Title: The Language We Know

Author: even_a_memory

Genre: Teen Fiction

Quick Summary: This would be cute if it was like. Handled right.

Thoughts:

I wish this idea had been handled with a LOT more care, because the base of it is a good one. Unfortunately... it wasn't. In a lot of ways.

The biggest thing that bothered me about this book is how much it was hammered in that Maiya was "normal". Maiya. The one main character that is neither blind nor deaf. It's basically beat into our heads that BECAUSE she is neither of these things, she is "normal". This is... Incredibly, incredibly ableist. Please do not do this. Ever.

I know, later we're shown how her life really sucks or whatever. That doesn't fix the early constant assertion that she's more "normal" than the other two. 

My second biggest issue is with the conditions surrounding both Ev and Jamie. 

-Ev is deaf. She's been deaf since she was born. She wasn't officially recognized as deaf until she was four. If her family is not incredibly abusive/neglectful/just fucking stupid, it should not have taken them this long to realize that something is up and have her tested. Hell, when my youngest brother was barely 2 my mother's WIC doctor forced us to test him because he wouldn't listen to ANYTHING the doctor said. And that was just him being super stubborn. Also, who the hell realizes their kid isn't waking up and, even after she does, doesn't take her to the doctor? A dumb parent. That's who.

-Jamie is blind. He's not always been this way - he became blind after falling out of a tree when he was 8. Now, it's possible for this to actually happen.... but it's very, very rare. You have to hit your head just right. And... who is asleep for several days in the hospital after that?? How tall was this tree? Why was no bones broken, just his eyesight? In all honestly, it would make more sense for him to have some sort of degenerative eye problem - Stargardt's, for example. 

Can we talk about that scene where the teacher asks Ev and Maiya to tutor Jamie? Let's talk about that scene. This entire scene made me hate Maiya and Ev passionately. I know they didn't mean it maliciously, but leading Jamie on for an entire chapter is dumb at best and just plain cruel at worst. Seriously, why did it take Maiya so long to tell Jamie that Ev is deaf? It just creates false conflict. And in general, why are both of these characters angsting so hard about their disabilities?

Also, on a sidenote, the whole "you'll understand his predicament better than most" would've been a great moment to talk about classroom ableism... if like... there was any nuance to the topics this author is trying to handle.

Stop making everyone bully them for their disabilities. High school is fucking awful, but it's more than unlikely that most people at said high school will not care that Jamie is blind and Ev is deaf. Like. One of everyone's favorite kids in my high school was a deaf guy who loves Star Wars. He's awesome. I work with him now. He's a great knitter. 

On a more general note... 

-Why are the first three chapters dedicated to introducing the characters? It feels like a copout. Let readers learn about these characters as they read the book. Please. 
-Sometimes, the prose feels like it's trying too hard to be deep and poetic and some nonsense. Don't force it.

There are some things I did like about this book, though. I liked the chapter about Jamie's domino. I can relate. I like that Ev has a personality and it shows in her signing. And I like the chapter concerning how she tries to talk to Maiya about Maiya's problems, and how she basically talks herself out of being mean, and how Maiya reacts to that reaction. It's a good potential conflict.

I'll leave it on this note. Please do more research on the disabilities you're writing about. Try reading accounts and interviews from actually deaf/hard of hearing and blind people. Quit asserting Maiya is more normal because she has neither disability. Tap more into these characters. There's plenty of room for internal conflict here. You don't have to focus so much on all the external.