Ann Clare LeZotte (Show Me a Sign) takes inspiration from a real-life court case and her own experiences as a "completely deaf" member of the Deaf community to sensitively explore language deprivation among deaf children in Deer Run Home, a devastating but hopeful middle-grade novel-in-verse.
Twelve-year-old Effie, who's deaf, speaks American Sign Language (ASL), which her family refuses to learn. She and her sister, Deja, live with their mom and stepdad during the Covid-19 pandemic. When Effie starts having bad dreams, Effie's mom--who will only listen if Effie uses her oral voice--reasons that Effie is "acting out." The girls are sent to their dad's trailer, where he claps in Effie's face or points at things to communicate. Her one comfort is Golden Eyes, a lone deer who's been separated from his herd because of the "new, small-box/ too-close-together houses" being built on the deer's land. When schools reopen, Effie is fortunately assigned to her previous ASL interpreter, Miss Kathy. The interpreter notices that Effie is being neglected and convinces Effie's dad to let the girl stay with her for a month. But Miss Kathy senses that something far worse may have happened to Effie. Is Effie ready to unlock those memories?
Deer Run Home is a heartrending novel that deals with the pain and trauma of child sexual abuse and neglect yet remains encouraging in its exploration of resiliency, advocating for oneself, and self-worth. LeZotte deftly contrasts the neglect and abuse Effie experiences at home with the support and compassion she receives at school, and skillfully connects the community's treatment of nature to Effie's family's view of her. Effie, like the displaced deer population, has no sanctuary. A moving, emotionally affecting novel. --Lana Barnes, freelance reviewer and proofreader