Deaf Child Crossing

Deaf Child Crossing #1

by Marlee Matlin

Cindy looked straight at Megan. Now she looked a little frustrated. "What's the matter? Are you deaf or something?" she yelled back. Megan screamed out, and then fell to the ground, laughing hysterically. "How did you know that?" she asked as she laughed. Megan is excited when Cindy moves into her neighborhood -- maybe she'll finally have a best friend. Sure enough, the two girls quickly become inseparable. Cindy even starts to learn sign language so they can communicate more easily. But when they go away to summer camp together, problems arise. Cindy feels left out because Megan is spending all of her time with Lizzie, another deaf girl; Megan resents that Cindy is always trying to help her, even when she doesn't need help. Before they can mend their differences, both girls have to learn what it means to be a friend. Marlee Matlin, Academy Award-winning actress, has written a compelling and often humorous story of friendship, loosely based on events from her own childhood growing up in Chicago. Deaf Child Crossing will strike a chord with anyone who has ever had, or wanted, a best friend.

Genres: Middle Grade, Disability, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Childrens, Friendship, Young Adult

208 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Marlee Matlin, deaf since she was eighteen months old, won the Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Actress for her role in Children of a Lesser God. She was also nominated for Emmy Awards for her performances in Seinfeld, Picket Fences, The Practice and Law And Order: SVU. Marlee also guest starred on ABCs award winning Desperate Housewives, My Name is Earl and CSI: New York. In 2007 Marlee joined the cast of Showtimes cutting edge drama The L Word. Marlee is the author of the childrens books Deaf Child Crossing and Nobody's Perfect. She is affiliated with a number of charities primarily benefiting children. Marlee lives in the Los Angeles area with her husband and their four children.

Reviews

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish Matlin would write more children's books with deaf characters.

[Candice707 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deaf Child Crossing was a great book! I really enjoyed reading it. The book is in third person. It's about this girl named Megan who's deaf. When a girl named Cindy moves into her neighborhood, Megan becomes excited. Megan thought that maybe Cindy will be her best friend. When Megan and Cindy introduced themselves they became really close. They had play dates, sleepovers. Over the summer they both went to camp, but Cindy was getting a little bit jealous because Megan was hanging out with another deaf girl named Lizzie. But eventually Megan does something that isn't really the right thing to do, and Cindy saves her. Megan,Cindy, and Lizzie are still good friends. But Megan and Cindy are BEST FRIENDS.
Marlee Matlin wrote this book because she is deaf herself. And when I read the blurb she wrote this book to show people what friendship is all about. I really enjoyed this book. It gets two thumbs up.

[Mauri · Rating 2 out of 5]

It wasn't that bad, but I felt like there was a little too much "I'm ten-years-old and that's going to completely derail everything I try to do!!!!1!" I ended up wanting to smack both main characters. And then everything is resolved by a hair-pulling fight in the last five pages? What?

[Kathleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book, but the characters left me feeling empty. While this story centers around a deaf nine-year-old, I found this book was more about how we treat people, and Megan, the deaf character, was quite difficult to like. I tried to understand her personality from the eyes of a nine-year-old girl, but I found her mean and rude, and the way she treats her best friend, Cindy, made my heart ache. This book might be just the thing for a young reader who is interested in deaf characters, but the only character remotely likeable for me was Apples, the old, chin-whiskered dog. This book could use a proper edit, as I did find several typos, for example: Lainee pointed upstairs, past the living room "Why don't you... (missing period after room); Maybe it would be better to come back another time." (random end quote when a person is not speaking); Apples, I said sit!" (no quotations before Apple); "It's could be like..."; ...as she head back out into the rain (s/b headed); "...keep that romise I made" (s/b promise).

Two of my favorite passages in the book:

"He was a strange-looking dog, with a face full of chin whiskers like an old man."

"Her hands seemed to float in the air like butterflies, each butterfly representing a word."

[MaryJo · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are many elements of a good story in this book, but I was left wanting for a better understanding of both of the girls in this book. I was happy to read a book by a deaf author and expected a little more insight and perhaps history of how each child personalities or character were formed. They make sudden changes in their perspectives and behavior throughout the book that require the reader to fill in the gaps.

I would love to see this book rewritten.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story, largely because the deaf main character, Megan, is the one who behaves like a jerk. It makes her seem more like a real ten-year-old, and is understandable coming from a child who is frustrated with her limitations. The characters in general are pretty balanced, complete with both flaws and virtues, and I thought this gave the story a little more depth and believability. It was interesting to see through this window into deaf culture, as written by a deaf woman. It seems obvious that a deaf girl would have to deal with limitations, but through this story the reader gains a sense of what those limitations might be like on a daily basis. Using the telephone was a great example. Megan doesn't want to use her TDD, and she doesn't want to believe it's impossible for her to use the phone like a normal person. But when she tries to use the phone, she can't, and it's very hard for her to accept help. How many hearing people in this day and age could give up their phone, and yet on the other hand, how has the advent of texting affected a girl like Megan? This book is not that old, but I can see it starting to slip off the edge of contemporary fiction into dated material because of new technologies available.
Readers who enjoy a good story about making and keeping friends, who like to learn about other ways of life, or, in the case of a deaf reader, like to read about others like themselves might like this book. Those who enjoy "camp" stories, where the kids go off on their own to summer camp and have adventures might like this. This would be a great book for tweens in fifth or sixth grades who are right at this age when friendship seems to start getting complicated.
Nothing obviously objectionable.

