![]() ![]() Austin experiences personal conflict when his sister is born hearing, joining a generations-deep Deaf family. Kayla, Charlie’s roommate at River Valley, uses TikTok to teach her followers about Black ASL, a dialect of ASL whose diverging signs sometimes garner her casually racist remarks. River Valley is equally relatable and insightful, littered with experiences all high schoolers have had and those particular to members of the Deaf community. Readers are immersed in a coming-of-age tale that envelops communities of all kinds, illuminating universal and group-specific experiences. Nović, an instructor of Deaf studies and creative writing, lends authenticity and grace to the story. ![]() ![]() ![]() Charlie is a transfer student raised without access to sign language, Austin is the resident cool kid who comes from a legacy Deaf family, and February is their headmistress. Each character’s chapter is designated with an icon of the letter “c,” “a” or “f” in American Sign Language’s fingerspelling. In it, readers jump perspectives primarily between Charlie, Austin and February. It’s a frequently used sign in River Valley School for the Deaf, where Nović sets her April masterpiece. “True biz” - the exclamation from which the book draws its title - means “really, seriously, definitely, real-talk,” according to the book. ![]()
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