This was a powerful and engaging exploration of the deaf community, weaving together personal stories that highlight both the challenges and joys of deafness. Sara Novic's writing is rich and evocative, bringing to life the experiences of her characters in a way that feels both authentic and deeply relatable.

Sara Nović's "True Biz" explores the Deaf community, filled with rich characters and poignant narratives that beautifully intertwine to create a profoundly moving story. This novel deserves four stars for its compelling portrayal of a world often overlooked in mainstream literature.

The strength of "True Biz" is its authentic representation of the Deaf experience. Nović, being Deaf herself, offers an insider's perspective that adds depth and credibility to the narrative. Her ability to convey the nuances of sign language and the complexities of Deaf culture is both educational and enlightening. The inclusion of sign language descriptions and depiction of Deaf culture's vibrancy are particularly commendable. I feel like I learned a lot.

I loved so much about this book, and will definitely recommend it for book clubs and groups exploring disability topics. It was educational while also being very engaging with great visual elements in the print edition. Deaf history and culture is so rich, and yet not well known. Setting the story at a high school with all the drama, and then including both the perspectives of the kids and their adults makes the story widely relatable.

A glimpse into deaf culture
True Biz by Sara Novic is a captivating novel that explores the complexities of the varying degrees of deaf culture and identity. Set in an exclusive, upper class deaf boarding school, the story unfolds through the perspectives of three main characters, February, Charlie and Austin; each of whom are grappling with their own personal journeys and the ever-present societal questions surrounding deafness.
Charlie, a newly arrived student with cochlear implants, faces the challenges of having hearing parents who appear to listen to everyone but her. Austin comes from a multigenerational deaf family and embraces his uniqueness whole heartedly. While, February, the CODA (child of deaf adults) headmistress, grapples with understanding her students’ needs and keeping the school doors open.
Novic, a deaf writer, masters immersive storytelling by creating a world where the readers find themselves looking through the complex lens of deaf culture.
The irony was never lost on me that I was “reading” True Biz by using the audiobook version. I am so happy I did as it made for such an unconventional adventure. It was extremely easy to follow and narrators Lisa Flanagan and Kaleo Griffith were remarkable, keeping the story fresh on my mind for months.
I highly recommend True Biz as a thought-provoking novel that sheds light on deaf culture and the ongoing struggles of the deaf community. The unconventional novel tackles a range of controversial topics as they pertain to deafness and readers gain valuable insights into the cultural and linguistic richness of the deaf world. The captivating coming-of-age story is recommended for all who are seeking a deeper understanding of the deaf community.

What a read! I can't believe I put this off for so long. I got an ARC of this way back in the day and just never got around to it. A thoroughly enjoyable book. You can tell Sara Novic has really found her stride since Girl From War.

I found this really educational and eye opening without feeling too preachy or dense. This was compulsively readable and I got through it in only a couple of sittings. The characters are complicated and heartfelt. The novel is interspersed with small ASL lessons and notes on the real world history of the Deaf community which I thought just added a layer of richness to this.

I will say, I think this book's downfall was the ending. It felt out of sync with the rest of the story and confusing the way certain characters were handled. It wrapped up too quickly and left me unsatisfied.

That being said, I think True Biz is a book unlike anything I've read before and Sara Novic is a voice that should be listened to. I'm excited to see what she writes next.

Thank you Net-Galley for an e-arc.

This was a great novel, and taught me a LOT about deaf culture. I enjoyed the little vignettes about ASL. I was also fascinated by the existing division among the deaf community when it comes to hearing aids. I liked the characters which were written with some depth and moral ambiguity. I also understand why the author kept the ending wide open, but as a reader, it left me a bit unsatisfied. Overall a book I would recommend to a wide audience as it can teach most of us about issues in the deaf community that we may not be familiar with (but which we should care about).

What an absolutely enchanting read! I couldn't read this fast enough. My husband and I have disputed the question of what would be worse, being deaf or blind? Reading this was not only completely eye opening but to follow the journey of these students, I couldn't get enough. The things that can be learned while reading this really make you sit back and think about things.

I would highly recommend this to anyone, it

I am so so happy that I read this book. It gave me such a different outlook on the deaf community. My privilege was checked all throughout reading this story, in the best way.

The story begins with a frantic February searching for three runaway students from a deaf school before all hell breaks loose. Charlie is born deaf. Her parents are at odds with how to raise her. Do they teach her American Sign Language, or do they use technology like Cochlear implants? When they choose the latter, and it is proven ineffective, Charlie is, in a sense, raised without the ability to communicate. After trouble in high school, she is sent to a boarding school for the deaf. When one of the most popular kids in school is assigned to help her, there was an immediate connection. High school and family dynamics create challenges. Will it force them to take extreme measures?

Told in three parts, Charlie struggles to learn ASL, and through her perspective, we learn the language, culture, and history of the deaf. February runs the underfunded school. Realizing that the school's funding will be cut completely, she is desperate for a way to keep things running. Her struggle represents the fate of many schools for the deaf across the country. Perpetually underfunded with the threat of closure always imminent. Then we meet Austin, the school star. He comes from what is essentially deaf royalty. Generations of deaf family members hold a lot of sway in the community.

The aspects of the story are very YA. Teen angst peppered with frustration in the deaf community. Characters are very well fleshed out, with the threat of the closure of schools very palpable. I like the symbolism of the final act of the students in the book. There are tools to help, but the will to find resources causes constant strife.

Favorite Passages:

“It is so damn depressing, February said as she pushed through the side door. That the biggest dream some people can muster up for their child is “look normal.”

