For the most part, the book was very tame and I do think it could have reached a depth that it perhaps only skimmed the surface of, however, Maya as a protagonist was fiery and confident and I loved seeing her and Bea interact. Again, their relationship was a little two dimensional, but I really don’t want to nit pick because all in all I really enjoyed the book. A interesting and insightful book with a nice storyline and it goes without saying, an important story with lessons in acceptance in the face of something different.
In particular, I think one of the best moments in the book was when Maya was talking about cochlear implants. There are a couple of instances where someone asks why she wouldn’t get one given the opportunity and her response addresses the fact that firstly her deafness doesn’t need fixing – it’s part of her identity and she’s proud to be deaf. And then secondly that while cochlear implants might be the right choice for some people, it’s an irreversible surgery that doesn’t provide a magic ‘fix’.
In particular, I think one of the best moments in the book was when Maya was talking about cochlear implants. There are a couple of instances where someone asks why she wouldn’t get one given the opportunity and her response addresses the fact that firstly her deafness doesn’t need fixing – it’s part of her identity and she’s proud to be deaf. And then secondly that while cochlear implants might be the right choice for some people, it’s an irreversible surgery that doesn’t provide a magic ‘fix’.
Title: The Silence Between Us
Author: Alison Gervais
Type: Fiction
Published: 2019
Pages: 295
TW: Ableism
I’ve seen a couple of reviews who are critical of the book not being entirely accurate of a deaf person’s experience. I am not deaf or hard of hearing so I can’t pass judgement from my own experience but I don’t think it’s responsible to read a book with deaf representation and assume it is reflective of all deaf people’s experiences. With this book, I thought the author was brilliant and quashing some common assumptions that hearing people may have and showing how her protagonist experiences the world.
“Who was I? That was not a question I could answer very easily anymore. I had ambitions for my future, but who was I right now? A Deaf girl suddenly dropped into the middle of a hearing world I was positive I didn’t belong in anymore.”
I also loved Maya’s family and her relationship with her brother and mother. Her bother has cystic fibrosis so that representation was also great to see in the book but the way she was so determined to be the best older sister was heartwarming and delightful. The relationship that she then forms with some of the other students in her new school is also lovely and made the book a very cute read. My only slight criticism is I did think it was a little ridiculous how quickly Bea picked up ASL, but I was willing to let it slide and get caught up in the romance of it all.
Deaf student Maya moves from New Jersey to Colorado when her mum’s job is relocated. Knowing she will have to attend a hearing school surrounding by students who could react in all sorts of manners to her deafness, suffice to say she’s nervous. Then she meets Bea – he’s not perfect but he’s trying and Maya begins to realise that things might turn out better than she thought.
Review overview
CHARACTERS7.5
QUOTABILITY7.5
Summary
7.6Insightful, Compelling, Cute
