The Sound Of Us

By:

Synopsis
Alice Marlowe accepts her life the way it is. She is single, in her late forties, lives with a cat named Sampson, and has imaginary conversations with her dead twin brother. As a sign-language interpreter for the deaf, she is used to standing between people, facilitating their conversations with each other. But then a late-night phone call brings a beautiful, scared six-year-old girl into her life. And seeing herself through a child's eyes for the first time, she discovers that love is a universal language.
Copyright:
2005

Book Details

Book Quality:
Excellent
Book Size:
324 Pages
ISBN-13:
9780425203026
Publisher:
Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated
Date of Addition:
Copyrighted By:
Sarah Willis
Adult content:
No
Language:
English
Has Image Descriptions:
No
Categories:
Disability-Related, Literature and Fiction, Parenting and Family
Submitted By:
Allison Hilliker
Proofread By:
N/A
Usage Restrictions:
This is a copyrighted book.

Reviews

5 out of 5

By on

This is a bittersweet story about a woman and a little girl who need one another. Alice, an interpreter for people who are deaf, lives a lonely life where she spends most days missing a twin brother who died. She’s clearly an intelligent and caring person, but her life feels empty. Then Larissa, a 6-year-old foster child, finds her way into Alice’s house and heart. Larissa misses her mother terribly, and the trauma from being taken away has caused her to give up speaking. Alice, who is experienced with sign language, finds that signing is a way to communicate with and draw out the silent Larissa. Alice and Larissa develop a loving bond, but Alice must soon learn to allow Larissa’s mother, Michelle, into their lives. Michelle and Alice form a tentative friendship while Michelle tries to get her life together and regain custody of her daughter. This is a beautiful story that addresses the complexities of foster families very well. The author treats each issue very gently and compassionately. The characters grow and change all around us as we read this book. Ultimately this is a riveting story about family, language, and love.