Waiting for a Sign

by Esty Schachter

Overview

Shelly and Ian used to be close, but after Ian leaves home to attend the Hawthorne School for the Deaf, Shelly feels abandoned, and the two drift apart.

When Ian returns home with news that the future of Hawthorne is in jeopardy, Shelly isn't sure she wants him back. And Ian, who has enjoyed living with students and staff who sign all the time, feels angry when his family forgets to do the same.

An explosive argument that could drive brother and sister further apart actually offers hope for reconciliation-a hope that grows as Shelly's spirited best friend, Lisa, helps strengthen their bond.

The siblings grow closer still when they find themselves coping with an unexpected tragedy. To fully heal her relationship with Ian, however, Shelly needs to acknowledge and understand why Hawthorne-and access to the Deaf community-is so important to him. To do so, she'll need to take action and stop waiting for a sign.

Written by clinical social worker Esty Schachter, Waiting for a Sign celebrates the beauty and power of Deaf culture, offering readers an opportunity for insight and understanding.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780692286982
Publisher:	Lewis Court Press
Publication date:	11/26/2014
Pages:	136
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.32(d)
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Esty Schachter is a writer and clinical social worker. After her first job at the Massachusetts State Association of the Deaf in Boston, she became a counselor. She has worked extensively with Deaf children in various school settings.

Schachter reviews children's books for Ithaca Child and has written poetry and essays for Mothering, the Ithaca Journal, Irving Parent, Northwest Baby & Child, Sing Heavenly Muse, and Response. Her first book, Anya's Echoes, was published by Fithian Press.

Schachter lives in Ithaca, New York, with her husband and two sons.

Editorial Reviews

03/09/2015
In a touching story that explores sibling relationships while offering insight into the Deaf community, 15-year-old Shelly has felt estranged from her older brother, Ian, ever since he enrolled at Hawthorne School for the Deaf, coming home only on weekends. Though Shelly can capably speak ASL (which Schachter writes as italicized dialogue), Ian has shut her out. Accepting that she and her brother may never be as close as they once were, Shelly clings to her outgoing best friend, Lisa. But Hawthorne may be closing its doors permanently, Ian is acting especially angry and distant, and his growing coziness with Lisa also builds tension between the siblings. Schachter (Anya’s Echoes) deftly conveys the complexity of being a Deaf teenager with hearing family members, as well as the close bonds that can form among individuals united for a common purpose. A tragedy that further disrupts Shelly’s life initially comes across as an attempt to add weight to a slender story, but Schachter’s handle on character development and honest descriptions of the grieving process allow the event to resonate meaningfully. Ages 12–up. (BookLife)

Publishers Weekly