Waiting for a Sign by Esty Schachter

Shelly and Ian were the as close as brother and sister could be when they were younger but now that Ian’s deaf school might close down he’s spending a lot more time at home and they can’t stand each other. How can they reconnect and find a way to understand what each of them are going through in life?

Genre: Realist Fiction
Subject: Social education, Deaf, High school, Bother and sister
Pace: Fast
Reading ability: Easy

Book review in ASL (American Sign Language)

Translatied by Maria Milazzo
Camile is the lady reviewing the book and she introduces the book - title and author and describes it as being a small book and an easy read.

She goes on to explain that it's about a brother and sister. The brother's name is Ian and he's Deaf and the sister's name is Shelly and she's hearing. Ian's whole family is hearing except for him. Shelly can sign but the Mom and Dad have basic skills. She talks about how Ian and Shelly are super close until high school when the go to different schools - Ian to an Institute for the Deaf and Shelly to a regular school. At this time they grow apart and Ian struggles with that because he sees how close Shelly becomes to a girl named Lisa. Although they grow apart, something happens in the story that brings them closer together again. (She doesn't state what that is.)

She explains that the story is about Deaf culture and what it's like to go to a Deaf school. She says that the first part is a bit slow and that it gets interesting half way through. She doesn't like the ending though because it kind of ends abruptly and leaves you guessing. Overall, however, she enjoyed it, thought it was a good read and recommends it.

Reference: Schachter, E. 2014, Waiting for a Sign, Lewis Court Press.