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Air date: July 7, 2024
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JESSICA:
Hi, this is Jessica Russell. I’m the assistant director of collection services at Sno-Isle Libraries. And welcome to Book Buzz.
Today's two reading recommendations are both novels; one is set at a boarding school, and the other in the belly of a beast.
First, we’re going to hear from Abby, librarian at the Arlington Library, for a story that delves into the world of a school for the deaf. Over to you, Abby.
ABBY:
Thanks, Jessica. “True Biz” by Sara Nović takes readers to the halls of River Valley School for the Deaf where they meet Charlie, a deaf teenager who has spent her whole life so far being defined by her parents’ desire for doctors to “fix” her so she could join their hearing world — as the book begins, readers join Charlie as she learns just how much communication she missed out on by being deprived of learning sign language at a young age.
From learning about deaf history, cultural norms, and mythology, Charlie quickly realizes just how different her world can look when she has her education led by fellow deaf or hard of hearing people. Readers see Charlie’s experiences from other narrators, too, including February, the headmistress of River Valley School for the Deaf who is desperately seeking funding to keep their school open, and Austin, a fellow deaf teen who grew up with a deaf mother and never knew a world without ASL and deaf norms.
Charlie, Austin, and February’s stories are inextricably woven together in this school year in a way that brings the readers along to experience discrimination, community, joy, humor, isolation, and the callous nature of medical providers promoting surgery and implanted devices over ASL acquisition.
Written by a deaf author, the story’s depth and authenticity will leave you thinking about its lessons for many weeks after the story’s exciting conclusion.
JESSICA:
Thanks, Abby! This is a beautiful insight into the deaf and hard of hearing community.
Next, let’s hear from Anne, programming service coordinator, for a story with a claustrophobic setting. Go ahead, Anne.
ANNE:
Thanks Jessica. Are you looking for a tense survival thriller to keep you on the edge of your seat? Have you ever wondered what it’s like inside the belly of a whale? If so, “Whalefall” by Daniel Kraus is just the book for you.
Jay Gardiner has given himself a fool’s errand — finding the remains of his deceased father in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Monastery Beach. He knows it’s a long shot, but Jay feels it’s the only way to lift the weight of guilt he’s carried since his dad’s suicide the previous year.
The dive begins well enough, but the sudden appearance of a giant squid puts Jay in very real jeopardy, made infinitely worse by the arrival of a sperm whale looking to feed. Suddenly, Jay is caught in the squid’s tentacles and drawn into the whale’s mouth, then pulled into the first of its four stomachs. He quickly realizes he has only one hour before his oxygen tanks run out — one hour to defeat his demons and escape the belly of a whale.
Kraus’s scientifically accurate, highly descriptive writing had me inside the whale with Jay as he tried to escape. I felt claustrophobia and desperation as the clock ticked and the oxygen ran low. Did Jay make it out in time? Read “Whalefall” to find out!
JESSICA:
Thanks, Anne! To add to the tension, each chapter of this book is titled with the amount of oxygen Jay has left.
Our recommendations this week are: “True Biz” by Sara Nović and “Whalefall” by Daniel Kraus.
Join us next time, when we’ll explore more great reading recommendations — interesting books you can find at your favorite local bookstore or at your local library.
Until then, I’m Jessica Russell from Sno-Isle Libraries.
Thanks for joining us for Book Buzz on KSER.
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