The Silence Between Us

Alison Gervais

2019 • 317 pages

Ratings3

Average rating3.3

Faced with the challenges of transitioning from a Hard of Hearing School to a Hearing high school, Maya has more than a learning curve. But what if she has more to learn about herself and how far she is willing to push for what she believes in? Perfect for contemporary fiction fans, The Silence Between Us is a novel that doesn’t shy away from the real-life struggles of high school, heart break, and d/Deaf culture. Schneider Family Book Award, Best Teen Honor Book 2020 Torn from her Hard of Hearing school when her mother's job takes them across the country, Deaf teen Maya must attend a hearing school for the first time since her hearing loss. As if that wasn’t hard enough, she also has to adjust to the hearing culture, which she finds frustrating. When her new friends and classmates start pushing into Maya’s thoughts about what it means to be Deaf, it clashes with her idea of self-worth and values. Looking past graduation towards a future medical career, Maya knows nothing, not even an unexpected romance, will derail her pursuits or cause her to question her integrity. Wattpad sensation Alison Gervais writes a stunning portrayal of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing culture in this clean YA contemporary romance. Drawing from her own deaf experience and relationship with the HoH community, Gervais provides a personal interview and commentary on cochlear implants. The Silence Between Us mixes lighthearted romance with deeper social issues facing minority groups. “The Silence Between Us?is eminently un-put-down-able.” (NPR) “Gervais deftly renders both the nuanced, everyday realities of life with disability and Maya’s fierce pride in her Deafness, delivering a vibrant story that will resonate with Deaf and hearing audiences alike.” –?Booklist “A solid addition to middle/high school fiction that allows for deep discussion about stereotypes concerning disabilities.”?School Library Journal “This is a great YA contemporary (clean) romance that follows Maya as she navigates a new school and plans for her future. The addition of representation by a Deaf character was really beautifully done. Highly recommend for people looking for a sweet, engaging, and educational romantic read.” (YA and Kids Book Central)

Want to edit this book?Become a Librarian

Popular Reviews

Reviews with the most likes.

Spiritomb

Preface to my review: I am hearing. I have a few Deaf/HoH friends and know a little ASL (a few signs beyond fingerspelling, plus some spatial grammar). Most of what I know about Deaf culture and d/Deaf history is through the aforementioned friends.

I really enjoyed this book a lot, and learned new things about how to better advocate for d/Deaf folks. I didn't know, for instance, about virtual remote interpretation in hospitals. There is a big overlap between audism and discrimination against autism. I related very strongly to Maya's initial apprehension and suspicion of Beau for using ASL with her—it is not unlike when a neurotypical person immediately starts telling me about their autistic relative, upon learning I'm autistic.

The scenes where Beau screws up a sign are amusing. There were no instances of him messing up spatial grammar or facial expressions, but that also could have been a source of humor.

The part where Maya yells “Did you not know that the disabled chick can lipread?” kind of handled the deaf/disabled distinction in a way that a disabled reader might see as offensive or confusing. Perhaps in future editions, the author's note can include some discussion of why many deaf people do not consider being deaf to be a disability, and why that in itself is not something that devalues disability.

I appreciated the author's note, especially regarding cochlear implants. I already knew a lot from my friends (one of whom got a CI as a teen, as his own choice), and it's deepened my understanding of the topic. The topic of cochlear implants among d/Deaf people is not unlike the topic of ABA among autistic people: very controversial, can be used as a means to separate someone from a Deaf/autistic community, and involves serious issues of informed consent.

April 13, 2024