[Jenni Frencham · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. I read this book as part of a requirement for an ALA class. It is written on a lower elementary level a la Junie B. Jones, but the cover, the typeset, the size of the book all tell me it's for middle grade children. Also, the story is VERY dated b/c of the technology mentioned. The main character has a computer that - gasp! -goes on the internet to a chat room where she talks with other kids. She also plays with her family's landline.

If technology is going to be integral to a story, then the story needs to be either updated or weeded from the collection. I was disappointed that a better, more current book about a child with a hearing impairment (like Hurt Go Happy or El Deafo) wasn't chosen for my course. I couldn't find this book at my library, either, but I won't be adding it any time soon.

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deaf child crossing is a book that demonstrates and true friendship. Two girls, Cindy and Megan, from totally different back grounds come together and become the best of friends even though one, Megan, is deaf. They overcome the challenge of communication when Cindy decided to learn sign language. They begin to spend hours every day together and become BFFs. With Cindy's motivation Megan decides to go to camp.

It starts off well until Megan makes friends with another deaf girl and Cindy is quickly forgotten. Drama erupts when Megan takes credit for Cindy's work, and again the last night when Cindy saves Megan from getting lost in the woods. Lets just say both girls go home not talking to each other. The next day at the bust stop they get into an argument and fight, like any 9 year old girl would do before laughing away their pain, Megan apologizes and they are quickly reminded of the fact that they are BFFs.

[Jane K · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. I think it showed all the struggles of being deaf, and all the struggles of having a friend who is deaf. I thought that this was a really good book and that Marlee Matlin did a really good job writing it. i wonder what it would be like to have a friend or someone close to you who is deaf. You would have to learn sign language to communicate with that person and you would have to send them to a different school. It would probably cost more money. Anyway, I thought that it was a really good book and I would love to read it again someday! I recommend it to everyone because it is a really good book.

[Jen Kilpatrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

I gave it one star for having a deaf character...and one star for nostalgic memories of my childhood...otherwise I didn't really like this book at all. Kudos for effort. It is a book my students can see themselves in and includes an accurate portrayal of ASL and deafness...but the writing isn't grand and the story is a bit cliche.

[Megan Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A student suggested this to me, and it was okay. Cute. But I think I was expecting something more from it, since the author herself is deaf. I didn't hate it, but it's not going to make it onto my "will-read-once-per-year" shelf.

3/5 on here, 7/10 for myself

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

See more of my reviews on my blog Thoughts At One In The Morning.

My Thoughts:

I picked this book up because #1, I love Marlee Matlin, and #2, it follows a girl who is deaf, and a girl who is friends with a girl who is deaf. It is a middle grade book, and a very fast read by comparison to what I read normally. So much of the writing is very simple and easy to follow.

Megan and Cindy are both very nice girls (although quite stubborn at times). Megan can be obnoxious, and Cindy can be overly helpful. Somehow they manage to overcome their flaws and remain friends. Cindy learns to fingerspell, and Megan starts to teach her how to sign words. They go to camp together and face more tests to their friendship. They learn how to overcome their differences and treat each other with the right kind of respect a person deserves, whether they are deaf or hearing.

One of my favorite parts in this book is when I find out that Megan is obsessed with Billy Joel. Okay, now you’re thinking, “How can somebody who can’t hear listen to music?” Megan is more hard of hearing than deaf, so with hearing aids she can hear some things, but only when it’s very loud. She even signs the song “Just The Way You Are” for Cindy. And she has a poster of him on her door. Needless to say, I could relate to Megan in that way, because, let’s face it, Billy Joel is awesome.

All in all, this was a very cute book. Marlee Matlin wrote a genuinely superb story of these two girls and the true meaning of friendship. I recommend Deaf Child Crossing for everyone, but I especially find great value in kids reading it. Understanding how to treat people when they’re deaf (or blind or facing other circumstances out of their control) can go a long way to building lasting friendships. It also ensures a feeling of equality and respect that everyone deserves to have no matter who they are.

My Rating:

Very Good: Stay up late

[Esther · Rating 2 out of 5]

I finished this book feeling really depressed.

The story is told from the point of view of two nine year old girls - Megan, a rather moody and overly dramatic deaf girl and Cindy, the shy girl who moves in next door.
Soon they become best friends, Cindy learns sign language and Megan decides to go to camp with her new BFF. There are ups and downs in their relationship and both drama and fun at summer camp.

The writing was simplistic and the plot unoriginal while the ending was rushed and incomplete.
But what disturbed me about the story was that at times Megan behaved quite appallingly towards Cindy and it was accepted that just a friendly smile and not hint of an apology all was mended and they could be BFFs again.

