This.
This is the story that I have been waiting and searching for. The kind of book that has not only a great Deaf representation but also has a great plot. The dialogue was witty, there was believable romance (even with "instant love"), and a trope that I love to read - fake dating.
The Right Sign by Nia Arthurs
The plot of the story is that of a hearing man who falls first for a deaf woman. Dare, the hearing man, had always heard how his father fell for his mother the first instant that he saw her and he didn't believe it could happen. Yaya is a model and is deaf. She has always refused to date hearing men (as she would have to explain constantly about deaf experiences) but after unfortunately first meeting circumstances (Yaya and her friend destroy Dare's expensive, rare car), they begin to fake date.
Dare needed a "fake girlfriend" as he was needing emergency guardianship of his niece. He convinces Yaya to play his girlfriend (fake dating) instead of pressing charges. He was already half in love with her at this time.
So that's the start. But what is just absolutely amazing is that Dare, as soon as he realizes that she is deaf, hires a entire interpreting team (from a driver to a personal interpreter for both him and Yaya) as well as begins learning ASL so that they can communicate and Yaya has access.
But, he doesn't just rely on the interpreters.
Dare not only has the interpreters, but he often sends them away and knows that he needs to be able to communicate with Yaya without them - from doing simple signs and incorrect grammar (Yaya corrects) to using notes on his phone to chat to text messages to even just facial expressions and gestures. He accommodates whatever she needs for communication. (Cue heart eyes!)
Great Deaf Representation
Some accurate depictions on deaf representation:
Miscommunications that happen when one is hearing and one is deaf
Deaf history and culture explanations
Experiences on page or explained by Yaya (Henry and Niko too - other deaf characters)
Showing hearing aids / cochlear implants aren't miracle workers
Showing the struggles of being hired (or fired) from jobs due to deafness (labeled hard to work with due to needing interpreters, etc.)
There is so much more that I could talk about, but all this to say, it was very clear that the Ms. Arthurs had deaf sensitivity readers before she published.
Book Quotes
While I bookmarked nearly 25 pages, and highlighted countless sentences, I'm going to share three below with my comments:
"I CAN voice but I CHOOSE not to. Hearing people build a different set of expectations when I voice. Plus, I'm more comfortable signing." - Yaya
So, I am the same way. I am hard-of-hearing, I do voice but I also sign. Most times, I willingly do both.
But there are times when I'm out and about, and especially if it's loud and hard for me to see someone's lips to lip-read, I will be voice off. I will sign only because it is easier for hearing people to understand that I CAN'T hear them.
And it's just a big reminder that HEARING and SPEAKING are not the same thing. You can be deaf but still speak. Or even, you can be non-verbal and still hear.
Interestingly, this goes with a previous highlight I made in a beginning chapter, Yaya notes that "(Henry) He's aware of how brutal hearing people can be when they find someone even remotely different to them."
In a chapter with Dare's POV, he notes, "After being with Yaya, it's become clearer to me how important accessibility is. I wish I'd learned ASL sooner."
THANK YOU. Yes.
Language Priority has a sticker that says, "I've yet to meet anyone who has regretted learning sign language. But, I have met many who have regretted not learning sign language."
In a chapter where Yaya is dancing to loud music at a farmhouse after a tough day, Dare notes, "After diving into my research of ASL and Deaf culture, I've begun to understand how little of the world caters to the deaf community. The lack of understanding, the lack of infrastructure, the lack of basic knowledge from outsiders must be isolating...There must be no escaping it. That feeling of being on the outside. Of not being understood. Of having to work extra hard just to be treated equally."
Absolutely, completely 100%. That's all I am going to say on this section. Ms. Arthurs is spot on in this observation.
There were some fun pages where Dare's niece Talia asks questions about deafness and signing to Yaya - one that makes me laugh is that she asks why Yaya doesn't speak and Yaya simply says "Signing is the way I speak" to which Talia asks her if her hands ever get tired and Yaya promptly responds, "Does your voice?" That make me laugh so hard because it's true - and a conversation I've had with my own children.
As another note, The Right Sign can also be linked with another romance book (Prickly Romance) with a single dad of a deaf daughter (Niko) who falls for Yaya's sister Deej. This book is technically set before Yaya's book, but can be read as a standalone.
Both of these books, I highly recommend. They were excellent with their deaf representation and and also, a quick, enjoyable read.
Happy reading!
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