The Sign for Home

In this delightful coming-of-age debut novel, 23-year-old Arlo excitedly begins his first college writing class with the help of his new sign language interpreter, Cyril, a disillusioned and heartbroken gay man who isn’t used to working with the DeafBlind. Arlo’s Jehovah’s Witness upbringing stifled his success: his main translator Molly selectively interprets for him, and his uncle shelters him from sinful technology, as well as making him eat too many bologna sandwiches. Arlo’s teenage life included a secret love lost, as well as lost friendships, and Cyril is determined to help Arlo reconnect with his past. Their working partnership blossoms—Arlo learns about the American Disabilities Act and new technology for the DeafBlind, while Cyril matures and helps Arlo fight for what is right. Author/narrator Fell (who is an ASL interpreter) wonderfully narrates the novel, complete with accents, anguish, and joy. Arlo’s disjointed way of speaking through Cyril with incorrect verb tenses and short sentences is perfect for audio. Fell’s narration is similar to that of Odyssey award winner Tim Federle—expressive, earnest, and heartwarming.