True Biz

Starred review from February 28, 2022
Nović (Girl at War) returns with an electrifying narrative set at a present-day boarding school for Deaf high school students, where they find love and friendship and battle a series of injustices. It’s centered around the River Valley School for the Deaf and follows three protagonists: headmistress February Waters, a hearing ally of the Deaf community; Austin, the school’s popular kid who belongs to a generational Deaf family; and Charlie, the newly admitted transfer student who struggles to fit in because of her inability to use ASL. Instead, her hearing parents forced her to have a cochlear implant. February, determined to make Charlie’s language immersion easier, assigns Austin to be Charlie’s guide. A romance develops between the two, but Charlie still struggles—her learning is disrupted by her mother’s refusal to sign and the frequent headaches caused by the implant. Meanwhile, February has a troubled marriage and must fight against bureaucratic forces that are trying to shut down the school. Circumstances worsen when, one morning, Charlie, Austin, and his roommate go missing from the school. With complex characters seething with rage against the injustices they face, and an immersive and novel treatment of Charlie’s experience learning ASL, Nović offers an unforgettable homage to resilience. This is brilliant. Agent: Alexandra Christie, Wylie Agency.

September 1, 2022

Novic� (Girl at War) presents a searing but hopeful look at contemporary Deaf culture and the politics of disability. At River Valley School for the Deaf, combative new student Charlie Serrano is surrounded by other Deaf children and teens for the first time. Legacy student Austin Workman feels his secure self-image crumbling when his mother gives birth to his hearing sister. Headmistress February Waters (a hearing child of Deaf adults) fights to educate all her students, even as she sees the protective environment of the school slipping away. Lisa Flanagan's crisp, bright narration invites listeners to engage with a cultural background they may not have previously encountered while getting wrapped up in the daily concerns of the multi-layered characters. She makes each voice distinct while creating seamless transitions between points of view. Kaleo Griffith capably narrates brief interstitial chapters that offer explanations about American Sign Language (ASL) usage and Deaf history. ASL signing is creatively incorporated into the production using recorded signed dialogue, making the subtle sounds of hand on hand and rustling clothing an integral part of the audio experience. VERDICT Recommended for all listeners who love creative contemporary fiction.--Natalie Marshall

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