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An interesting middle grade novel about a deaf community on Martha‘s Vineyard in the 19th century.

Excellent middle grade historical fiction about a village on Martha's Vineyard where many people experience congenital deafness. Based on a real community.

This is one of the better pieces of MG historical fiction I‘ve come across. It explores the history of hereditary deafness on Martha‘s Vineyard in the early 1800s, as well as the sharp racial tensions there between the white settlers, the Wampanoag Indians, and the black freedmen all sharing the island. I learned that Martha‘s Vineyard Sign Language was one of several dialects that played a major role in the creation of modern ASL.

My first #MiddleGradeMarchThroughTime book was an absolute winner!! I listened to the audiobook while finishing up my first sock 😊
#audioknitting

I started two new books during my prep period today, despite the fact that I am already reading three - I'm just wild like that... 😂😂😂
Show Me a Sign is for #MiddleGradeMarchThroughTime and Vespertine is my February #bookspin

An fascinating look into life in a community where hereditary deafness is so commonplace everyone uses sign language in 1800s Martha's Vineyard. Mary Lambert doesn't think there's anything odd about her deafness until an outsider looking to study the origins of this "affliction" show up and makes her realize the rest of the world is not so kind to people like her. A really interesting YA historical fiction novel written by a Deaf woman.

I knew so little about Deaf culture on Martha's Vineyard nor the story of Mary Lambert who was kidnapped as a live specimen by a visiting scientist fascinated by the Deaf/HoH ratio on the island. Considered middle grade the content is easy to understand and perfect for readers of diverse characters while also shedding light on a little know part of history.

This is the second of two books my librarians book club discussed tonight. We all loved it! Historical fiction that turns to action & adventure in Part Two. The author is a Deaf librarian and you can clearly see her love for the fascinating history of this community and for great stories.

The same young girl is treated in a vastly different fashion when she is taken from her island home to Boston. On Mary‘s island, there are many people who rely on sign language. Even those with perfect hearing use sign. In Boston, those who are hearing impaired are seen as deficient in reasoning and worthiness. A great historical novel. Worth the read for the characters alone!!

This #MiddleGrade historical novel is exactly the kind of book that would have engrossed young reading me. It engrossed old reading me! Among the many good parts is when the author blends English & MVSL—not in the obvious way of explaining signs but in the structure of the language conveying main character‘s thoughts. The ending is beautifully satisfying. I don‘t have to say it on this platform, but backmatter reading is a must.

I ran out to the library an hour before it closed for lockdown to grab a book for my dissertation, and spotted Show Me a Sign on the new children's book shelf and had to pick it up. It remains one of the most layered children's books I've read: an #OwnVoices Deaf author writing a Deaf protagonist about the historically mostly deaf population on Martha's Vineyard during the colonial period. ⬇️
#LockdownFaves
@ShyBookOwl

Loved it! Such a good story about treating others with compassion and equity with some action! Great historical fiction for middle graders.

It‘s 1805 and Mary lives on the island of Martha‘s Vineyard where, like her, many people are deaf. Growing up in a community where most people, hearing and Deaf, are accustomed to signing, Mary doesn‘t realize this is unusual until a stranger comes looking for a “live specimen.”

This captivating story explores prejudices on many different levels, and tells a remarkable that will stay with you.

#ownvoices
#schneiderfamilybookawardwinner2021

1) It used to be climbing trees (especially to read books in), but these days I love walking/hiking.
2) Introvert who is sorely missing time alone in my apartment (sorry husband!)
3) 15 - many for the Children's Lit class I am teaching. I highly recommend the 2020 tagged book for its intersectional discussion of disability, race, and culture!
4) Sending peace and love to all Littens!

#friyayintro @4thhouseontheleft @howjessreads

A welcome addition to the thick field of middle-grade historical fiction. She broaches thorny topics of racism and ableism with vulnerability and an awareness of privilege, inviting readers to imagine themselves in the footsteps of those experiencing bias and ignorance. LeZotte is a Deaf librarian and author and cites her yearning for Deaf heroines as the reason for Mary and this novel.
https://historicalnovelsociety.org/reviews/show-me-a-sign/