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Hear Me
A year after being diagnosed with hearing loss, twelve-year-old Rayne is doing her best to live a “normal” life and act like nothing has changed. But her hearing keeps failing her. Even with hearing aids, she has trouble following conversations and hanging out with her friends the way she used to. Her grades are slipping, surfing is now a wipeout, and she can’t understand the lyrics of her favorite singer’s new songs. Rayne’s parents are pushing for her to get cochlear implants, which could restore her hearing―though she would hear sounds differently than she did before her hearing loss.
Rayne isn't convinced the surgery for CIs is worth the risks and challenges. In fact, she's terrified of it. She begs her parents to consider other options, but they're not budging.
With the surgery looming, Rayne sets off on a search for alternatives. Along the way, she discovers that “normal” can have many meanings―and that even though her ears may be broken, she is not. "Asterisks replace unheard words of dialogue in this moving middle grade novel, based on the author's own life, that follows an adolescent girl's struggle with both progressive hearing loss and her parents' insistence that she get cochlear implants."― The New York Times Book Review
"Rayne is a likable protagonist, and readers will root for her. An interesting story of a particular deaf experience."― Kirkus Reviews
Rayne isn't convinced the surgery for CIs is worth the risks and challenges. In fact, she's terrified of it. She begs her parents to consider other options, but they're not budging.
With the surgery looming, Rayne sets off on a search for alternatives. Along the way, she discovers that “normal” can have many meanings―and that even though her ears may be broken, she is not. "Asterisks replace unheard words of dialogue in this moving middle grade novel, based on the author's own life, that follows an adolescent girl's struggle with both progressive hearing loss and her parents' insistence that she get cochlear implants."― The New York Times Book Review
"Rayne is a likable protagonist, and readers will root for her. An interesting story of a particular deaf experience."― Kirkus Reviews
344 pages, Paperback
First published September 6, 2022
21 people are currently reading
418 people want to read
About the author
Kerry O'Malley Cerra
6 books85 followersKerry O'Malley Cerra is an award-winning author of middle-grade books and picture books.
Her first novel, Just a Drop of Water, was published on September 2, 2014, by Sky Pony Press. It won a Florida Book Award, the Crystal Kite Award, and was named to VOYA's Top Shelf Fiction for Middle Readers' 2014 list. In addition, the book was a finalist for the 2015-2016 Maine Student Book Award, the 2017-2018 Garden State Teen Book Award (New Jersey), the 2016-2017 Truman Award list (Missouri), and the 2018 Nene Award (Hawaii). It won runner-up for the 2016-2017 Magnolia Award (Mississippi).
Her second novel, Hear Me (Sept. 6, 2022, Carolrhoda Books, an imprint of Lerner Publishing), is based on the author's own hearing loss/deaf experience. This contemporary middle-grade novel follows 12-year-old Rayne, who, at odds with her parents over her sudden hearing loss and looming cochlear implant surgery, sets off on a journey where she discovers that even though her ears may be broken, she is not. This book is a 2024-2025 Sunshine State Young Reader Award book.
Her novel, Make a Little Wave (Oct 1, 2024, Carolrhoda Books, an imprint of Lerner Publishing), won both a Florida Book Award and was named a 2025 honor book for the national Green Earth Book Award. This story follows Sav, who, once learning about the horrific act of shark finning, sets out to stop a local restaurant from serving shark fin soup. Only things get super messy as Sav realizes the ins and outs of being an activist. Eventually, she learns to use her voice to stand up for the sharks, becoming a true eco-warrior. The scientific note that precedes the story is written by Kylie Cerra, the author's daughter, a marine biologist with a concentration in shark studies.
Stay tuned for her forthcoming nonfiction picture book, The Gallaudet Eleven: The Story of NASA's Deaf Bioastronauts (March 31, 2026, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers). This work tells the story of eleven deaf men and how they helped America and NASA win the Space Race. It's a Deaf story by a deaf author with pictures by a deaf illustrator--a very cool trifecta!
Kerry’s work has received praise from The New York Times, Kirkus, School Library Journal, Booklist, VOYA, and the Horn Book Guide calling her stories moving, perceptive, well-developed, and woven with an expert hand. A deaf author herself (who now hears with the help of one cochlear implant), she's passionate about books that depict d/Deaf and/or hearing loss experiences for children.
Kerry holds a degree in Social Science Education from the University of South Florida and only recently left her job as a high school media specialist/librarian (and a social studies teacher long before that) to return to writing full-time. She continues to use her teaching skills in author presentations at schools across the country.
Though she'll always consider South Jersey/Philly her home, she currently lives in Florida with her husband and the cutest rescue dog ever.
Her first novel, Just a Drop of Water, was published on September 2, 2014, by Sky Pony Press. It won a Florida Book Award, the Crystal Kite Award, and was named to VOYA's Top Shelf Fiction for Middle Readers' 2014 list. In addition, the book was a finalist for the 2015-2016 Maine Student Book Award, the 2017-2018 Garden State Teen Book Award (New Jersey), the 2016-2017 Truman Award list (Missouri), and the 2018 Nene Award (Hawaii). It won runner-up for the 2016-2017 Magnolia Award (Mississippi).
Her second novel, Hear Me (Sept. 6, 2022, Carolrhoda Books, an imprint of Lerner Publishing), is based on the author's own hearing loss/deaf experience. This contemporary middle-grade novel follows 12-year-old Rayne, who, at odds with her parents over her sudden hearing loss and looming cochlear implant surgery, sets off on a journey where she discovers that even though her ears may be broken, she is not. This book is a 2024-2025 Sunshine State Young Reader Award book.
Her novel, Make a Little Wave (Oct 1, 2024, Carolrhoda Books, an imprint of Lerner Publishing), won both a Florida Book Award and was named a 2025 honor book for the national Green Earth Book Award. This story follows Sav, who, once learning about the horrific act of shark finning, sets out to stop a local restaurant from serving shark fin soup. Only things get super messy as Sav realizes the ins and outs of being an activist. Eventually, she learns to use her voice to stand up for the sharks, becoming a true eco-warrior. The scientific note that precedes the story is written by Kylie Cerra, the author's daughter, a marine biologist with a concentration in shark studies.
Stay tuned for her forthcoming nonfiction picture book, The Gallaudet Eleven: The Story of NASA's Deaf Bioastronauts (March 31, 2026, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers). This work tells the story of eleven deaf men and how they helped America and NASA win the Space Race. It's a Deaf story by a deaf author with pictures by a deaf illustrator--a very cool trifecta!
Kerry’s work has received praise from The New York Times, Kirkus, School Library Journal, Booklist, VOYA, and the Horn Book Guide calling her stories moving, perceptive, well-developed, and woven with an expert hand. A deaf author herself (who now hears with the help of one cochlear implant), she's passionate about books that depict d/Deaf and/or hearing loss experiences for children.
Kerry holds a degree in Social Science Education from the University of South Florida and only recently left her job as a high school media specialist/librarian (and a social studies teacher long before that) to return to writing full-time. She continues to use her teaching skills in author presentations at schools across the country.
Though she'll always consider South Jersey/Philly her home, she currently lives in Florida with her husband and the cutest rescue dog ever.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
November 13, 2022
I read the hardcover edition and sometimes I simultaneously read the audio edition. In the audio edition the gaps of hearing that were shown was done magnificently.
The book’s dedication at the beginning of the book led me to looking up information about the author and she is deaf was diagnosed with a progressive form of hearing loss at age 16 and when she was an adult had a cochlear implant in one ear. When I got to the end of the book there is a heartwarming, informative and helpful author’s note that gives personal and general information. In the back a list of support groups for the Deaf and hard of hearing is included as are a list of discussion questions, and a lovely Acknowledgments section. That latter has the most amusing line that made me laugh. (It’s about using generic dog names vs. the one she uses in this book. Ha!)
She knows a lot of what she writes in this book. It’s a novel with a fictional character but a lot of it is based on her life.
I love this story and most of it felt realistic to me.
I could feel all of Rayne’s feelings, her desperation, her frustration, her loneliness, her fear, her anger, her sadness, her guilt, and her hopefulness, excitement and happiness, and the love she does feel for others.
