Set in the fictional River Valley School for the Deaf, Sara Novic’s coming-of-age novel True Biz introduces you to the world of deaf students, their teachers and their families through the intersecting stories of students Charlie and Austin and their headmistress, February, who is a child of deaf adults (CODA) and navigates the world between the hearing and the deaf.
Charlie, who struggles with cochlear implants and doesn’t know ASL, is new to attending a school for the deaf. Austin is the popular boy in school.
This is an unforgettable book on the human and political side of the deaf community. Have patience as you learn the writing style, which parallels the cadence of sign language as the story unfolds. With its similarities to the Academy Award-winning film CODA, you’ll love this book and the lessons it teaches.
Therese Sonnek is the branch manager of Ramsey County Library - White Bear Lake. Visit rclreads.org to learn more about RCL programs and locations.
