The Words in My Hands

Near-future Australia is controlled by Organicore, a company that produces the “perfectly balanced” synthetic meals that have all but replaced wild food. Now prices are spiking, sustenance is scarce, and Piper McBride, 16, Deaf, and cued white, begins to wonder if wild food is as dangerous as Organicore’s propaganda says. With Marley, a 19-year-old CODA (child of Deaf adult), Piper finds not only romantic connection but a new world of possibility: Marley and his Deaf mother, also cued white, teach Piper Australian Sign Language—Piper grew up oral, lipreading and speaking instead of signing—and how to grow her own food. Both skills help Piper gain independence, build new relationships, and envision a more sustainable society. Determined, artistic Piper is a compelling narrator as she grows beyond her hearing mother’s constrictive expectations, making clear the marginalization that Deaf members of mostly hearing societies can experience as well as the power of community. Textured by Asphyxia’s own full-color paint, collage, and drawing illustrations, this debut offers an original and forceful vision of what the world may come to—as well as a vision for building a better future. Ages 13–16. (Nov.)