One quibble is that at only 12 years old a boy and girl are shown not just in a situation where someone has a crush but as potential real love interests. Yes, I know it happens but it seems so young to me to be “dating for a few months” however innocently it’s done. I know kids this age do this but this story is fiction and I’d rather these two had just stayed friends or had the crush stay a crush. The boy in particular seems a tad too mature. In some ways the kids seem overly mature in other ways too. Overall is that this is a minor quibble offset by the model of the healthy communication that occurs, including communicating about their relationships. My friends and I had some deep conversations at that age but I don’t think quite as maturely or with such self-awareness. The disagreement Raine has with her parents and even the drastic actions she takes because of it seem realistic and understandable for her age. Her naiveness about how clinical trials work was also absolutely spot on for her level of life experience. I did ache for her.
I would have loved this book when I was ages 9-12. I’m sure it would have been a favorite book of mine when I was the targeted age. I loved it reading it now too. It’s an excellent book. I highly recommend this book for readers of all ages who enjoy children’s novels and I think it could be especially useful to readers who feel uncomfortably different in some way(s). I appreciate and enjoyed the Deaf & hard of hearing education that I got from reading this book.
4-1/2 stars
The book’s dedication at the beginning of the book led me to looking up information about the author and she is deaf was diagnosed with a progressive form of hearing loss at age 16 and when she was an adult had a cochlear implant in one ear. When I got to the end of the book there is a heartwarming, informative and helpful author’s note that gives personal and general information. In the back a list of support groups for the Deaf and hard of hearing is included as are a list of discussion questions, and a lovely Acknowledgments section. That latter has the most amusing line that made me laugh. (It’s about using generic dog names vs. the one she uses in this book. Ha!)
She knows a lot of what she writes in this book. It’s a novel with a fictional character but a lot of it is based on her life.
I love this story and most of it felt realistic to me.
I could feel all of Rayne’s feelings, her desperation, her frustration, her loneliness, her fear, her anger, her sadness, her guilt, and her hopefulness, excitement and happiness, and the love she does feel for others.
One quibble is that at only 12 years old a boy and girl are shown not just in a situation where someone has a crush but as potential real love interests. Yes, I know it happens but it seems so young to me to be “dating for a few months” however innocently it’s done. I know kids this age do this but this story is fiction and I’d rather these two had just stayed friends or had the crush stay a crush. The boy in particular seems a tad too mature. In some ways the kids seem overly mature in other ways too. Overall is that this is a minor quibble offset by the model of the healthy communication that occurs, including communicating about their relationships. My friends and I had some deep conversations at that age but I don’t think quite as maturely or with such self-awareness. The disagreement Raine has with her parents and even the drastic actions she takes because of it seem realistic and understandable for her age. Her naiveness about how clinical trials work was also absolutely spot on for her level of life experience. I did ache for her.
I would have loved this book when I was ages 9-12. I’m sure it would have been a favorite book of mine when I was the targeted age. I loved it reading it now too. It’s an excellent book. I highly recommend this book for readers of all ages who enjoy children’s novels and I think it could be especially useful to readers who feel uncomfortably different in some way(s). I appreciate and enjoyed the Deaf & hard of hearing education that I got from reading this book.
4-1/2 stars
April 19, 2022
No words I write here will be able to document the impact that this book had on me, but I will surely try. I also want to note before anything that this review is completely unsanctioned by my mother, the amazing author of this book, to whom I'd like to apologize for many actions/things I can't take back, but I certainly wish that I could. Growing up my mother's hearing loss was noticeable, but it wasn't until we became older that the impact it had on her and how our actions affected her day-to-day happiness really set in. Whether it was mumbling when we were cranky in the mornings or not making a concerted effort to look her direction at the dinner table... we were robbing her of some of the moments that she looked forward to most. I'll admit, and I know I'm a bad person for this, but I never fully took the extent of how our actions impacted her into consideration. I always wanted to, but time after time the small 'inconvenience' it was for me to look her direction when speaking or to enunciate appropriately led to me getting annoyed... when all I had to do was make a true effort for her. After everything she had been through and everything she had sacrificed for our family. Looking back I wish that I was more like Colby, supporting her and always being conscious about making Rayne feel included, but I wasn't. I will always regret that.
This book will change lives, there's no doubt about that. I never really put myself in my mother's shoes or asked the right questions in order to understand what her daily life was like and how her hearing loss impacted it. The moment I read chapter one though I was floored. Her use of the asterisks finally gave me the much needed perspective I should have inquired for years ago. I couldn't believe what I was reading. While I certainly hope that this book empowers anyone going through something similar to Rayne (it will), I also hope that it educates families, friends, and loved ones who know others with a hearing loss. I don't want anyone to make the same mistakes that I did.
Now for the more cheery part of my review. I mean this book was mesmerizing. I at first thought it may have been because of all the memories it brought back about my childhood - knowing exactly what Lucky looks like, the hilarious small details like Rayne's mom making them wear embarrassing Christmas outfits, or her dad 'knowing everyone' in town. It was all really fun to read from my perspective. But no, the second I read the last page, I was just sad. Sad that it was over. And I think that's how you know you knocked it out of the park. And while there are so many lessons that can be taken from this masterpiece, the one that really stuck with me was Eddison saying "I can hear. I just listen differently." Wow... left me speechless. I will take that with me forever.
This book is phenomenal. I really can't recommend it enough. Mom, I am so proud of you and I really can't wait to see how this changes so many lives for the better. You're an inspiration to so many, and I'm once again just so proud of who you are today and how far you've come. You're amazing and I LOVE YOU!!
P.S. Please don't be upset with the inevitable grammar mistakes above!
This book will change lives, there's no doubt about that. I never really put myself in my mother's shoes or asked the right questions in order to understand what her daily life was like and how her hearing loss impacted it. The moment I read chapter one though I was floored. Her use of the asterisks finally gave me the much needed perspective I should have inquired for years ago. I couldn't believe what I was reading. While I certainly hope that this book empowers anyone going through something similar to Rayne (it will), I also hope that it educates families, friends, and loved ones who know others with a hearing loss. I don't want anyone to make the same mistakes that I did.
Now for the more cheery part of my review. I mean this book was mesmerizing. I at first thought it may have been because of all the memories it brought back about my childhood - knowing exactly what Lucky looks like, the hilarious small details like Rayne's mom making them wear embarrassing Christmas outfits, or her dad 'knowing everyone' in town. It was all really fun to read from my perspective. But no, the second I read the last page, I was just sad. Sad that it was over. And I think that's how you know you knocked it out of the park. And while there are so many lessons that can be taken from this masterpiece, the one that really stuck with me was Eddison saying "I can hear. I just listen differently." Wow... left me speechless. I will take that with me forever.
This book is phenomenal. I really can't recommend it enough. Mom, I am so proud of you and I really can't wait to see how this changes so many lives for the better. You're an inspiration to so many, and I'm once again just so proud of who you are today and how far you've come. You're amazing and I LOVE YOU!!
P.S. Please don't be upset with the inevitable grammar mistakes above!
January 8, 2025
Rayne is slowly losing her hearing; she is starting to struggle with school. Her proactive parents have scheduled her for surgery for cochlear implants which (if all goes well) will allow her to hear again. If you think this is a story about how Rayne adjusts after the surgery, it is not.
Instead this is the story of how she does everything she can to convince her parents that she does not want the surgery. She researches for other answers, contacts a lawyer, and even reaches out to a doctor to be part of a study on stem cells. Can a twelve-year-old make their own medical decisions without parent intervention? What rights do minors have in regard to medical care? Will any of the professionals she contacts listen to her? What is the solution to Rayne's hearing loss?
Instead this is the story of how she does everything she can to convince her parents that she does not want the surgery. She researches for other answers, contacts a lawyer, and even reaches out to a doctor to be part of a study on stem cells. Can a twelve-year-old make their own medical decisions without parent intervention? What rights do minors have in regard to medical care? Will any of the professionals she contacts listen to her? What is the solution to Rayne's hearing loss?
August 27, 2023
An #ownvoices MG book, perfect for September’s Deaf Awareness Month.
