No, No, Bad Dog

by Cathy J. Chovaz

This book is three decades of my clinical work in one fictitious story. It is based on the marginalization of deaf individuals and is about Mary, a hearing child born to deaf parents. The difference however is that Mary is the outsider as the majority of the world is deaf. Her parents Ellen and Ben feel completely overwhelmed and her siblings react with anger and confusion that their sister is different. Mary’s life is set in a history of her grandmother’s life lived with love, sorrow, and mystery. Their stories will ask you to think outside of all you know and to imagine life as you never thought it.

168 pages, Paperback

Published April 28, 2023

Reviews

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought-provoking, heartwarming and expertly written! This book eloquently tells the story of a family struggling with life changing decisions for their hearing child, who interestingly, is born into a world with sign language as the dominant mode of communication. This fascinating twist allows the reader to reflect and question assumptions made about people who are seen as “outsiders” or “different” in our society. The author takes us on a journey with Mary as the center of this family, portraying the realities and perspectives of parents, siblings, and extended family. My heart was breaking for the challenges facing them all. This book captured my attention immediately and kept me interested until the very last page. I wanted to know more about this family at the end. The themes of connection and communication are central in this book and demonstrates the paramount need for compassion and understanding. There are many life lessons and important messages woven into a beautiful story. This book is unforgettable and one you need to read.

[Justin M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are at all interested in expanding your understanding of the life of marginalized individuals I would recommend that you read this book.

I appreciate this book from many angles. I think that the way in which the societal model of disability is prominently displayed illuminates just how easy it is for many people to view themselves as “normal” and to see people who are different from them as “the other”. Reading through this heartfelt story showcases just how crucial communication and attempting to understand each other can be for our interactions with those who are different than us.

The takeaway message presented at the end of the book was impactful and I highly appreciated the context it gave to having compassion for others.