“There was no point fighting it. She was her parents’ possession for another two years, a voodoo doll on which to exorcise their sorrows. ”

“Charlie said nothing, looked out the window as they drove out of Colson, hurtling past Edge Bionics as they went. The plant made all kinds of prosthetics, including CI components—perhaps her next processor was being forged in there right this second. She wondered if her mother ever thought of the factory’s proximity to their home as an omen the way she sometimes did, if her mother gleaned serendipity from what Charlie had always read as inescapable menace. Edge had painted their name in blocky navy blue, but beneath it, she could still make out the faded outline where Goodyear’s logo had been, where the brick was bright red and clean from years of having been shielded by those big, cursive sheet metal letters. What other little cities had seen a fate like this, Edge fleshing out the skeletons of old warehouses and industrial towns, wielding the shiny hope of a new future?”

This was a great book. I loved the examination of deaf culture as well as the feelings and experience of those who have loved ones who are a part of the deaf community. I highly recommend!

I just finished Sara Novic’s fantastic new book True Biz, “a tender, beautiful and radiantly outraged novel that follows a year of seismic romantic, political, and familial shifts for a teacher and her students at a boarding school for the deaf.” It’s a really great story about two deaf teens who attend the school, one who was raised in a family where deafness is the norm and deafness and deaf culture are exalted and celebrated, and one raised in a hearing family where her deafness is seen only as a disability (to be corrected through cochlear implant). A parallel storyline is that of the hearing headmistress of the school, a child of deaf adults (CODA) who is fighting to keep her unique school open. The story itself is interspersed with non-fiction chapters on deaf culture and community, various historical stories and events related to deafness, and teachings on ASL. I really enjoyed both aspects of this book, the engaging story and the enlightening facts. What I found most intriguing and enlightening is the whole concept of deaf culture and its celebration, definitely a paradigm shifting idea for me that I’m grateful to have discovered (know better, do better).

DNF. Unfortunately, this was a book I started multiple times but could just not get into. I appreciate having the opportunity to read this book, it was just not a good fit for me as a reader. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my gifted review copy.

The way this book weaves real Deaf culture throughout so seamlessly allows the reader to learn so much while also adding so much depth to the story. It also tackles the death of a parent, grief, ableism, and the many struggles that d/Deaf folks encounter throughout their lives.

This book feels like home for my little hard of hearing heart. Sara Nović, you have a real winner here. 🤟🏻

Read this if you like: Coming of age stories, learning about deaf culture, multiple POV, disability representation

We get the stories of people in the residential school for the deaf. Charlie, a rebellious transfer student who's never met another deaf person before. Austin, the school's golden boy, whose world is rocked when his baby sister is born hearing. Lastly, February, the headmistress, who is fighting to keep her school open and her marriage intact, but might not be able to do both.

As a series of crises both personal and political threaten to unravel each of them, Charlie, Austin, and February find their lives inextricable from one another--and changed forever. This is a story of sign language, lip-reading, cochlear implants and civil rights, isolation and injustice, first love and loss, and, above all, great persistence, daring, and joy.

Wow. I loved this book. I learned so much. It was a bit on the slower side. There was a lot of people to get to know. I do believe the characters could have been a bit more dimensional. This book was so fascinating. I loved the non fiction informational bits in between the chapters. I highly recommend this book!

True Biz is two interwoven stories of February, a principal of a school for the deaf and Charlie a teen who is just learning ASL for the first time. Right from the start we are faced with multiple challenges, Charlie is struggling to find her place in the world having hearing parents and challenges of having a cochlear implant and February is faced with losing her school and her livelihood of having a sacred place for deaf students. At first I was really into the storyline, however toward the middle it started to drag on and got a little long. I did appreciate the Deaf cultural context that was interwoven within this story, this was a unique read that is not common in mainstream literature. It was nice to see representation of the Deaf culture.

A lovely lovely lovely book that honors dead culture, and deserved all the hype it got. I am late to review this book, but I learned to much from this story while having a great time reading it!

I have recommended this book to so many others that have also loved it, and I'll keep on suggesting it!

A true eye opened with a crazy amazing cover design.

Thanks for the review copy!

Book Review:
Almost every teenager I know is preoccupied with friends, school, drama, and relationships. Mix with this in with being a part of the deaf culture at a school for the deaf, and you end up with a great book.

True Biz is a book that I will remember for awhile. Not only does it have an interesting storyline, but I loved how it included visual lessons of sign language between each chapter. The most interesting character to me was Charlie. She transferred to the school after she was basically de-languaged when she had a cochlear implant installed as a child that never worked properly. I loved following the relationship she formed with Austin, who came from a long-line of deaf family members, and grew up with ASL. There was also November, who was the headmaster of the school, and who was doing her very best to keep the school from shutting down.

I enjoyed this book because it made me have a new perspective on my students who have a hearing disability. It can't be easy to be mainstreamed into a classroom when you can't see everyone's face when they are talking or hear soft voices from across the room.

This would be a good book for your book club.

I was given this book for my honest review.

This one has been a great circulator for our location, first round purchase for all collections and a great book club option

This was such an interesting read! I loved the way there was some kind of lesson or explanation between each chapter. The ending was kind of abrupt, but I liked it that way.

This was a wholesome, progressive and inspiring book that had me from the start! I loved each of the characters and I learned so much by reading this book. While at first I was hooked, I did find myself not as excited to pick it up and wish that it was a little faster paced. Regardless, I think this is a book everyone could enjoy and would learn valuable information from!