🧏♀️
Rayne is slowly losing her hearing. Her mom believes cochlear implant surgery is the next step, but Rayne and her doctor aren’t. When Rayne’s mom decides to schedule the surgery, Rayne sets off on a journey to discover that even though her ears might be broken, she is not.
🏄🏻♀️
Oh, my heart. I wanted to pull Rayne into a hug and shield her from these big life decisions that she had no control over. The audiobook was perfection, as it really made it seem like those listening had the same hearing loss that Rayne was struggling with. Talk about building empathy! Also the author does discuss our health care system and how difficult it is to afford hearing aides and surgeries. Be sure to read the author’s note as well. I adored this novel and will be recommending it a ton all year long!
CW: hearing loss
🧏♀️
Rayne is slowly losing her hearing. Her mom believes cochlear implant surgery is the next step, but Rayne and her doctor aren’t. When Rayne’s mom decides to schedule the surgery, Rayne sets off on a journey to discover that even though her ears might be broken, she is not.
🏄🏻♀️
Oh, my heart. I wanted to pull Rayne into a hug and shield her from these big life decisions that she had no control over. The audiobook was perfection, as it really made it seem like those listening had the same hearing loss that Rayne was struggling with. Talk about building empathy! Also the author does discuss our health care system and how difficult it is to afford hearing aides and surgeries. Be sure to read the author’s note as well. I adored this novel and will be recommending it a ton all year long!
CW: hearing loss
September 30, 2022
REVIEW HEAR ME
“My ears may be broken, but I am not.”
Hear me tells the story of the 12 year old Rayne who suffers from hearing loss. Her parents want her to get cochlear implants, thinking it would solve all Rayne’s problems with communication, not being able to surf due to balance problems and slipping grades. Rayne isn’t so sure about this, as she doesn’t want people to know she has hearing loss.
Based on her own experiences, Cenna wrote both a heartwarming and heartbreaking book. The own voice makes this a very powerful story. For me, the writing style was the most outstanding. It was really interesting and informative to read conversations Rayne had. In the conversations, some words or parts of words were written with ***. These are the words Rayne can’t hear and it was a clever way to represent what listening to other is like for Rayne. This really shows what it’s like to live with hearing loss and how much it affects your life, although others are trying to help you.
Cenna also amazingly portrayed the Rayne’s feelings and emotions. She advocates for herself, but at the same time she has anxiety because of what other people think of her.The romance part was unnecessary for a 12 year old main character. But besides this, I really loved the book.
Thank you bookstagrammers and for an e-ARC in change for an honest review.
“My ears may be broken, but I am not.”
Hear me tells the story of the 12 year old Rayne who suffers from hearing loss. Her parents want her to get cochlear implants, thinking it would solve all Rayne’s problems with communication, not being able to surf due to balance problems and slipping grades. Rayne isn’t so sure about this, as she doesn’t want people to know she has hearing loss.
Based on her own experiences, Cenna wrote both a heartwarming and heartbreaking book. The own voice makes this a very powerful story. For me, the writing style was the most outstanding. It was really interesting and informative to read conversations Rayne had. In the conversations, some words or parts of words were written with ***. These are the words Rayne can’t hear and it was a clever way to represent what listening to other is like for Rayne. This really shows what it’s like to live with hearing loss and how much it affects your life, although others are trying to help you.
Cenna also amazingly portrayed the Rayne’s feelings and emotions. She advocates for herself, but at the same time she has anxiety because of what other people think of her.The romance part was unnecessary for a 12 year old main character. But besides this, I really loved the book.
Thank you bookstagrammers and for an e-ARC in change for an honest review.
September 3, 2022
“My ears may be broken, but I am not.”
Rayne is losing her hearing and fighting with all that she is to keep her world as much the same as she possibly can. But her parents have decided that surgery/cochlear implants are the answer without hearing her fears, surfing has become impossible due to equilibrium issues, grades are slipping because hearing only 23% of what is said is not working, and it just seems easier to pull away and hide. Life is not the same and it never will be like it was before. Author Kerry Cerra uses her own experiences in the d/Deaf community plus in-depth research/interviews to bring a book that rings with authenticity and made this reader angry (at her parents and many school employees), frustrated (with Rayne’s inability to bring about the change and help she so desperately needs) and touched (by two intensely loyal and truly supportive friends Troy and Jenika). Whether middle grade readers have any experience with hearing loss or not, they will make connections to many experiences that are universal to all kids everywhere: attempts to be seen/heard by others, battles with parents, relationships with peers, fears about the future and more. ELA teachers would do well to use passages from this book to illustrate the power of words to convey deep emotions plus characters’ personalities and changes over time. Librarians should need to check on their Helen Keller biographies as Rayne’s school project may spark an interest in her life.
Outstanding book that needs to be a “1st choice” pick for libraries serving grades 5-7, despite its relatively bland cover. No profanity, sexual content (a little hand-holding and a light kiss) or violence. Race is not clearly defined, but Rayne is likely Caucasian and Jenika may be Black. Might be paired with Ann Clare Lazotte’s Show Me a Sign.
Hear me, I'm cryin' out, I'm ready now
Turn my world upside down, find me
I'm lost inside the crowd, it's getting loud
I need you to see, I'm screaming for you to please
Hear me. Kelly Clarkson, 2004
Rayne is losing her hearing and fighting with all that she is to keep her world as much the same as she possibly can. But her parents have decided that surgery/cochlear implants are the answer without hearing her fears, surfing has become impossible due to equilibrium issues, grades are slipping because hearing only 23% of what is said is not working, and it just seems easier to pull away and hide. Life is not the same and it never will be like it was before. Author Kerry Cerra uses her own experiences in the d/Deaf community plus in-depth research/interviews to bring a book that rings with authenticity and made this reader angry (at her parents and many school employees), frustrated (with Rayne’s inability to bring about the change and help she so desperately needs) and touched (by two intensely loyal and truly supportive friends Troy and Jenika). Whether middle grade readers have any experience with hearing loss or not, they will make connections to many experiences that are universal to all kids everywhere: attempts to be seen/heard by others, battles with parents, relationships with peers, fears about the future and more. ELA teachers would do well to use passages from this book to illustrate the power of words to convey deep emotions plus characters’ personalities and changes over time. Librarians should need to check on their Helen Keller biographies as Rayne’s school project may spark an interest in her life.
Outstanding book that needs to be a “1st choice” pick for libraries serving grades 5-7, despite its relatively bland cover. No profanity, sexual content (a little hand-holding and a light kiss) or violence. Race is not clearly defined, but Rayne is likely Caucasian and Jenika may be Black. Might be paired with Ann Clare Lazotte’s Show Me a Sign.
Hear me, I'm cryin' out, I'm ready now
Turn my world upside down, find me
I'm lost inside the crowd, it's getting loud
I need you to see, I'm screaming for you to please
Hear me. Kelly Clarkson, 2004
April 3, 2022
First of all, thank you to NetGalley and Carolrholda Books for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Hear Me is a powerful story about a young girl, Rayne, experiencing hearing loss. Her parents feel that cochlear implants offer her the best opportunity at having a "normal" life, but Rayne is hesitant to jump into surgery. Cerra does an incredible job of showcasing the difficulty in dealing with hearing loss and deciding on what path to pursue. Rayne is really wonderfully portrayed, and she has so much nuance and character which can be difficult to portray in younger characters.
Cerra clearly put so much thought into this book and the way to show Rayne's hearing loss, as is shown in the author's note, and it was so wonderful to see that depth done easily and masterfully. The incorporation of asterisks in dialogue to show what Rayne is missing was so clever, and I really liked how she showed all of the ways hearing loss impacts your life and how limiting it can feel even if others are trying to help you.
It was a wonderful read, and it is such a great option for a book to use in the classroom or for kids struggling with hearing loss or wanting to learn more about it.
Hear Me is a powerful story about a young girl, Rayne, experiencing hearing loss. Her parents feel that cochlear implants offer her the best opportunity at having a "normal" life, but Rayne is hesitant to jump into surgery. Cerra does an incredible job of showcasing the difficulty in dealing with hearing loss and deciding on what path to pursue. Rayne is really wonderfully portrayed, and she has so much nuance and character which can be difficult to portray in younger characters.
