Nora Hunter gives voice to the thoughts and signs of Mary, a young, deaf teacher. Hunter's prim and proper tone matches the period language and enhances the early postcolonial setting of this audiobook. Mary's island community is unique because deafness is commonplace, and all residents use sign language. Mary yearns to travel to study at the famous deaf school in Paris, but when she garners passage to Europe with missionaries, she soon regrets it. Hunter expresses Mary's frustration with their methods and slights in a pragmatic, rather than angry, tone. The book is an engrossing introduction to sign language history, particularly the now-lost Martha's Vineyard Sign Language. Deaf culture is presented respectfully, and Mary is a capable protagonist. A timeline and notes follow this stand-alone novel. L.T. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
