For Deaf Awareness Month, I complied a list of d/Deaf books that I recommend:
True Biz by Sara Novic [adult fiction]
This will always be one of my favorite Deaf books! It is a fiction read, following three characters at a deaf school. I found this to be a very informative read. It covered a variety of important topics within the deaf community such as the risks of deaf schools closing, the controversy of cochlear implants and language depravation. The book also shows the spectrum of deaf lives. Each character is deaf but are so different based on their communication methods. The book reads like a love letter to deaf community!
El Deafo by Cece Bell [middle grade/graphic novel]
An adorable graphic novel about deafness. It follows a girl who transferred to a new school. She showed and taught people about her deafness. The artwork in this graphic novel was very clear and showed how to interact with deaf kids. I laughed and cried. I could relate so well because I changed schools in 5th grade. I strongly recommend this book to young adults/kids but even adults would enjoy this too!
Haben, The DeafBlind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law by Haben Girma [memoir]
A memoir by the first DeafBlind person to graduate from Harvard Law. It shared her experiences from her childhood up to her college years. I found her to be a very strong and influential person. This book shows how to be a strong advocate. It was written beautifully, especially when the author shows her humor. I have been following her on social media where she continues to teach, so I’m still learning! It’s important that we recognize the spectrum of the deaf community which includes the deaf blind community. Haben’s story is an aspiring example.
You Don’t Know Everything, Jilly P! By Alex Gino [middle grade/fiction]
A fiction YA read about Jilly who has a new deaf baby sister. Her family maneuvers through deafness, finding the best resources for the baby sister. Jilly also has a new deaf friend who teaches her how to be an ally. I appreciated that the author explained, in the author’s note, how they were not deaf so that’s why Jilly was a hearing character. The author did not want to be inauthentic so they wrote the perspective of a hearing person learning about deafness.
Silent Alarm, On the Edge with a Deaf EMT by Steven L. Schrader [memoir]
I was excited to find this book when I joined the ambulance organization as a first responder a long time ago. It was really interesting to read about the author’s experiences and how it differs from mine, he was in a large/busy city while I was in a small town. There were still so many stories and experiences that I could relate to, as well the challenges and discrimination. This book was very encouraging to chase your dream. Well written book!
The Invention of Miracles, Language, Power and Alexander Graham Bell’s Quest to end Deafness by Katie Booth [non fiction/history]
One of most powerful books about deaf history. Alexander Graham Bell is known to many as the telephone inventor but he was controversial figure in the deaf community. He wanted to eliminate sign language and deafness. Bell was a huge supporter of the oral method education for deaf students. I read this well researched book and learned a lot! It’s also frustrating to see how much AGB shaped my life. I had plenty more to say about this book so here is a dedicated blog.
T4 by Anne Clare LeZotte [young adult/historical fiction/poetry]
Nazi Germany adopted the sterilization law program from the United States. The program was renamed T4. The Jewish people weren’t the only ones targeted, also disabled, mentally challenged, deaf, gay, people of color and many more. This book is a historical fiction, written in poetry style. It is a fast read with only 108 pages but powerful enough! There aren’t many stories about T4 or deaf experiences in Holocaust.
The William Hoy Story by Nancy Churnin [children/picture book/biography]
An adorable picture book about the deaf baseball player, William Hoy. Did you know baseball signs were created because of him?? The universal signs you see for Ball, Strike, Out, etc. It wasn’t common to use sign language back in the 1880s. While playing baseball, Hoy asked umpires to help him understand the games, they came up with hand gesture/signals and that’s how it came to fruition. I enjoyed this picture book about Hoy’s life and the history of baseball signs.
I’ll Scream Later by Marlee Matlin [memoir]
A memoir about her experiences in Hollywood, also some from her personal upbringing. She was one of my idols growing up because there were so few successful deaf people visibly out there. She is very honest and blunt, she shares and doesn’t hold anything back in this memoir. It was very interesting to read! I laughed at some parts because Marlee focused on 1980’s-2000s era, which included the technology we used back then. In the book, Marlee mentioned the closed captioning box… I remember toting that box to sleepovers. I met Marlee in Rochester, NY during her book tour in 2009. I was so excited and so shy, I froze and couldn’t say anything to her!
Hands of My Father, A Hearing Boy, His Deaf Parents, and the Language of Love by Myron Uhlberg [memoir]
A memoir by a CODA (Child of Deaf Adult/s). Beautifully written. He lived in Brooklyn, NY during the Great Depression with his deaf parents. This was my first CODA book. He shared a lot, especially the resentment/burden that he felt with having to interpret for his parents. Yet, he had a very close relationship with his dad. I was mesmerized by the way he wrote about his dad’s signing/hand movements. Even through this book was from my deaf culture but it felt foreign to me! Worthwhile to read because CODAs are part of the deaf spectrum.
Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly [young adult/fiction]
The book focuses on the isolation of a deaf girl in the hearing world. Iris is a 12 years old who is mainstreamed in a hearing school. She is often lonely and her classmates saw her as stupid. Iris learned about a hybrid whale that has its own song, that other whales doesn’t recognize. As a result, the hybrid whale is isolated and lonely. Iris was able to relate with the whale so she seeks out a solution to this problem. This book struck a chord because I understood the isolation. Heartwarming and adorable book!