Cerra clearly put so much thought into this book and the way to show Rayne's hearing loss, as is shown in the author's note, and it was so wonderful to see that depth done easily and masterfully. The incorporation of asterisks in dialogue to show what Rayne is missing was so clever, and I really liked how she showed all of the ways hearing loss impacts your life and how limiting it can feel even if others are trying to help you.
It was a wonderful read, and it is such a great option for a book to use in the classroom or for kids struggling with hearing loss or wanting to learn more about it.
October 31, 2023
Well it only took me literally forever but I finally finished this book. I started reading an ebook of this almost a year ago and for whatever reason I struggled to finish it and so I finally got the audiobook and let me tell you that the audiobook is so magnificently done.
This is a middle grade book that follows a girl who is losing her hearing and she is struggling to admit how bad her hearing is getting while also trying to convince her parents that she doesn't want or need cochlear implants. The audiobook does such a great job of giving listeners the same experience that the main character would get. As in there are deliberate pieces of information that are missing from sentences and you really get to understand how she is feeling and experiencing the world.
This is an own voices Deaf book and should be a staple in any middle grade or young adult library. I would recommend for adults to pick this one up too.
This is a middle grade book that follows a girl who is losing her hearing and she is struggling to admit how bad her hearing is getting while also trying to convince her parents that she doesn't want or need cochlear implants. The audiobook does such a great job of giving listeners the same experience that the main character would get. As in there are deliberate pieces of information that are missing from sentences and you really get to understand how she is feeling and experiencing the world.
This is an own voices Deaf book and should be a staple in any middle grade or young adult library. I would recommend for adults to pick this one up too.
September 6, 2022
In her latest novel, Hear Me, author Kerry Cerra brilliantly connects the reader with Rayne and her struggles to hear the people and the world around her. Cerra uses ***isks t* hel* us *et in the head of Rayne, and strives to hear and make sense of the world around her. I enjoyed the challenge of figuring the sentences out, and as I continued reading, The reader will feel Rayne's struggle with not hearing and her lack of understanding. I felt I understood her situation better, and I started rooting for Rayne as she tried to understand why her parents wanted her to get a risky surgery to help her hear.
The story is set in Florida where Rayne is frustrated trying to surf, something she has always enjoyed, and realizes she can no longer do due to the fact that her hearing loss is affecting her balance. School, friendships, and relationships with her family are impacted by her fear and anxiety over the loss of hearing and what to do about it.
The author knows what it feels like because she too developed hearing loss and did eventually have surgery for a cochlear implant. Young readers need to read about the smart but scared Rayne as she deals with this topic that so few people know about or understand. When adding books to help your readers see windows and mirrors, Hear Me is a must-have. There are not many books on the topic of hearing loss and this should be in school and public libraries because it is real and relevant.
The story is set in Florida where Rayne is frustrated trying to surf, something she has always enjoyed, and realizes she can no longer do due to the fact that her hearing loss is affecting her balance. School, friendships, and relationships with her family are impacted by her fear and anxiety over the loss of hearing and what to do about it.
The author knows what it feels like because she too developed hearing loss and did eventually have surgery for a cochlear implant. Young readers need to read about the smart but scared Rayne as she deals with this topic that so few people know about or understand. When adding books to help your readers see windows and mirrors, Hear Me is a must-have. There are not many books on the topic of hearing loss and this should be in school and public libraries because it is real and relevant.
August 30, 2022
Thank you so much to the author and the publisher, Lerner Publishing, for sharing an ARC of this book with me through Bookstagrammers.com !!!
“I’m tired to be the one to do all the listening”
This book was frustrating and exhausting… just like the experience our main character had to go through … as well as every person who suffers because of progressive and sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
This story was beautiful !!! A young girl facing for the first time a chance in her life that scares her so much, she is in denial and feels like her world is turning upside down. Because it is !!!
Ray is such a strong girl, just like the author and just like every other person facing these same struggles throughout their life.
No matter if you were born with it or you experienced it suddenly, hearing loss is a loss, as the author wisely says. And it should be grieved.
This book showed so well how much these people are cherished and loved by so many but sometimes can easily feel alone and misunderstood.
I’ve learnt many great things from Ray’s story and I truly hope it’ll be helpful for many others who are facing insecurities and troubles and a life they feel like it’s silenced from them!!
“My ears might be broken, but I am not”
“I’m tired to be the one to do all the listening”
This book was frustrating and exhausting… just like the experience our main character had to go through … as well as every person who suffers because of progressive and sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
This story was beautiful !!! A young girl facing for the first time a chance in her life that scares her so much, she is in denial and feels like her world is turning upside down. Because it is !!!
Ray is such a strong girl, just like the author and just like every other person facing these same struggles throughout their life.
No matter if you were born with it or you experienced it suddenly, hearing loss is a loss, as the author wisely says. And it should be grieved.
This book showed so well how much these people are cherished and loved by so many but sometimes can easily feel alone and misunderstood.
I’ve learnt many great things from Ray’s story and I truly hope it’ll be helpful for many others who are facing insecurities and troubles and a life they feel like it’s silenced from them!!
“My ears might be broken, but I am not”
September 27, 2022
Hear Me is a middle grade about Rayne, who’s been diagnosed with hearing loss one year ago. Her hearing keeps getting worse, even with aids. Rayne’s parents are convinced getting cochlear implants are the best option, but Rayne thinks otherwise.
You follow Rayne during her search of alternatives, while she discovers that even though her ears may be broken — she is not.
This is an own voices novel and I feel like that’s what makes it such a powerful story. It’s heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. The writing style is great; especially the way conversations are written down — you really get an experience of what hearing loss feels like and how frustrating it can be..
As a person working in the medical field myself, the struggle of puberty combined with a medical condition, while just wanting to be “normal” like your classmates, is so recognizable. I feel like the emotions Rayne goed through couldn’t be described better.
The only unrealistic thing (considering Rayne’s age) is the quite (young) adult like romance. It wasn’t necessary in my opinion.
However, this story is raw and real. And definitely worth reading.
4,5/5 ⭐️
(Thanks to @lernerbooks and @bookstagrammerscom for the opportunity to read this book in exchange of an honest review!)
You follow Rayne during her search of alternatives, while she discovers that even though her ears may be broken — she is not.
This is an own voices novel and I feel like that’s what makes it such a powerful story. It’s heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. The writing style is great; especially the way conversations are written down — you really get an experience of what hearing loss feels like and how frustrating it can be..
As a person working in the medical field myself, the struggle of puberty combined with a medical condition, while just wanting to be “normal” like your classmates, is so recognizable. I feel like the emotions Rayne goed through couldn’t be described better.
The only unrealistic thing (considering Rayne’s age) is the quite (young) adult like romance. It wasn’t necessary in my opinion.
However, this story is raw and real. And definitely worth reading.
4,5/5 ⭐️
(Thanks to @lernerbooks and @bookstagrammerscom for the opportunity to read this book in exchange of an honest review!)
March 16, 2025
I've posted this review on my personal Goodreads account, but wanted to post it on my "librarian" account. I loved this book so much!
First, I want to acknowledge that my emotional response was deeply influenced by my daughter, who has profound hearing loss in both ears and got her first hearing aids in 3rd grade. Many of the thoughts and worries Rayne experiences in Hear Me are things I remember my daughter going through. As she got older, she often mentioned how she felt caught between two worlds – she didn’t quite belong in the hearing world, but because she could still hear, she didn’t fully belong in the Deaf community either. Hearing loss is often said to be one of the most isolating conditions, and I’ve seen that firsthand. I can only imagine how much this book would have meant to her when she was younger! Even though she’s an adult now, I’m still going to get her a copy. As a middle school librarian, I can’t wait to recommend this book to all my students. And if you enjoy audiobooks, I highly recommend listening to this one. The narrator purposefully mumbles and leaves out words, mimicking what it feels like to experience hearing loss, which made it even more impactful.
