Sail Me Away Home (Show Me a Sign Trilogy, Book 3)

by Ann Clare LeZotte Narrated by Nora Hunter

Overview

This gripping story, set in the world of the award-winning Show Me a Sign and Set Me Free, completes an unforgettable trilogy centering the d/Deaf experience.

"Thrilling, important, and profoundly moving. A true gift." -- Brian Selznick, creator of the New York Times bestsellers Big Tree and The Invention of Hugo Cabret, winner of the Caldecott Medal

As a young teacher on Martha's Vineyard, Mary Lambert feels restless and adrift. So when a league of missionaries invite her to travel abroad, she knows it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Paris is home to a pioneering deaf school where she could meet its visionary instructors Jean Massieu and Laurent Clerc--and bring back their methods to America!

But the endeavor comes at a cost: The missionaries' plan to "save" deaf children is questionable at best--and requires Mary's support. What's more, the missionaries' work threatens the Wampanoag and other Native peoples' freedom and safety. Is pursuing Mary's own goals worth the price of betraying her friends and her own values?

So begins a feverish and fraught adventure. Brimming with vivid detail and startling insight, Sail Me Away Home will enrich your understanding of the d/Deaf experience as it celebrates d/Deaf history, culture, and community.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Praise for Sail Me Away Home:

"LeZotte's prose is as lovely and descriptive as ever. . . . Without turning the story into a lecture, she depicts the benefits of bilingual education for deaf students and weaves Mary into Deaf history. . . . Fans will be pleased with this third installment in a delightful series." — Kirkus Reviews

"With Sail Me Away Home, Ann Clare LeZotte completes her stunning trilogy of books that simultaneously tells the breathtaking story of Mary Lambert, a brave Deaf girl in 19th century America, while also shining an important spotlight on Deaf history itself. The book is a thrilling, important, and profoundly moving evocation of the Deaf experience from a brilliant Deaf writer. Thank you, Ann Clare LeZotte, for the gift of Mary Lambert, a character we can all relate to and will never forget." — Brian Selznick, bestselling creator of Big Tree and the Caldecott Medal winner The Invention of Hugo Cabret

"Readers will be delighted that Mary's story continues in this compelling seafaring adventure. A fascinating historical backdrop, timeless social issues, and Mary's sense of humor add layers of depth to the story. Mary is a relatable hero everyone can look up to, with her fierce determination, compassion, and commitment to stand up for those who've been cast aside." — Lynne Kelly, author of the Schneider Family Book Award winner Song for a Whale

"LeZotte deftly weaves Deaf history throughout Mary's adventures. This book is *kissfist*!!!" — Alex Gino, award-winning author of Melissa and Green

"A beautifully written, fascinating, and nuanced historical middle grade series written by a deaf author." — Book Riot

Distinctions and Praise for Set Me Free:

“Exciting and heartfelt throughout. Mary and her world are instantly captivating, and her daring rescue mission will keep readers hooked until the very end. In addition to the central themes of ableism and language deprivation, LeZotte naturally weaves in social issues of the time that still resonate today, including racism, colorism, feminism, and colonialism. Readers who enjoyed the previous title will be particularly delighted to read about Mary’s further adventures. A simultaneously touching and gripping adventure.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Full of adventure and twists, and LeZotte never shies away from addressing racism, ableism, or sexism…the book’s themes resonate today, as Mary fights for the rights of all people and offers hope to readers facing challenges. A gripping tale of historical fiction.” — Booklist

"Throughout, as in the previous novel, LeZotte sensitively interweaves and illuminates historical, white attitudes toward deaf people, the Wampanoag people, and the Black population, all the while championing Mary’s forthright insistence that all be treated with respect. Mary seems set to become a true hero-adventurer, an almost larger-than-life sleuth, teacher, and woman of action; and while the story’s subject matter is serious in its engagement with history’s ills, LeZotte conveys a sense of real enjoyment in having Mary disrupt...the prejudices and expectations of the status quo." — The Horn Book

"A riveting story of courage and compassion. I could not put this book down! By bringing the cruelties of our past out of the shadows, Ann Clare LeZotte shines a light for our way forward." — Christina Soontornvat, author of the Newbery Honor book A Wish in the Dark

"Set Me Free kept me turning pages until the very end. Ann Clare LeZotte challenges us to examine our own often-skewed perspectives and reminds us that human dignity is innate and that kindness is a universal language." — Ann E. Burg, author of the Claudia Lewis Award winner Flooded: Requiem for Johnstown

"Ann Clare LeZotte has given readers a beautiful gift. Set Me Free is a riveting story about a girl's struggle for deaf dignity and the hope for understanding." — Aida Salazar, author of the Jane Adams Peace Award Honor book The Land of the Cranes

"Mary Lambert's strong spirit, observations, and concerns about all aspects of life, and love for people make her so inspiring!" — Penny Gamble-Williams, activist and Spiritual Leader of the Chappaquiddick Tribe of the Wampanoag Nation

"Secrets, suspense, and surprises abound, but at the heart of Ann Clare LeZotte's brilliant novel are two girls who have much to say despite a world determined to silence them." — Lisa Yee, author of Maizy Chen's Last Chance

Distinctions and Praise for Show Me a Sign:

