GIVE ME A SIGN, by Anna Sortino, G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, July 11, 2023, Hardcover, $18.99 (young adult)
A Deaf teen hopes to find a place where she belongs as a junior camp counselor in Give Me A Sign, by Anna Sortino,
Lilah is stuck in the middle. At least, that’s what having a hearing loss seems like sometimes — when you don’t feel “deaf enough” to identify as Deaf or hearing enough to meet the world’s expectations. But this summer, Lilah is ready for a change.
When Lilah becomes a counselor at a summer camp for the deaf and blind, her plan is to brush up on her ASL. Once there, she also finds a community. There are cute British lifeguards who break hearts but not rules, a YouTuber who’s just a bit desperate for clout, the campers Lilah’s responsible for (and overwhelmed by) — and then there’s Isaac, the dreamy Deaf counselor who volunteers to help Lilah with her signing.
Romance was never on the agenda, and Lilah’s not positive Isaac likes her that way. But all signs seem to point to love. Unless she’s reading them wrong? One thing’s for sure: Lilah wanted change, and things here . . . they’re certainly different than what she’s used to. —Synopsis provided by G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
Give Me A Sign can be divided into two main elements —Deaf culture/representation and summer camp.
Author Anna Sortino — who is Deaf herself — does an excellent job diving into the varying degrees of hearing loss and their associated challenges. Her exploration of how those with hearing loss integrate into the “hearing” world is not only fascinating but eye-opening as to how frustrating things can be. Most readers will be surprised at the varying levels and will gain a greater empathy and understanding for the Deaf community at large. These parts of the book are authentic and moving.
The summer camp stuff, though, doesn’t have the same oomph to it.
Give Me A Sign is a slow-burn summer romance that kind of stalls. It just doesn’t read as if the author is excited about it as the rest of the book. The romance is fairly predictable, and the campers don’t really experience anything beyond being deaf or blind. It makes things feel a bit flat.
That’s not to say you shouldn’t read Give Me A Sign, but if you’re in it purely for story, I’d check it out from the library rather than purchasing it.
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