First, I want to acknowledge that my emotional response was deeply influenced by my daughter, who has profound hearing loss in both ears and got her first hearing aids in 3rd grade. Many of the thoughts and worries Rayne experiences in Hear Me are things I remember my daughter going through. As she got older, she often mentioned how she felt caught between two worlds – she didn’t quite belong in the hearing world, but because she could still hear, she didn’t fully belong in the Deaf community either. Hearing loss is often said to be one of the most isolating conditions, and I’ve seen that firsthand. I can only imagine how much this book would have meant to her when she was younger! Even though she’s an adult now, I’m still going to get her a copy. As a middle school librarian, I can’t wait to recommend this book to all my students. And if you enjoy audiobooks, I highly recommend listening to this one. The narrator purposefully mumbles and leaves out words, mimicking what it feels like to experience hearing loss, which made it even more impactful.
April 18, 2024
As a publishing student, I have to start by saying that would work in children’s any day if I could work on books like this every time. This book is SO IMPORTANT and SO GOOD!!! I’m not Deaf and have not experienced hearing loss, but I do have a chronic illness that sometimes makes navigating this world a bit difficult. As Rayne notices, the world is not built for disabled people. That idea has been a lot to deal with as an adult and I cannot image that amount of pressure and loss at middle school age. It was expertly written to explore the loss that one feels with a progressive disability.
I felt for Rayne in this book. I felt her frustrations as if they were my own, especially towards her parents. I understand that they were just trying to help her, but as someone who understands that looking for fixes can sometimes make a person feel like they are broken, they infuriated me. Seriously, I don’t think I have ever been so angry at fictional characters before! I wanted to reach into the page, pull Rayne in for a hug, and scream at them to just listen to their daughter!
Beyond the story, (which had me crying in public by the way), this was written so well. The omitted words were genius. It was hard at first to decipher what the sentences were with words missing, but as I kept reading, it became easier for my brain to fill in the missing pieces. I was reading at normal speed and my mind was just putting the missing words back. There were times where what was missing wasn’t as obvious, and those were usually the moments when Rayne got confused as well. Seriously, GENIUS!
Words can’t express how much I loved this book. I will forever hold this close to my heart and recommend it to ANYONE, not just middle grade readers. I think everyone should read this book to grasp a deeper understanding of how those with disabilities might think and feel in a very digestible way.
I felt for Rayne in this book. I felt her frustrations as if they were my own, especially towards her parents. I understand that they were just trying to help her, but as someone who understands that looking for fixes can sometimes make a person feel like they are broken, they infuriated me. Seriously, I don’t think I have ever been so angry at fictional characters before! I wanted to reach into the page, pull Rayne in for a hug, and scream at them to just listen to their daughter!
Beyond the story, (which had me crying in public by the way), this was written so well. The omitted words were genius. It was hard at first to decipher what the sentences were with words missing, but as I kept reading, it became easier for my brain to fill in the missing pieces. I was reading at normal speed and my mind was just putting the missing words back. There were times where what was missing wasn’t as obvious, and those were usually the moments when Rayne got confused as well. Seriously, GENIUS!
Words can’t express how much I loved this book. I will forever hold this close to my heart and recommend it to ANYONE, not just middle grade readers. I think everyone should read this book to grasp a deeper understanding of how those with disabilities might think and feel in a very digestible way.
March 12, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. LISTEN to this one, people. It’s so good. Seventh grader Rayne has hearing loss, and it is declining rapidly. As she begins to see that her hearing aids are not giving her full results, her parents begin talking about cochlear implant surgery. Rayne is terrified of the surgery, but feels as though she isn’t being heard by her parents. Worse, she feels as though they think she needs to be “fixed”. Finally deciding to run away and plead her case to a doctor who is doing a stem cell trial, Rayne fears she may never truly be comfortable with herself. The author is authentic, and it shows. Hand to all middle school readers.
March 6, 2023
Rayne’s hearing loss is getting worse and she is trying hard to keep up with school and friendships while also convincing her mother that she does not want cochlear implants. Her parents want to help her have a “normal” life and think the surgery is the best option. Rayne discovers there are clinical trials using stem cells and that not all cochlear implants work. She tries desperately to convince her parents to put off the surgery and explore all options. Will Rayne be able to get her parents to hear her?
January 12, 2025
Battle of the Books 2025 #2 - I had a lot of time on my hands today I guess AND it was a very engaging book. Rayne was having quite the experience. Autonomy and unconditional love are the two things I read in a parenting book that kids need and this book highlights that. So many struggles out there. Appreciate the unique journey the author was able to share and that I was able to read and enjoy with my daughters (who also loved)
February 21, 2025
⭐️3⭐️
Hear Me was… well, I can’t say it was too bad, but it was pretty boring, and rly cringey at a lot of times. But I mean, I think the ending sort of made up for a bit of that, it was satisfying and I almost enjoyed it. So yeah, not the worst book ever, but I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.
Hear Me was… well, I can’t say it was too bad, but it was pretty boring, and rly cringey at a lot of times. But I mean, I think the ending sort of made up for a bit of that, it was satisfying and I almost enjoyed it. So yeah, not the worst book ever, but I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.
December 30, 2024
Incredible!
I'll need to reread this one on audio in the future. I hear it makes the books even more impactful.
I'll need to reread this one on audio in the future. I hear it makes the books even more impactful.
June 2, 2023
a very powerful story. you could feel Rayne's frustration, and it felt so much like how you remember feeling as a child when you felt no one was hearing you.
August 28, 2024
It’s cool to see a different perspective of life through someone with a hearing deficit. Good storyline too. Wish there was a sequel.
April 7, 2025
This is a great read for the middle grades. It is also a great read for those who are struggling with different medical or mental situations. I would love to do a book study with this book in a class someday.
June 5, 2022
“Hearing loss is just that, a loss. It can be just as traumatic as losing a loved one or a pet, and it takes time to move on. So I wonder, have you all really given yourselves, and especially Rayne, enough time to grieve her loss?“
——
“Do you ever wish you could hear?”
“I can hear. I just listen differently than you.”
As someone who works and volunteers in the deaf community, I’m always eager to read books featuring deaf and hard of hearing (HOH) characters. This book is about 12 y/o Rayne who is struggling to accept her hearing loss. She uses hearing aids, but still misses a lot and is trying to fake it the best she can. She doesn’t want to stand out as different. She doesn’t want kids to make fun of her. And she doesn’t want to give her parents anymore reason encourage her to get cochlear implants (CIs), which she’s terrified of doing.
WHAT I LIKED:
I like how the author used asterisks in the dialogue to convey how Rayne hears/lip reads people’s speech. Here’s an example:
“My mom dropped me *** while she’s *** errands. *** debating *** online *** opportunity, *** this *** where I *** my best thinking.”
Some of the sentences you can easily piece together with the omitted words. Others are more challenging, and Rayne has to try and figure out what is being said. It really lets the reader feel her frustrations and get an idea of what it’s like for a hard of hearing person to live in a hearing world.
I also thought the author did a good job of portraying the different situations of the deaf community. Like the opening quotes, many like being deaf and are proud of it. Others, like Rayne, struggle with their situation. She also showed the different communication methods for deaf without indicating any one as a clear right or wrong option. CIs can be a very divisive topic in the deaf community so I was curious what direction the book would go in the end. I think she did a good job portraying that what one family chooses, another may not, and what works for one doesn’t work for everyone. We meet people who have CIs and like them, those who have them and don’t, those who are fully deaf and use ASL, and those who know sign language and have a CI.
I also really appreciate how Rayne’s parents were portrayed. In my work, I’ve seen parents who think CIs are the only option, or that it’s an automatic “fix” for their child. Others send their kids to a deaf school where they are immersed in ASL, but the parents don’t try to learn it themselves and therefore are unable to communicate with their kids. So even though Rayne’s parents were pushing CIs in the beginning, I like that they were clearly doing research and exploring different options. Though Rayne and her strongly parents disagree, it’s clear they’re doing what they do out of love and concern for their daughter who is retreating into herself. In the end, they all realize it’s not about whether or not she can hear but about her being comfortable and accepting who she is, and realizing she can still be herself whether she’s deaf or hearing, CI or not.
WHAT I WASN’T CRAZY ABOUT:
While you most definitely feel for Rayne, I wasn’t a huge fan of how she acts towards her parents at times. She’s not a smart-alecky brat but she does things behind their back and lies to them (and her friends.) She acts out of desperation, because she’s so terrified about undergoing the CI surgery she’s determined to avoid it. The book doesn’t necessarily glorify her behavior—she’s miserable the whole time she does it and she realizes the folly of her actions in the end. However, it was these actions that in a round-about way led to the resolution of the book. I just wished that was a little different.