Train Go Sorry, Inside a Deaf World by Leah Hager Cohen [nonfiction]
Even through the book was published in 1995, it still is worthwhile to read! It focuses on many stories of students, staff and alumni from a deaf school in NYC. It was a very engaging book, including debates within the deaf world - oral vs ASL, cochlear implants, etc. The book also included the history of the deaf school. The author herself was not deaf, but was the daughter of the principal of the deaf school (back in 1995) and her grandfather had been one of the original deaf students at the school.
Show Me a Sign by Ann Clare LeZotte [middle grade/historical fiction]
A historical fiction about Martha’s Vineyard Sign Language. The author is deaf and did a great job of researching for this book. The book follows an 11 years old girl who lives on Martha’s Vineyard with her family. Despite it being sad in some parts, it is very fascinating to read about the history of Martha’s Vineyard and the deaf community!
Everyone Here Spoke Sign Language, Hereditary Deafness on Martha’s Vineyard by Nora Ellen Groce [non fiction/history]
A history/non fiction book about Martha’s Vineyard and its deaf community. The deaf community existed on the island from 17th century until around 20th century. There had been a large deaf population, so Martha’s Vineyard Sign Language was invented. The hearing islanders learned it too. Imagine an entire community that could communicate with each other! I wish this still existed today. It was a well researched book but I was disappointed that no deaf people were interviewed. Still very interesting to read about this deaf history!
Silent Night by Sue Thomas [memoir]
Sue Thomas had been one of my biggest role models growing up. There was a TV show called ‘Sue Thomas FB Eye’ that focused on her experience working for the FBI. I had a strong interest in criminal justice and ended up majoring in it at college. This book focuses more on her personal life, it was really interesting to read about one of my role models! It was heartbreaking because she had a tough life, but I appreciated her honesty. The book was still very enjoyable to read.
Deaf President Now! The 1988 Revolution at Gallaudet University by John B. Christiansen and Sharon M. Barnartt [nonfiction/history]
In 1988 at Gallaudet University, a college for the deaf located in Washington DC, had a week long protest. The deaf students got frustrated when a hearing president was appointed, when they had request for a deaf president. This became one of the most important deaf historical event. The week long protest did conclude in Gallaudet seeing their first deaf president, I. King Jordan. It is a very inspiring read. DEAF CAN!
Deaf Utopia: A Memoir - And a Love Letter to a Way of Life by Nyle DiMarco [memoir]
Nyle DiMarco, known from his time on American’s Next Top Model and Dancing with the Stars. He won both! This is a personal memoir written about his childhood, upbringing, his deaf family, and more. It definitely read like a love letter to ASL and deaf pride/culture. I’m 3 months older than Nyle, but our lives were so different. This is a good example that not all deaf lives are same. There were some parts where I could relate to similar life experiences. I enjoyed this memoir!
Deaf Child Crossing by Marlee Matlin [fiction/middle grade]
This book was released while I was in elementary school. It was my first book with a Deaf character, so this became really special for me! It focuses on a Deaf girl who makes a new friend in her neighborhood. The new hearing friend learns sign language to communicate with her. This also struck a chord with me, reminding me of my childhood friend that I grew up with, who also learned ASL to communicate with me. A beautiful book about friendship.
Give Me A Sign by Anna Sorino [YA fiction]
I loved this book that came out in 2023. The book covered a wide spectrum of Deaf identities. The story takes place at a deaf camp following Lilah, who struggles with being “not deaf enough”. Something I am very familiar with! I wish I had this book when I was a teen! The author did an amazing job of educating about communication (ASL vs voice), the cochlear implants controversy, ableism, and many more.
On The Bright Side by Anna Sorino [YA fiction]
Another amazing book from Anna Sorino — I related a lot to the main character, Ellie who had to go to a new school and be mainstreamed. She meets a new friend, Jackson who has his own disability. The friendship between them is powerful as they maneuver through their journeys of being disabled. I love having more books with deaf/hoh rep!
Signs of Survival by Renee Hartman with Joshua M. Greene [YA memoir]
Renee is a Holocaust survivor, with her deaf sister. The book focused on their experiences as Jews living during the war and the camp. It is a raw and powerful read. The book is a transcribed compilation of video interviews that Renee did for Yale’s Holocaust testimonies archive. There aren’t many stories including deaf people during the Holocaust so this is important book to read.
The Deaf Girl by Abigail Heringer [memoir]
I enjoyed this memoir as I was a fan of Abigail during her time on The Bachelor. This is the first memoir I’ve read about a deaf person with cochlear implants. It is very interesting to learn about her experiences and there were quite a few experiences that we had in common. There’s such a wide spectrum of deaf identities so I highly recommend to have this book on your to be read list!
There are just some recommendations of what I’ve read… there are so many more d/Deaf books out there that I have yet to read! I encourage you to read these books to learn about the deaf culture and expand your knowledge about our deaf world!
