf boy and a hard-of-hearing girl. The incorporation of sign language into written text intrigued me, given the visual nature of the language.
Lilah is stuck in the middle. At least, that’s what having hearing loss seems like—when you don’t feel “deaf enough” to identify as Deaf or hearing enough. But this summer, she is ready for a change. When she becomes a counselor at a summer camp for the deaf and blind, she plans to brush up on her ASL. Once there, she also finds a community. There are cute British lifeguards, a YouTuber who’s just a bit desperate for clout, the campers Lilah’s responsible for—and then there’s Isaac, the dreamy Deaf counselor who volunteers to help her with her signing. Romance was never on the agenda, and Lilah’s not positive Isaac likes her that way. But is she reading the signs wrong?
The portrayal of the two main characters, Isaac and Lilah, was particularly engaging. Lilah's journey as she navigated between the hearing world and the deaf/hard-of-hearing community at the camp was quite captivating. The depiction of some counselors' interactions with the hearing world, notably in scenes at the bar and convenient store, provided valuable insights. This portrayal shed light on a form of ignorance that I had not previously encountered while accompanying my deaf sibling. It was unbelievable to realize that such narrow-mindedness exists in the world towards the deaf.
The story resonated with me on a personal level, as it delved into the complex decision-making process that many in the deaf community face regarding cochlear implants. The narrative highlighted the contrasting perspectives of individuals contemplating this life-altering choice, shedding light on the profound impact it has on their lives. Personally, when my sibling became deaf, my family and I promptly embarked on learning sign language to effectively communicate with them. Commencing this journey at a young age has ingrained sign language into my being, fostering a deep connection with the language.
The debut work of this author offers an engaging and captivating reading experience. There has been a notable absence of young adult romance literature set in the deaf community, making this book a particularly welcome addition to the genre. It provides a compelling insight into the world of young adult romance within this context. Following this, readers are encouraged to explore the author's subsequent work, 'On the Bright Side'.
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