She also talks about how her and a boy are “officially dating” at 12 years old. I mean, the little relationship between these two was super sweet and cute and is a side aspect to the main plot but to have a 12 year old as “dating” was a little weird for me.
Bottom line: Adults and kids alike can learn from this book. Young readers struggling with hearing loss and their parents will empathize with Rayne’s story. And those who aren’t will gain some insight into the deaf and HOH community.
Content: Clean.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher/author for the ARC. I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
——
“Do you ever wish you could hear?”
“I can hear. I just listen differently than you.”
As someone who works and volunteers in the deaf community, I’m always eager to read books featuring deaf and hard of hearing (HOH) characters. This book is about 12 y/o Rayne who is struggling to accept her hearing loss. She uses hearing aids, but still misses a lot and is trying to fake it the best she can. She doesn’t want to stand out as different. She doesn’t want kids to make fun of her. And she doesn’t want to give her parents anymore reason encourage her to get cochlear implants (CIs), which she’s terrified of doing.
WHAT I LIKED:
I like how the author used asterisks in the dialogue to convey how Rayne hears/lip reads people’s speech. Here’s an example:
“My mom dropped me *** while she’s *** errands. *** debating *** online *** opportunity, *** this *** where I *** my best thinking.”
Some of the sentences you can easily piece together with the omitted words. Others are more challenging, and Rayne has to try and figure out what is being said. It really lets the reader feel her frustrations and get an idea of what it’s like for a hard of hearing person to live in a hearing world.
I also thought the author did a good job of portraying the different situations of the deaf community. Like the opening quotes, many like being deaf and are proud of it. Others, like Rayne, struggle with their situation. She also showed the different communication methods for deaf without indicating any one as a clear right or wrong option. CIs can be a very divisive topic in the deaf community so I was curious what direction the book would go in the end. I think she did a good job portraying that what one family chooses, another may not, and what works for one doesn’t work for everyone. We meet people who have CIs and like them, those who have them and don’t, those who are fully deaf and use ASL, and those who know sign language and have a CI.
I also really appreciate how Rayne’s parents were portrayed. In my work, I’ve seen parents who think CIs are the only option, or that it’s an automatic “fix” for their child. Others send their kids to a deaf school where they are immersed in ASL, but the parents don’t try to learn it themselves and therefore are unable to communicate with their kids. So even though Rayne’s parents were pushing CIs in the beginning, I like that they were clearly doing research and exploring different options. Though Rayne and her strongly parents disagree, it’s clear they’re doing what they do out of love and concern for their daughter who is retreating into herself. In the end, they all realize it’s not about whether or not she can hear but about her being comfortable and accepting who she is, and realizing she can still be herself whether she’s deaf or hearing, CI or not.
WHAT I WASN’T CRAZY ABOUT:
While you most definitely feel for Rayne, I wasn’t a huge fan of how she acts towards her parents at times. She’s not a smart-alecky brat but she does things behind their back and lies to them (and her friends.) She acts out of desperation, because she’s so terrified about undergoing the CI surgery she’s determined to avoid it. The book doesn’t necessarily glorify her behavior—she’s miserable the whole time she does it and she realizes the folly of her actions in the end. However, it was these actions that in a round-about way led to the resolution of the book. I just wished that was a little different.
She also talks about how her and a boy are “officially dating” at 12 years old. I mean, the little relationship between these two was super sweet and cute and is a side aspect to the main plot but to have a 12 year old as “dating” was a little weird for me.
Bottom line: Adults and kids alike can learn from this book. Young readers struggling with hearing loss and their parents will empathize with Rayne’s story. And those who aren’t will gain some insight into the deaf and HOH community.
Content: Clean.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher/author for the ARC. I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 13, 2022
HEAR ME is a meaningful and important middle-grade novel. I love how we’re in Rayne’s first-person point of view, especially the use of asterisks to note which words Rayne can or can’t hear and her efforts to decipher what is being said to her (or which words she interprets through “auditory closure”, a process that I learned about through this book). This is a heartfelt story that you can feel through the pages. In the author’s note, Cerra shares her experience with hearing loss and how it connects with Rayne’s journey. Thank you to author Kerry O’Malley Cerra for having the courage to write from the heart and contribute this valuable book to children’s literature.
October 1, 2022
As a child of a deaf adult, (or CODA, as we're occasionally called) I loved this book so much. It is so raw and realistic and an accurate representation of people going through chronic illness diagnoses and the trials and tribulations of growing up.
Although my father could never hear from when he was a baby, it is essential for people like him to be represented in literature. Even though Rayne has been losing her hearing, I do not remember the last time a character in a book was deaf or partially deaf. I think it humanizes this feature of them since many people in society seem to look down upon deaf people and minimize their place in society.
Having a coming-of-age book also have a chronic illness diagnosis is not unusual for the YA genre, but, as I mentioned before, having a hearing disability seems to be few and far between. Rayne, in this book, goes through school, deals with her parents, and other aspects of growing up. It seems that she believes she is on the incline initially but soon feels that her life is in an out-of-control spiral, which is extremely relatable.
Honestly, I thought the writing was descriptive and clear, and was overall fantastic and promoted a lot of realism through the characters.
I know a few other reviewers mentioned this quote, but it struck me as well, and upon showing it to my father, he found it rather moving. I thought the book is summarized quite well through the saying:
"My ears may be broken, but I am not"
*I was given this book through bookstagrammers.com as an advanced reader. This is my honest review*
Although my father could never hear from when he was a baby, it is essential for people like him to be represented in literature. Even though Rayne has been losing her hearing, I do not remember the last time a character in a book was deaf or partially deaf. I think it humanizes this feature of them since many people in society seem to look down upon deaf people and minimize their place in society.
Having a coming-of-age book also have a chronic illness diagnosis is not unusual for the YA genre, but, as I mentioned before, having a hearing disability seems to be few and far between. Rayne, in this book, goes through school, deals with her parents, and other aspects of growing up. It seems that she believes she is on the incline initially but soon feels that her life is in an out-of-control spiral, which is extremely relatable.
Honestly, I thought the writing was descriptive and clear, and was overall fantastic and promoted a lot of realism through the characters.
I know a few other reviewers mentioned this quote, but it struck me as well, and upon showing it to my father, he found it rather moving. I thought the book is summarized quite well through the saying:
"My ears may be broken, but I am not"
*I was given this book through bookstagrammers.com as an advanced reader. This is my honest review*
September 6, 2022
Rayne is a surfing, music loving middle schooler. But when she starts rapidly losing her hearing she feels like she is losing everything that makes her, well... her. When an ongoing fight with her parents regarding cochlear implants finally boils over she tries to find a way to finally be heard. This is an emotion filled narrative on dealing with hearing loss in a pivotal time of development and the shifting family and friend dynamics.
As a sign language interpreter, I will be buying a copy of this book for my resource shelf with the Deaf/hard of hearing students I work with. Written from a twelve year old's POV makes it relatable and easier to read for younger readers than books written from an adult's POV. I appreciated the use of *** to denote missing words which shows just how much conversation and school instruction students with hearing loss miss. There were points of this book where I wanted to cry, scream, and cheer. I wish every kid experiencing hearing loss would have friends like Rayne's! What a tremendous support that would be! This is a must read for D/deaf and hard of hearing students, especially those who experience hearing loss after age 8 and families of D/deaf and hard of hearing children and those who work with those populations.
The reason this book wasn't 5 stars for me was actually the part after the story was over with the prominent use of "hearing impaired" (especially from a deaf author) and the first resource listed for hearing loss being the A.G. Bell organization based on the ideas of a known advocate for eugenics.
As a sign language interpreter, I will be buying a copy of this book for my resource shelf with the Deaf/hard of hearing students I work with. Written from a twelve year old's POV makes it relatable and easier to read for younger readers than books written from an adult's POV. I appreciated the use of *** to denote missing words which shows just how much conversation and school instruction students with hearing loss miss. There were points of this book where I wanted to cry, scream, and cheer. I wish every kid experiencing hearing loss would have friends like Rayne's! What a tremendous support that would be! This is a must read for D/deaf and hard of hearing students, especially those who experience hearing loss after age 8 and families of D/deaf and hard of hearing children and those who work with those populations.
