Questions About True Biz

by Sara Nović (Goodreads Author)

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Answered Questions (8)

I really liked the book even though it had a YA vibe. But is the author completely against implants and mainstreaming with no allowance that they could be a reasonable choice for some people depending on circumstance?

Savannah From an author interview on Booktrib:

Q: I found Charlie’s situation to be the most devastating as she was deprived of ease of communication at a youn…moreFrom an author interview on Booktrib:

Q: I found Charlie’s situation to be the most devastating as she was deprived of ease of communication at a young age by her parents not allowing her to learn sign language. Can you tell us a bit about the controversies of cochlear implants and signing?

A: “Devastating” really is the right word for what Charlie goes through because it doesn’t have to be that way. Cochlear implants are very powerful tools, and they do work well for a lot of people. But there are also a lot of people for whom they don’t work, and they cure absolutely no one. Yet the medical community has insisted on an either/or approach, often forcing parents to sign documents saying they agree not to sign with their children. The alleged rationale behind this is that since sign language is accessible and comes naturally to a Deaf kid, it is like a “cheat code” that will hinder a kid from learning English. This is an outdated way of thinking about language — science shows time and again the cognitive benefits of bilingualism — and it’s also a very high-risk way of dealing with a child’s brain.

Implant success is highly variable and unpredecitable, and if the implant doesn’t work well enough for them to acquire spoken language before age five, they can experience permanent cognitive damage. It’s all totally preventable, and again, there’s no actual, evidence-based reason why sign language and CIs should be mutually exclusive. The data shows that the best language outcomes happen when kids have both. It’s an obvious thing, when you think about it, and look at the multi-million-dollar industry of “baby sign language” for hearing kids. But Deaf children continue to be marginalized by individuals’ fear and stigma, the monetization of the “cure” for Deafness, and old-fashioned thinking rooted in white nationalism about the virtues of “just speaking English.”(less)

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This question contains spoilers... (view spoiler)

Kassie It's implied that she suggested the hearing involved boys continue the plan on a different night, so she knew it would happen and didn't report it. Sh…moreIt's implied that she suggested the hearing involved boys continue the plan on a different night, so she knew it would happen and didn't report it. She also lied saying its all just "scraps of metal now"(less)

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Just wondering, what age group is this for?