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A review by sareidle
A Sign of Her Own by Sarah Marsh
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
A great read for Disability Solidarity Month! I'm thankful that Sarah Marsh merged her experience as a deaf person with the historical record of Alexander Graham Bell's deaf pupils. I learned a lot about what the deaf experience can be like, and how important sign language is as a communication form. I appreciated how Marsh only used quotations for written conversations as Ellen could directly cite what was communicated, whereas she was interpreting sign language and speech via lip-reading. Distinguishing the two timelines with a phrase in Visible Speech or a sign was creative and taught me a bit of sign language along the way. Switching between the timelines was a bit confusing, especially in the first half of the book, but the plot was clear by the end and I enjoyed watching the story unfold.
Graphic: Ableism
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Minor: Pregnancy