Gr 3-7 Free-spirited, inquisitive 11-year-old Mary Lambert loves to spin stories. She's also deaf, as are her father and many others on Martha's Vineyard. No one knows why the island has such a high population of deaf people. Mary's friend Ezra Brewer, the old seaman, says that deafness is in the blood and was brought to the island when the original Lamberts settled there more than 100 years ago, in 1692. Signing is the only language Mary has ever known, and her life is full. But when tragedy strikes her family, she keeps a deep secret from her parents; she knows it is all her fault. Her relationship with her mother becomes strained, and everyone is on edge. Learning that a scientist is coming to the island to study why there are so many deaf residents sparks Mary's curiosity. He charms her mother and many others on the island, but Mary soon discovers his intentions are not honest while falling victim to his deceitful plan. She is taken from her home and becomes his "live specimen" for scientific study. Her struggle to regain control of her life in a world where the deaf are considered "moronic" and her determination to find a way home will take all of her strength, cunning, and courage. LeZotte crafts a moving tale of 1805 Martha's Vineyard that highlights issues still relevant more than 200 years later, including racism, ableism, and prejudice. Colonialism of the Wampanoag land as well as a perception of savagery among the Indigenous people, the preconceptions of the deaf, and a family's attempt at overcoming tragedy while remaining whole are the underlying themes in the novel. But these themes add nuance to the expertly crafted story of Mary, her response to her situations, her courage, and her hope that she will reunite with the community she loves. VERDICT Exceptionally written, faced paced, and full of topics that will inspire deep discussion. A valuable addition to secondary elementary or middle school collections. Carol Connor, Cincinnati Public Schools

Set in 1805, LeZotte-s engrossing

Mary Lambert, 11, narrates this story, set in the early nineteenth century, about Chilmark, a community on Martha's Vineyard. One in four residents are deaf, and everyone speaks Martha's Vineyard Sign Language (MVSL). Into this community comes Andrew Noble, a young Boston scientist who wants to study the Deaf population in order to pinpoint an external cause for the deafness. He is arrogant and condescending, and he manages to offend almost everyone. Dissatisfied with his research, Andrew kidnaps Mary and takes her to Boston as a "live specimen." Although subjected to horrible treatment, Mary makes her way home. LeZotte's portrayal of Mary is precise and thoughtful, as the girl absorbs and analyzes everything she experiences. LeZotte's depiction of language is striking e reader sees the difference in conversations in spoken English and MVSL d she thoughtfully addresses tensions among the white, Black, and Wampanoag people who share the island. LeZotte, who is Deaf, makes the point that nothing should stand in the way of building community and seeking equality, a sentiment that resonates today. Though, like today, there are still no easy answers.

In 1805 Chilmark, on Martha's Vineyard, eleven-year-old Mary Lambert's family is grieving the death of her brother George in a horse-cart accident. In the larger picture, English-settler residents (Mary's family among them) and the Wampanoag are on opposite sides of a land dispute, causing strife and division. But what causes not a drop of tension is the fact that a significant percent of the English population, including Mary, is Deaf, with many families having both hearing and Deaf members, so everyone is adept at sign language and no stigma is attached to deafness. The novel opens slowly, with Mary, in her direct and intelligent first-person present-tense narration, setting the scene (as well as gradually revealing her agonizing guilt over her role in George's accident). But with the arrival from Boston of a scientist studying the causes of what he calls Deaf islanders' "infirmity," the pace increases, and readers find themselves immersed in a thriller, as Mary endures a violent abduction, enforced servitude, and abusive experimentation. Her eventual rescue is both nail-bitingly suspenseful and empowering, as she plays an active part in freeing herself. Everything about this novel is nuanced, from the syntax of the sign language to the discussions of island politics and history. Mary's dramatic adventure will enthrall readers, but her internal journey -- from being an uncomfortable witness to prejudice (including her mother's toward the Wampanoag and freedmen, or former slaves), to experiencing it herself, to determining to oppose it by leading by example -- is equally important, and profound.