True Biz by Sara Nović
A transporting novel that follows a year of seismic romantic, political, and familial shifts for a teacher and her students at a boarding school for the deaf, from the acclaimed author of Girl at War.
True biz? The students at the River Valley School for the Deaf just want to hook up, pass their history final, and have doctors, politicians, and their parents stop telling them what to do with their bodies. This revelatory novel plunges readers into the halls of a residential school for the deaf, where they’ll meet Charlie, a rebellious transfer student who’s never met another deaf person before; Austin, the school’s golden boy, whose world is rocked when his baby sister is born hearing; and February, the headmistress, who is fighting to keep her school open and her marriage intact, but might not be able to do both. As a series of crises both personal and political threaten to unravel each of them, Charlie, Austin, and February find their lives inextricable from one another–and changed forever.
This is a story of sign language and lip-reading, cochlear implants and civil rights, isolation and injustice, first love and loss, and, above all, great persistence, daring, and joy. Absorbing and assured, idiosyncratic and relatable, this is an unforgettable journey into the Deaf community and a universal celebration of human connection.
Book Nation Book Club
I am so excited for everyone to dive in to this immersive novel! Sara Nović has written a wonderful story focused on complex characters and community…and provided us with so much to think about surrounding language, communication and humanity. Pick up a copy of True Biz today and plan to join us for discussion June 21st! ASL interpretation will be provided.
Book: True Biz by Sara Nović
When: Tuesday, June 21st at 8pm
Where: Zoom (link to be emailed the day before the event)
Special Guest: Sara Nović
Host and Moderator: Jennifer Blankfein
Facilitator: Luisa Tanno
ASL Interpretation provided
How to Join: Email jen@booknationbookclub.com today to request link. It will be provided the day before and the day of the event.