Schneider Family Book Award Winner

Jane Addams Children's Book Award Finalist

New England Book Award Finalist

NPR Best Books of 2020

New York Public Library Best Books of 2020

Chicago Public Library Best Boooks of 2020

Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2020

School Library Journal Best Books of 2020

American Indians in Children's Literature Best Books of 2020

Capital Choices Best Books List

CCBC Choices Best of the Year List

"LeZotte's novel is more than just a page-turner. Well researched and spare, it's a sensitive portrayal of a young girl's fight for respect and human dignity... Like Laurie Halse Anderson's Seeds of America trilogy, this work of historical fiction offers a fresh perspective on the post-Revolutionary War years by exploring issues that are just as relevant today. Middle-grade readers of every age will find a girl to root for who is asking all the right questions as she grows." — Newbery Medalist, Meg Medina for The New York Times

* "A must-read." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* "Will enthrall readers...profound." — The Horn Book, starred review

* "Expertly crafted...Exceptionally written." — School Library Journal, starred review

* "Engrossing." — Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Show Me a Sign is the rare book by a Deaf writer illuminating the Deaf experience for young readers. LeZotte takes us on an extraordinary journey that Deaf readers will surely identify with, and which will come as a revelation for hearing readers, reminding us that, as LeZotte says in the book, 'We are fine as we are made.' Show Me a Sign is a triumph for everyone!" — Brian Selznick, creator of Wonderstruck and the Caldecott Award winner, The Invention of Hugo Cabret

"There is so much to love about Show Me a Sign, I hardly know where to begin. LeZotte's storytelling is engrossing, and Mary is an endearing, resilient hero. This book blew me away. I can't wait to share it!" — Alex Gino, Stonewall Award-winning author of Melissa

"Show Me a Sign celebrates our differences and our sameness, our past and our future. Spend time in Mary's world. You'll be better for it." — Erin Entrada Kelly, author of the Newbery Award Winner, Hello, Universe

"Precise and thoughtful... LeZotte's depiction of language is striking — the reader sees the difference in conversations in spoken English and MVSL — and she thoughtfully addresses tensions among the white, Black, and Wampanoag people who share the island. LeZotte, who is Deaf, makes the point that nothing should stand in the way of building community and seeking equality, a sentiment that resonates today." — Booklist

"An interesting and very enjoyable work of historical fiction about a time period and topic that has rarely been written about... LeZotte's writing is fresh, crisp, and exciting. The way she portrays the deaf community and the nuances of sign language make the story all the more informative and readable... The information in her [back matter] notes is so intriguing." — School Library Connection, Highly Recommended

School Library Journal

12/01/2023

Gr 3–7—In this third installment in the series, Mary is a deaf teacher of other deaf young people in her town of Chilmark on Martha's Vineyard. Although she is comfortable in this community where many residents are deaf and using sign language is common, she feels a restless desire to do something great with her life. When given the opportunity to travel with missionaries to England and France, Mary is eager to see the land of her ancestors and the Parisian school for the deaf that is becoming famous for its progressive teaching methods. Although she is reluctant to travel with missionaries (who habitually ignore her and whose interests often threaten the Wampanoag and other Native communities), she knows this is her only chance to learn how to set up a school that will treat the deaf and speechless with dignity. The passage to Europe is arduous, and the school in England disappointing; in France, Mary meets the leaders of deaf education, Jean Massieu and Laurent Clerc, and she comes to appreciate the development of the sign language that she has used all her life. There is the opportunity for a continuation, as the book ends with Mary envisioning returning to New England to share all she has learned. Frequent references to previous volumes can be confusing to those who have not read the series. Lezotte based Mary's experiences and her community on facts, and offers a rich explanation of the development of sign language and education of the d/Deaf, so that readers have an opportunity to learn about a vibrant population that has often been neglected and overlooked. VERDICT Exciting, heartrending and informative, this volume is a strong addition to the series.—MaryAnn Karre

NOVEMBER 2023 - AudioFile

Nora Hunter gives voice to the thoughts and signs of Mary, a young, deaf teacher. Hunter's prim and proper tone matches the period language and enhances the early postcolonial setting of this audiobook. Mary's island community is unique because deafness is commonplace, and all residents use sign language. Mary yearns to travel to study at the famous deaf school in Paris, but when she garners passage to Europe with missionaries, she soon regrets it. Hunter expresses Mary's frustration with their methods and slights in a pragmatic, rather than angry, tone. The book is an engrossing introduction to sign language history, particularly the now-lost Martha's Vineyard Sign Language. Deaf culture is presented respectfully, and Mary is a capable protagonist. A timeline and notes follow this stand-alone novel. L.T. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine

Kirkus Reviews

2023-09-09
Mary Lambert returns for a journey that takes her to London and Paris in this follow-up to Set Me Free (2021).

It’s 1810 and Mary, a deaf white teenage girl, is the teacher in her village on Martha’s Vineyard. In her world, deaf and hearing people live and work together, and nearly everyone knows Martha’s Vineyard Sign Language. As in the previous books, Mary leaves home, this time to travel with missionaries to Europe and learn how schools for the deaf are run there. Though this experience is far less harrowing than her first two adventures, she still encounters audism at every turn, ranging from condescension to an attempt to sell her to a workhouse. LeZotte’s prose is as lovely and descriptive as ever, vividly depicting Mary’s world as well as her inner life, which is plagued by the traumas of her previous experiences. The author continues to comment on not only audism but also varied prejudices and colonization. Without turning the story into a lecture, she depicts the benefits of bilingual education for deaf students and weaves Mary into Deaf history as she comes into her own as a deaf educator. The open ending does leave space for Mary to grow in the minds of readers, but it feels comparatively underwhelming and unresolved. This book may be enjoyed on its own but is better appreciated as a continuation of Mary’s story.

Fans will be pleased with this third installment in a delightful series. (additional information) (Historical fiction. 8-14)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940159635235
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	11/07/2023
Series:	Show Me a Sign
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	8 - 11 Years

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