This heartbreaking novel in verse demanded to be read in one sitting. Based on a true story, I was swept up by the tragic upbringing of a deaf girl whose family refused to communicate with her. Thank goodness for teachers with hearts of gold.

Wow. Effie’s story is powerful and strong. Great for anyone who can relate to Effie and anyone who wants to understand what it would be like to be Deaf. For every child who is without a champion, may your Miss Kathy be right around the corner.

I am not typically drawn to novels-in-verse but the cover for Deer Run Home was so gorgeous that I had to know more, and the blurb promised an emotional story arc that didn’t disappoint. Told from the point of view of Effie, an elementary school student who is Deaf, we learn about her struggles to communicate, abuse, and eventual found family and new friends. This novel highlights the power of having and sharing one’s voice.

Once I started reading, I couldn’t put the story down and finished it in one evening. Definitely recommend this to anyone looking for an insightful and emotional read, and will be recommending this book for our school library.

This is a beautiful story about finding a place to belong in a world that doesn't understand you.
Effie comes from a family where she isn't tested well and no one tries to learn ASL to communicate with her. Her sister Deja is the only one who really makes the effort to communicate with her. She is finally removed from her home situation into Miss Kathy's home who knows she deserves love and a place to feel wanted.
This is a beautiful novel in verse about letting your past off your chest to make way for a brighter future.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

Y’all know I don’t give five stars easily. Novels in verse can go wrong quickly or can be really excellent- this is the latter. Effie is an immediately relatable character. She struggles with school work, especially math. Effie has some serious secrets, and struggles to know who to trust. All of us have some of these issues. Neglect, parental alcoholism, and molestation by a stepfather are presented here in a way that will speak to those who know, without terrifying those who don’t. The overarching message of the book is to speak up in whatever way you can. For Effie, it’s ASL, and ultimately poetry, both of which give her a voice in different ways. The importance of listening to each other is emphasized as well, particularly with regard to Effie and Cait’s friendship. I adore Cait, she’s a great friend. I love the motif of Golden Eyes. There’s so much to discuss here. An ideal classroom book. I’d pair it with Rez Dog (Bruchac) a/o The Red Pencil (Pinkeny).

A moving story of a young Deaf girl finding a new, safe home. Effie is growing up in two homes, both where she suffers abuse. None of her family members learn ASL to communicate with her, and she finds joy and relief when she can sign with the school’s assigned interpreter. Many people in Effie’s life have given up on her, and this story shows the power of a friend, and a teacher, to find the strength to tell your truth, as hard as it can be. Effie struggles with the standard school instruction methods, but finds a joy in poetry, both with writing and reading it, and in signing it as well. It made it all the more powerful to read this as a novel in verse.

I have read LeZotte’s historical novels, and once again she has broadened my understanding of this community and lived experience, and I appreciate her writing. I look forward to sharing this story with others in the library.

Note there are references to past sexual assault of the main character, and verbal abuse and neglect by her family.

Effie is a young deaf girl whose family has never bothered to learn American Sign Language so that they can communicate with her. This story takes place shortly after COVID when schools reopen. Effie relies heavily on her ASL interpreter at school, Miss Kathy. This is the one person in her life that understands her. Miss Kathy has a hunch that everything is not as it should be where Effie lives with her Dad so she takes the initiative to figure out what is going on. This is a beautiful novel in verse and heart wrenching story that follows Effie through learning to speak up and be a voice not only for herself but for others around her as well.

Excellent YA in verse. It has very intense topics. Not a lighthearted but very well written powerful novel.

Deer Run Home is a gripping novel in verse about Effie, a Deaf girl with very few allies in a hearing world. Effie's family does not learn sign and has no real way of communicating with her. Even her older sister, who is the only one making an effort, is angry at Effie for the fact that they have to move in with their alcoholic father (away from an abusive situation). There is one bright spot, Effie's translator, who sees the neglect level and fights for Effie's custody.

Throughout the story, Effie also bonds with Cait, a classmate with cerebral palsy. Cait learns ASL to better communicate with Effie, and the two team up against Cait's aide, who is overbearing.

LeZott handles the tough subjects with a deft hand. If the book has one weakness, it's that the connection Effie feels to wildlife is somewhat underdeveloped, but it doesn't detract from the impact of the story.

What a great book about survival, resilience, friendship, and poetry inspired by a true court case. Effie, who is deaf, and her sister are now living with dad after mom got tired of Effie’s problems. Living at dad’s is not easy because he points at things and stomps having never learned ASL, drinks, and there is hardly any food. Effie is afraid to tell her ASL interpreter, Miss Kathy. Effie makes a new friend Cait who has CP and is in a wheelchair. Miss Kathy seems to know things aren’t right at home and dad allows her to stay with Miss Kathy for the month. Effie is thrilled. When Effie finds out Miss Kathy wants full custody she is worried her dad won’t allow it. What happens now?
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.