The reason this book wasn't 5 stars for me was actually the part after the story was over with the prominent use of "hearing impaired" (especially from a deaf author) and the first resource listed for hearing loss being the A.G. Bell organization based on the ideas of a known advocate for eugenics.
June 19, 2022
What a beautiful and important story this book tells. The author uses her own experience with hearing loss to tell the story of twelve year old Rayne, whose hearing is deteriorating. The struggle between Rayne and her parents about cochlear implants really made me think about the difficulty in making medical decisions for a minor. I absolutely loved the use of asterisks to denote words that Rayne had trouble hearing; it really makes you focus and put yourself in the shoes of the character. This is a very well written and relatable middle grade novel.
November 12, 2022
E ARC provided by Netgalley.com
Rayne has been losing her hearing for a short while, and is struggling to keep her mother and father, both school teachers, from knowing how much worse it has gotten. It has even affected her ability to surf, which she very much enjoys, since ears affect balance. Rayne is in seventh grade, has her eye on the class presidency, and is trying to keep up in school although her hearing loss is making things difficult. Her mother wants her to have cochlear implants right away, but Rayne has done her research and knows that once she has these, the avenues to different ways of helping her hearing that may be developed in the future may be cut off. On top of that, she doesn't want people to know she has hearing problems, and the implants are very visible. Her best friend Jenika, brother Colby, and even long time friend and possible crush Theo are all very supportive, but they are no match for Rayne's insistent mother. After Rayne mishears a question at the student body president debate and answers oddly, and her parents schedule the cochclear implant procedure against her objections, Rayne knows she must do something. She's done her research, and thanks to the internet, is able to investigate options such as a boarding school a few hours away from her Florida home and clinical trials for which she hopes to qualify. She has a lot of trouble dealing with everything, so withdraws from her friends and occasionally skips school, which causes her parents to be more alarmed and move the implant surgery up. After she gets a disappointing response from her doctor and from a lawyer she contacts about medical emancipation, she decides to travel by bus to meet with a doctor who has denied her request to participate in a trial. When this also doesn't help, she ends up at the school for the deaf. Her brother, who is in college nearby, comes to see her, and her parents are called. Will Rayne be able to show them that the decisions about her health should be hers to make?
Strengths: Cerra, who wrote the fabulous Just a Drop of Water (2014) does a good job at presenting a realistic view of struggles with diminishing hearing while also having Rayne deal with the more ordinary problems of middle school. Especially effective is the way Rayne's hearing is represented-- words that she can't hear are displayed as ***, so the story really puts us inside her head. Her run for a top student government position, her friendship with Jenika, her budding relationship with Theo, and even her arguments with her parents all ground the story in occurrences to which all students can relate. She's a fantastic advocate for herself, but struggles with anxiety over appearances and what others will think of her almost as much as she struggles with not hearing. Her bus trip, while a bad idea to me as a grownup, is a bit of an empowering adventure. I especially enjoyed the fact that Jenika and Theo were able to tell Rayne that they didn't consider her hearing loss to be "weird" or "broken" as she did; it was just part of her. That's a great message for young readers to hear, and I'll definitely be purchasing this interesting and informative book as a way to give students an understanding into some of the challenges faced by people who are d/Deaf.
Weaknesses: I like the cover as a piece of art, it conveys the sense of separation Rayne feels from her family, gives a good clue to the setting, and even showcases Rayne's anxiety well. As a cover, however, I worry that it might not appeal to my readers. It's more of a 1980s style, and might require hand selling.
What I really think: I was enthralled with Beverly Butler's 1962 Light a Single Candle when I was in middle school. This was a fictionalized account of that author's vision loss at 14, and Cerra has a note detailing how she lost her hearing, starting at 16. There are very, very few books with d/Deaf characters or culture, so there is definitely a need for this well-done book, and having one written by someone with personal experience is great. Pair this with Uhlberg's The Sounds of Silence for a historical look at the treatment of deaf people in the mid 1900s, Kelly's Song for a Whale, or Miller's Miss Spitfire, since Helen Keller is mentioned several times, and students no longer know who she is.
Hear Me is a great book for teachers to read. In my 20+ years in education, we've only had one Deaf student, who both signed and read lips, and she worked as a library helper for three years. We discussed how to deal with students who might not understand her difficulties in hearing her. This book gives a lot of good suggestions for communicating with someone with a hearing loss, as well as the important lesson that people are more than their disabilities.
Rayne has been losing her hearing for a short while, and is struggling to keep her mother and father, both school teachers, from knowing how much worse it has gotten. It has even affected her ability to surf, which she very much enjoys, since ears affect balance. Rayne is in seventh grade, has her eye on the class presidency, and is trying to keep up in school although her hearing loss is making things difficult. Her mother wants her to have cochlear implants right away, but Rayne has done her research and knows that once she has these, the avenues to different ways of helping her hearing that may be developed in the future may be cut off. On top of that, she doesn't want people to know she has hearing problems, and the implants are very visible. Her best friend Jenika, brother Colby, and even long time friend and possible crush Theo are all very supportive, but they are no match for Rayne's insistent mother. After Rayne mishears a question at the student body president debate and answers oddly, and her parents schedule the cochclear implant procedure against her objections, Rayne knows she must do something. She's done her research, and thanks to the internet, is able to investigate options such as a boarding school a few hours away from her Florida home and clinical trials for which she hopes to qualify. She has a lot of trouble dealing with everything, so withdraws from her friends and occasionally skips school, which causes her parents to be more alarmed and move the implant surgery up. After she gets a disappointing response from her doctor and from a lawyer she contacts about medical emancipation, she decides to travel by bus to meet with a doctor who has denied her request to participate in a trial. When this also doesn't help, she ends up at the school for the deaf. Her brother, who is in college nearby, comes to see her, and her parents are called. Will Rayne be able to show them that the decisions about her health should be hers to make?
Strengths: Cerra, who wrote the fabulous Just a Drop of Water (2014) does a good job at presenting a realistic view of struggles with diminishing hearing while also having Rayne deal with the more ordinary problems of middle school. Especially effective is the way Rayne's hearing is represented-- words that she can't hear are displayed as ***, so the story really puts us inside her head. Her run for a top student government position, her friendship with Jenika, her budding relationship with Theo, and even her arguments with her parents all ground the story in occurrences to which all students can relate. She's a fantastic advocate for herself, but struggles with anxiety over appearances and what others will think of her almost as much as she struggles with not hearing. Her bus trip, while a bad idea to me as a grownup, is a bit of an empowering adventure. I especially enjoyed the fact that Jenika and Theo were able to tell Rayne that they didn't consider her hearing loss to be "weird" or "broken" as she did; it was just part of her. That's a great message for young readers to hear, and I'll definitely be purchasing this interesting and informative book as a way to give students an understanding into some of the challenges faced by people who are d/Deaf.
Weaknesses: I like the cover as a piece of art, it conveys the sense of separation Rayne feels from her family, gives a good clue to the setting, and even showcases Rayne's anxiety well. As a cover, however, I worry that it might not appeal to my readers. It's more of a 1980s style, and might require hand selling.
What I really think: I was enthralled with Beverly Butler's 1962 Light a Single Candle when I was in middle school. This was a fictionalized account of that author's vision loss at 14, and Cerra has a note detailing how she lost her hearing, starting at 16. There are very, very few books with d/Deaf characters or culture, so there is definitely a need for this well-done book, and having one written by someone with personal experience is great. Pair this with Uhlberg's The Sounds of Silence for a historical look at the treatment of deaf people in the mid 1900s, Kelly's Song for a Whale, or Miller's Miss Spitfire, since Helen Keller is mentioned several times, and students no longer know who she is.
Hear Me is a great book for teachers to read. In my 20+ years in education, we've only had one Deaf student, who both signed and read lips, and she worked as a library helper for three years. We discussed how to deal with students who might not understand her difficulties in hearing her. This book gives a lot of good suggestions for communicating with someone with a hearing loss, as well as the important lesson that people are more than their disabilities.
