Blurb
Moving halfway across the country to Colorado right before senior year isn’t Maya’s idea of a good time. Leaving behind Pratt School for the Deaf where she’s been a student for years only to attend a hearing school is even worse. Maya has dreams of breaking into the medical field and is determined to get the grades and a college degree to match, and she’s never considered being Deaf a disability. But her teachers and classmates at Engelmann High don’t seem to share her optimism.
And then there’s Beau Watson, Engelmann’s student body president and overachiever. Maya suspects Beau’s got a hidden agenda when he starts learning ASL to converse with her, but she also can’t deny it’s nice to sign with someone amongst all the lip reading she has to do with her hearing teachers and classmates. Maya has always been told that Deaf/hearing relationships never work, and yet she can’t help but be drawn to Beau as they spend more and more time together.
But as much Maya and Beau genuinely start to feel for one another, there are unmistakable differences in their worlds. When Maya passes up a chance to receive a cochlear implant, Beau doesn’t understand why Maya wouldn’t want to hear again. Maya is hurt Beau would want her to be anything but who she is—she’s always been proud to be Deaf, something Beau won’t ever be able to understand. Maya has to figure out whether bridging that gap between the Deaf and hearing worlds will be worth it, or if staying true to herself matters more.
And then there’s Beau Watson, Engelmann’s student body president and overachiever. Maya suspects Beau’s got a hidden agenda when he starts learning ASL to converse with her, but she also can’t deny it’s nice to sign with someone amongst all the lip reading she has to do with her hearing teachers and classmates. Maya has always been told that Deaf/hearing relationships never work, and yet she can’t help but be drawn to Beau as they spend more and more time together.
But as much Maya and Beau genuinely start to feel for one another, there are unmistakable differences in their worlds. When Maya passes up a chance to receive a cochlear implant, Beau doesn’t understand why Maya wouldn’t want to hear again. Maya is hurt Beau would want her to be anything but who she is—she’s always been proud to be Deaf, something Beau won’t ever be able to understand. Maya has to figure out whether bridging that gap between the Deaf and hearing worlds will be worth it, or if staying true to herself matters more.
Review
My Rating - 5 Stars!
The Silence Between Us is a stunning young adult romance by Alison Gervais.
It's truly a wonderful and powerful story featuring a disabled character. The author excels in her illustration of a deaf person living in a hearing world. She explores the hardships, the stigma, and the limitations.
Maya is an amazing main character, who lost her hearing after contracting meningitis. Starting a new school, aka a hearing school, is a challenge, as well as a godsend for her.
Beau is the perfect boy for her as a friend, as a support, and as a boyfriend. His desire to learn about her world, as well as challenging her, yet also understanding her is amazing.
And Maya, damn, Maya is an incredibly strong girl. She's learned to adapt, she's learned to accept her deafness, and she's learned to be happy despite her problems. It's refreshing to read about a strong character, who's always facing obstacles and prejudice, yet doesn't whine or cry constantly.
This story explores many aspects of being deaf, representing the disabled world in a powerful manner. Not only does the reader follow Maya through her school issues, but also through her issues with having a job, attending college, and deciding a career.
Alison Gervais has impressed me with The Silence Between Us. To me, it's a powerful book like Wonder that should be read by all. It's both riveting and impressive in it's delivery of this accomplished storyline.
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