I really enjoyed True Biz by Sara Nović. In some ways it is a traditional coming-of-age story (three stories, I guess) – kids going to school, overcoming crises, experiencing love and loss – but with a serious twist. Most of the protagonists are deaf, and the action takes place at a school for the deaf.
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My exposure to the deaf culture is minimal and dates from long ago. Soon after I graduated from university, I took an entry level sign language course. I didn’t know any deaf people; I just wanted to learn. The course was very interesting, although I’ve forgotten almost everything, but two things that stuck with me are:
- Sign language is not English translated into sign; it is its own language;
- There is more than one sign language; and
- Deaf people have their own culture that is distinct from hearing culture.
True Biz does a great job of explaining sign language and deaf culture without getting in the way of the story. There are little blurbs throughout the book to help you along, but you can skim over those if you choose and stick to reading the story. I encourage you to read the blurbs, though.
As a novel, True Biz is a good young-adult type novel that tells a decent story. The characters are believable and distinct, with only a few that are a little one-dimensional. The story moves right along and I was never bored. I didn’t read it in one sitting, but it didn’t take me too many evenings to finish it.
I recommend True Biz wholeheartedly.
P.S. The title “true biz” refers to a deaf saying, meaning “seriously” or “this is important” or “real talk”.