I'm not sure whether this was careless writing or the author really wanted to suggest then when you are nine you can be as moody, temperamental, unkind and rude to other people as you want but if you smile it off other people will forgive and forget without you ever having to apologise or examine and change your own attitudes and behaviour.

[Allison Renner · Rating 1 out of 5]

Megan is a deaf girl who wants a best friend. When Cindy moves in at the beginning of summer, they quickly hit it off. Cindy even learns sign language for Megan! But when the girls go to summer camp together, Megan ignores Cindy to talk to another deaf girl, and the friendship is fractured. Can it be repaired before school starts back in the fall? This book was a little too cheery all the time, and very simply written. The girls are nine years old, and I understand the audience is probably that age range as well, but the writing seemed very dumbed down. Lots of exclamation points, and over seven instances of dialogue starting with “Well” within a couple pages. Not the best instance of a child with a disability in fiction.

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an excellent read....it opens up how deaf children co exist in a hearing world and the possibilities that a new bff offer to any child. Megan was a homebody with few friends until a new little girl move in and the new little girl determined to make friends with Megan learns sign language . the world really opens when Cindy agrees to go to "summer camp" with Megan. The friendship experiences up and down but summer camp works to cement a more solid friendship. I recommend this book. its a real page turner.

[Kimberley Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kudos to Matlin for this positive view of growing up Deaf! The story is enjoyable to read, and provides good information for those not familiar with Deaf experience. However, readers must be aware that not every d/Deaf kid gets along quite so well in the mainstream. For further reading on the topic (nonfiction), I highly recommend Gina Oliva's "Alone in the mainstream" and "Turning the tide".
For a novel about a kid who does NOT get along well with the mainstream, see "A Handful of Spells", 9781939113283.

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found myself laughing at times. Matlin does a great job of bringing up many cultural aspects to the Deaf (and HOH). She uses the perspective of a Deaf child born to a hearing family who uses powerful hearing aids and her experiences to bring out the hardships that Deaf children face, endure, and overcome. I enjoyed it. An easy and relaxing read. I personally didn't learn anything new, but enjoyed the story and the incorporation of Deafness within the pages of the book.

[Danielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

With the seriousness of the cover and the title, I didn't realize at first that this is a book with a target demographic of 8-12 years. The main characters are nine-year-old neighbors, one deaf, one hearing. They fight, they make up. I think their feelings and arguments are appropriate for their age. But overall, the story just wasn't that interesting. Ages 7-10 might be more realistic, with a long picture book format, rather than 200 pages.

7/69 tbr box 2015.

[Kara · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a cute story and I enjoyed it. However, as an adult who was HOH and mainstreamed with no other kids with hearing loss/physical disabilities K-12 I do wonder how accurate some of the portrayal is. Most adults I know with hearing loss who were completely mainstreamed were rather shy and hid their hearing loss. I know I did. I'm going to read the other two books about Megan just out of curiosity.

[Bec · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book, even though it is aimed at the younger reader. Marlee obviously drew on her personal experience to make this book very realistic. includeded some good leassons everyone could use without raming it down your throat. Looking forward to reading the next book - Nobody's Perfect.

[Gina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book as part of my Children With Disabilities class. It was interesting to see how easy it is for miscommunication between friends, as the story from alternating points of view; Megan, who is deaf and Cindy, who can hear. However, the story was not well written, the age of the girls in the story was off and I felt the author was 'writing down' to children.

[Janine]

I am a huge Marlee Matlin fan so when this book came into my hands I had to read it! Very well written examines the mind of a deaf young girl and what challenges she has to overcome to fit into Normal society... Must read!

[Carly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for as research for a paper I'm working on for my American Sign Language class. It was a decent story, but a bit cliched. Worth reading overall, though. And worth passing on to a child, especially one curious about deafness and how to act around a deaf child.

[Jemma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not believe that I read this book in three days; it is aimed at 8 to 12 years old. Being a Sign User myself I loved it!

If you to read more of my review; please head over to me blog - Paper A Plenty at Wordpress

[Sophie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Love the author and the insight into the life of a deaf girl. However, the main character seemed like a spoiled brat and really bothered me. The plot was also predictable from reading the inside cover. Only read the book because of the author mostly.

[Megalion · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is definitely a children's story and written to appeal to a reader of 8-11 yrs old.

It was ok but for my own notes, I didn't finish reading it because the story was being told too simplistically.

[Jacqueline115 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reminded me so much of my relationship with my childhood best friend Caryn. The things we did and our upbringing was so similiar. :)

[Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow this book is really heart touching. I reccommend it to anyone who wants to see sadness and joyfulness.

[Abbi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pretty good book...

Deaf Child Crossing is about two friends, Megan (who is deaf) and Cindy. It's about their adventures and what happens when they go to camp.

I like it a lot!

[Fatima · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love this book it tells you how a deaf child feel inside but actully the things they can still accomplish in life