On the Bright Side

April 29, 2024
When Ellie Egan’s Deaf boarding school closes, it means she’ll have to move home to Cincinnati, where she’ll be forced to complete her senior year at Amber High as the only Deaf student. It starts out poorly: one of Ellie’s interpreters continually misrepresents what Ellie is saying, leading to an emotional outburst that sparks rumors that Ellie is “pretending to be deaf.” Meanwhile, Jackson Messina doesn’t understand the constant numbness in his legs or why he’s feeling so fatigued. Following a disastrous outcome at his last soccer match, he’s been avoiding his team, who are still angry. Asked to give the new student a school tour, Jackson agrees but fumbles when he realizes she’s Deaf. However, Ellie’s prickly personality intrigues Jackson, and he begins teaching himself ASL. Via Jackson and Ellie’s alternating perspectives, Sortino (Give Me a Sign) details Jackson’s health challenges and Ellie’s conflicts at home taking downward spirals, which leave the teens wondering if they’re better off alone. The pair’s sweet courtship leans into missteps and aching human moments in this empathetic romance that intricately depicts Deaf and disabled experiences. Protagonists cue as white. Ages 12–up. Agent: Kari Sutherland, KT Literary.