3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Beautifully Written Story That Tugs On All of Your Emotions, September 8, 2011
This review is from: Sign Language (Hardcover)
Have you ever had that feeling where you know that something's wrong? That there's something out of place? You might not be able to put a finger on what exactly, but you have a creeping feeling that something is terribly wrong. Instead of investigating further, you choose to ignore it. Act like whatever it is isn't there. Maybe then it will go away, stop bothering you, and you'll forget that there was anything there in the first place. What if... it doesn't disappear? It stays right where it is, slowly growing and becoming more and more horrible with all of the apathy you have shown it. But no one bothers to tell you what's wrong, and you choose to look the other way. Until it becomes so unbearable that it twists your whole life out of control. Suddenly, you wonder how you could have ever missed it.
This is exactly what young, twelve-year-old Abby North goes through. She had no idea that anything was wrong. How could she, when the problems that claimed her attention were the fact that her long-time crush didn't know she existed, her older brother was unbearable, and she had no idea how to cope with growing up and the changes that come with it. If she could get through these, then Abby would be able to conquer anything. Well... maybe anything except cancer, that is.
Abby had been absolutely oblivious to the fact that her father was sick with cancer. All she knew was that he wasn't feeling good, but the visits to the doctor were going to make him all better. Or so everyone thought. It turns out that the doctors couldn't do anything for Abby's father. His condition is suddenly spiraling downward, taking young Abby and her entire family with him.
Abby's father is trying so hard to overcome his illness, but is he strong enough? Now Abby's biggest problems are how she keeps what her family is going through a secret from their neighbors and friends and how will her dying father ever live? Can Abby cope with the fact that her father is dying, and there is absolutely nothing she can do about it? How much time does her father have left? Amy Ackley reveals all in her heart-wrenching story of one daughter's journey to learn to live on after there is nothing left in, Sign Language!
Sign Language is a spectacular book that tells of one girl's story that I'm sure many have had to go through as well. Filled with raw emotion, this book was constantly bringing tears to my eyes as I read Abby's story. Amy Ackley's writing is both beautiful and haunting, and it will stick in your mind for days after, keeping you up at night. I recommend this book for young teens all the way to adults, as they will be able to relate to the emotions that force this little girl to grow up much too soon.
Sign Language starts when Abby is twelve years old. Over the course of the book, we follow Abby as she grows up from a young twelve-year-old to a mature fifteen-year-old. Throughout the book Abby grows up into a full-on teenager, but over the course of those four years one thing stays the same: she loves her dad. Each chapter goes by in months. For example one chapter might be September, another might be December to March, and another might say June, Continued. It was interesting to see how time went on and the ways in which Abby slowly grew up, but never really forgot her father.
It was very easy to relate to Abby and all that she went through. I couldn't help but feel horrified for what this young girl had to endure and how no matter what, she couldn't let go of her dad. Even when Abby would go about her daily life, there would be instances where a memory of her father would pop into her mind, or something would remind her of him. Sign Language really shows just how strong the bonds of family can be, and that they will always be there to catch you when you fall.
Amy Ackley's writing is stunning. She knows exactly when to crack a joke, and when not to. Her writing evoked all kinds of emotions from me, and she never failed to coax a laugh or a sob out of me. There are moments where Ackley's writing is haunting, and certain phrases will resound in your head, trapped in your mind as they bounce off the walls. Parts of Sign Language will stick with any reader, and I cannot wait to see what endeavors Ackley takes on next.
There was an interesting use of a certain Magic 8 Ball that was significant to Abby over the years. It was there for her when she needed to ask about her crush, a seemingly important question at the time, and when she felt she needed a simple answer that would somehow help her make sense of her chaotic life. Abby's Magic 8 Ball was a connection to God from her point of view, and it was very interesting to see how this object could always provide an answer that had the ability to either make everything better, or worse.
I think that some readers might find Abby to be whiny or ungrateful at times, but I felt that this wasn't the case. All of the characters in Sign Language had distinct personalities that developed even more over the course of the book. The interactions between all of the characters formed strong relationships between them that made their conversations and their actions toward one another all the more meaningful. One word spoke volumes, and that was all that was really needed at times.
Sign Language is an intense book that follows one girl's journey to come to terms with the fact that she will always be her father's daughter, no matter what happens. Filled with emotion, loss, and hope, Sign Language is a debut that you will not want to miss out on. Join Abby, as she grows up to learn the strength it takes to move on, and that her loved ones will always be there for her in, Sign Language!
-This is T.B. with Another Book Back on the Shelf...
Until Next Time, Keep Reading!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
4/5 on Books to the Sky, November 23, 2011
Check out more reviews at BookstotheSky.com
(I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review.)
So it took me awhile to decide what I even wanted to rate this book. It was great but it wasn't bad. It was good and I enjoyed reading it, but I was just unsure. The beginning of the book was a little slow and it wasn't until the last 100 pages or so that I was really into it!
The main character Abby is dealing with a lot of things for a girl her age; father dying, mother grieving, changing feelings for her best friend and just growing up in general. I haven't been in her situation so I don't know how I would have handled it. But she handled it in her own way. Instead of openly grieving her father's death she kept everything bottled up inside and pushed everyone away for fear of losing them.
Sign Language is a good coming to age novel, that's for sure. It starts off with Abby at 12 years old and just learning about her father's illness. And it ends with her at 15 and learning to cope and deal with all the changes and finally opening herself up to her family and Spence.
Oh Spence, he was such an adorable kid. I wish when I was a kid I would have known a boy this sweet. Abby takes advantage of Spence's kindness for awhile, which really broke my heart. But eventually she saw the err in her ways. Thank goodness! That poor boy needed a break!(less)
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