Review: The Words in my Hands by Asphyxia

Hey, everyone! I hope you’re all doing well. I am actually getting a post out on my usual posting days, which I’m very happy about. I’m hoping I can keep that up and be semi-normal at posting for the rest of the month.

Today I have a review of The Words in my Hands. It’s one I found at the library (I actually went to the physical library, it’s shocking!) and it looked interesting. I’m happy to say this didn’t disappoint!

Title: The Words in my Hands (Future Girl in Australia)
Author: Asphyxia
Genre: YA Science Fiction
Series: None
Page Count: 373 (hardcover)

Part coming of age, part call to action, this #ownvoices novel about a Deaf teenager is an exploration of what it means to belong.

Set in an ominously prescient near future, this is the story of Piper. Sixteen, smart, artistic, and rebellious; she’s struggling to conform to what her mom wants–for her to be ‘normal, ‘ to pass as hearing, and get a good job. But in a time of food scarcity, environmental collapse, and political corruption, Piper has other things on her mind–like survival.

Deaf since the age of three, Piper has always been told that she needs to compensate in a world that puts those who can hear above everyone else. But when she meets Marley, a whole new world opens up–one where Deafness is something to celebrate rather than hide, and where resilience and hope are created by taking action, building a community, and believing in something better.

Content Warnings

ableism – death of an animal – time spent in jail

There are no spoilers in this review.

I read this book for an English project. We’re doing an Inquiry Project and we got to pick our own topics. Mine’s on diversity and why it’s important to have authentic voices in our society. I’d never read a book narrated by a person who is Deaf, so this was a perfect choice.

The Words in my Hands follows Piper, a girl who has been Deaf since the age of three. Her mom wants her to pass as “normal,” so she can get a good job. As a result, Piper has grown up orally her whole life. But in a world where food shortages are ravaging the country and the government is having problems, Piper has other things to worry about. She knows that she’s at a disadvantage in the hearing world, that everyone has it easier than her. When she meets Marley, he teaches her sign language and introduces her to the Deaf community. She discovers that her Deafness is something to bring out instead of hiding.

First, I need to comment on the artwork. This book is absolutely gorgeous. The artwork on each page is colorful and vibrant, and the full-page spreads are amazing. I mean, look at these, they are beautiful!

Piper was a very relatable character. I’m sure that many people who are Deaf could relate to some of the experiences she went through and discrimination she faced. I felt every emotion along with her whenever she had to struggle to fit into the hearing world.

Marley is another major character. I thought he was okay. He’s a Child of a Deaf Adult (CODA) and hasn’t fully figured out how he fits into both the hearing world and the Deaf world. I don’t like how he handled some emotional things. I don’t want to say because of spoilers, but the way he goes about it doesn’t sit right with me.

I’ve never read a book that was narrated by a character who was Deaf so this was a interesting book in that aspect. Auslan is Australian Sign Language and a lot of their signs involve both hands, whereas American Sign Language has signs that often use only one hand. When signing, Deaf people use different facial expressions to express interest or emotions, like when you change the tone of your voice when you speak.

Overall, The Words in my Hands is an empowering novel where activism and self-identity shine through. The science fiction aspect was interesting and the artwork stunned me to no end.

My Rating: 4/5 dragons