In both of these stories, the main characters are bilingual, speaking American Sign Language (ASL) and spoken English. The characters speak ASL for different reasons. The two main characters in A Song Below Water speak ASL as a way of communicating underwater (in the case of one character) and when they are not able to physically speak (in the case of the other main character). In Feathers, the main character uses ASL to communicate with her brother who is deaf. In both books, ASL is celebrated as beautiful, essential, and important. It is vital to have representations of people speaking ASL within books because deaf culture and deaf communities deserves to see themselves and their language shared in the stories that they read.
A Song Below Water
Author: Bethany C. Morrow
Description: A Song Below Water is a grounded fantasy novel set in the Pacific Northwest city of Portland. The book follows two Black teenage girls, one who is a siren and the other who is an unknown magical being. Forced to keep her siren identity secret due to the stigma placed on Black women sirens, one protagonist uses American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate when her voice feels like too much. The other main character, who is discovering her magical connection, uses ASL to communicate when performing as an underwater mermaid in the local renaissance fairs. This book also deals with the ivtersectionalities of race and womanhood.
Includes: #africanamerican #black #femaleprotagonist #sayhername #sirens #americansignlanguage #ASL #fantasy #magic #alternativeworlds #youngadultliterature
Citation: Morrow, B.C. (2020). A Song Below Water. Tor Teen.
Image retrieved from: Goodreads.
Feathers
Author: Jacqueline Woodson
Description: Feathers is a coming of age story set in the 1970’s about a Black girl whose brother is deaf and whose mother is dealing with depression. The story picks up when a new boy arrives at the protagonists school. Like her, he speaks both spoken English and American Sign Language (ASL). Unlike her, he is white. The two build a connection as she learns to re-frame her viewpoint on her brother’s deafness, her mom’s fear, and her own school community. This book also deals with the ivtersectionalities of race and disability.
Includes: #femaleprotagonist #africanamerican #black #historical #youngadultliterature
Citation: Woodson, J. (2007). Feathers. G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers.
Image retrieved from: Goodreads.