Tone Deaf

Gr 10 Up—This narrative of extremes (written by an exceedingly popular Wattpad writer) moves from your worst nightmare to your greatest dream. What holds it together is its two narrators, Ali, who moves intelligently in the company of freaks and geeks, and Jace, an angry young rock star. Almost 18, Ali is Deaf and being physically abused by her father. No one believes her until she meets Jace. Ali and her best friend Avery attend a concert by Tone Deaf, a heartthrob boy band. Their friendship is refreshing—the two girls display not jealousy but awareness of how much their differences strengthen their friendship. Ali wins the raffle for a backstage tour and meets Jace, the lead guitarist and songwriter of Tone Deaf. He recognizes the abuse and aids her escape. The portrayal of Ali as Deaf is authentic and modern. She loves rock concerts for the vibrations and sensory pull of the crowd. She prefers to sign but exasperatedly reads the lips of people who talk fast or turn away as they talk. As Ali, Jace, and the band tour amid Amber alerts, surprising emotional connections are painfully forged and will resonate with young survivors of abuse, especially as Ali takes small steps toward recovery.