July 10, 2022
“My parents are great. But for as long as we’ve known about my hearing loss, they have been searching for a solution. A way to fix me—my brokenness. And I do feel broken. Or maybe just left out. And it seems like the only way I’ll be able to communicate with my friends again is to fix my ears like Mom wants. But not HOW Mom wants.” (46)
Rayne is twelve years old, loves music, and was earning top grades, but has been experiencing progressive sensorineural hearing loss which appears to be rapidly progressing. She is falling behind in her schoolwork; she lies about what she can hear and avoids social situations, like her friend’s pool party and sleepovers, where she won’t be able to hear conversations or read lips, and is worried about starting a relationship with her first crush, Troy, who shares her love of the stars. She sees herself as broken and assumes that her family sees her in the same way “…lately, to me, stupid feels synonymous with sudden hearing loss.” (3). She does have a very supportive best friend, Jenika, as well as Troy.
Rayne’s parents, a middle-school teacher and high school principal, have been conducting research—“We’ve done the research. Weighed the pros and cons of all the options. And I do mean all the options.” (33)—and are adamant that Rayne should get cochlear implants. Rayne also has done the research and is just as adamant that she does not want the implants. “Cochlear implants are permanent. Permanent! I’ll be stuck with some bionic lumps sticking out of my head. And my hearing won’t actually be normal again—everyone will sound like robots. Plus, what if it doesn’t work? That’s happened, you know. You can’t just take it back because there is no going back” (35) Rayne is hoping for another option, to take part in a stem cell transplant research study, but she is turned down because of her age. When Dr. James gives her mother a brochure, she sees there is one more option—Bayview School for the Deaf and Blind, but it is across the state (a “no” from her parents) and since, Rayne doesn’t know sign language, would she even fit in there?
As her hearing loss progresses and she has to give up what she loves—surfing and listening to her favorite band, she also finds school and committees even more difficult to navigate. “Hanging out with Troy, winning the election [for seventh grade president], and having Jenika as a best friend are all like catching the epic wave, but underneath that board, underneath the water I can’t see through, it feels like a threat waiting for me.” (109) She even tries to explain to her friends why it is a “big deal”: “Because people assume I’m not smart when I answer the wrong things. Or they think I’m mean because sometimes I don’t answer at all, when I actually just didn’t hear them. And it’s a big deal because half the time I feel invisible—at parties, in school, even at dinner with my own family, And the few times I don’t feel invisible all have to do with me not being able to hear, and those times I wish I was invisible. There’s no winning for me.”
When Rayne finds out that her parents have scheduled her operation, she becomes desperate, first trying to hire a lawyer to find out if her parents can force her to have cochlear implants and, when that fails, running away to Orlando to try to beg her way into the stem cell study, which also fails. Getting lost on her way to another city, she ends up at Bayview, and finally she and her family explore what may be the most viable option for Rayne.
The novel, to be published in September, gives readers the opportunity to follow in Rayne’s footsteps—to hear (or not hear) through Rayne’s ears and experience not only the phenomena of auditory closure—the ability to make sense of missing, incomplete or distorted words, sentences, or concepts—but another phenomenon, listening fatigue. Some conversations are easier to interpret—“We *** wait too long. Dr. Olsen said *** longer *** go without hearing, *** less your auditory nerves *** be stimulated. (15); some are more challenging—“*** good. I *** *** much *** *** Colby. Go hang *** ***.” (25)
Some children, even those who have not experienced hearing loss, will see themselves in Rayne but, reading Kerry Cerra’s Own Voice story, hopefully many more will see themselves growing into Jenika and Troy, empathic and understanding friends.
Rayne is twelve years old, loves music, and was earning top grades, but has been experiencing progressive sensorineural hearing loss which appears to be rapidly progressing. She is falling behind in her schoolwork; she lies about what she can hear and avoids social situations, like her friend’s pool party and sleepovers, where she won’t be able to hear conversations or read lips, and is worried about starting a relationship with her first crush, Troy, who shares her love of the stars. She sees herself as broken and assumes that her family sees her in the same way “…lately, to me, stupid feels synonymous with sudden hearing loss.” (3). She does have a very supportive best friend, Jenika, as well as Troy.
Rayne’s parents, a middle-school teacher and high school principal, have been conducting research—“We’ve done the research. Weighed the pros and cons of all the options. And I do mean all the options.” (33)—and are adamant that Rayne should get cochlear implants. Rayne also has done the research and is just as adamant that she does not want the implants. “Cochlear implants are permanent. Permanent! I’ll be stuck with some bionic lumps sticking out of my head. And my hearing won’t actually be normal again—everyone will sound like robots. Plus, what if it doesn’t work? That’s happened, you know. You can’t just take it back because there is no going back” (35) Rayne is hoping for another option, to take part in a stem cell transplant research study, but she is turned down because of her age. When Dr. James gives her mother a brochure, she sees there is one more option—Bayview School for the Deaf and Blind, but it is across the state (a “no” from her parents) and since, Rayne doesn’t know sign language, would she even fit in there?
As her hearing loss progresses and she has to give up what she loves—surfing and listening to her favorite band, she also finds school and committees even more difficult to navigate. “Hanging out with Troy, winning the election [for seventh grade president], and having Jenika as a best friend are all like catching the epic wave, but underneath that board, underneath the water I can’t see through, it feels like a threat waiting for me.” (109) She even tries to explain to her friends why it is a “big deal”: “Because people assume I’m not smart when I answer the wrong things. Or they think I’m mean because sometimes I don’t answer at all, when I actually just didn’t hear them. And it’s a big deal because half the time I feel invisible—at parties, in school, even at dinner with my own family, And the few times I don’t feel invisible all have to do with me not being able to hear, and those times I wish I was invisible. There’s no winning for me.”
When Rayne finds out that her parents have scheduled her operation, she becomes desperate, first trying to hire a lawyer to find out if her parents can force her to have cochlear implants and, when that fails, running away to Orlando to try to beg her way into the stem cell study, which also fails. Getting lost on her way to another city, she ends up at Bayview, and finally she and her family explore what may be the most viable option for Rayne.
The novel, to be published in September, gives readers the opportunity to follow in Rayne’s footsteps—to hear (or not hear) through Rayne’s ears and experience not only the phenomena of auditory closure—the ability to make sense of missing, incomplete or distorted words, sentences, or concepts—but another phenomenon, listening fatigue. Some conversations are easier to interpret—“We *** wait too long. Dr. Olsen said *** longer *** go without hearing, *** less your auditory nerves *** be stimulated. (15); some are more challenging—“*** good. I *** *** much *** *** Colby. Go hang *** ***.” (25)
Some children, even those who have not experienced hearing loss, will see themselves in Rayne but, reading Kerry Cerra’s Own Voice story, hopefully many more will see themselves growing into Jenika and Troy, empathic and understanding friends.
April 20, 2024
Twelve-year-old Rayne, South Florida resident and born leader, tries to keep her life as normal as possible one year after her hearing loss is reaching a critical level with the diagnosis of progressive sensorineural hearing loss. Rayne wants to be active in student government, keep up her excellent grades, safely continue surfboarding, hang out with friends, hear and appreciate her favorite singer's songs. Unfortunately, decreased hearing capacity is interfering with every aspect of her life.
Aural comprehension has deteriorated as has the equilibrium necessary to maintain balance while surfing. Rayne's parents believe surgically inserted cochlear implants are the only answer. Rayne is adamant that she will not "look like a robot" with knobs sticking out of her head and wages a virtual war to investigate alternate methods of treatment. Kelly Clarkson's song "Hear Me" sums up Rayne's feelings of desperation.
Rayne is not willing to accept that her parents have fully investigated viable options. In fact, they have but Rayne refuses to consider the possibilities. Rayne does her own online searches, makes her own phone calls, sends her own correspondence, conducts her own interviews but deems all of these options as dead ends. She wants an ongoing research study, genetic testing, stem cell research. Her hearing is interrupted so full sentences elude her even as she is told this horrible news, "The newer implants," she goes on. "The future *** them are too uncertain, and the research *** stem cell transplants shows *** at least ten years away. *** need help now, so *** don't keep falling behind *** school." She will not accept using sign language or attending a special school for deaf and hard of hearing students. Until ... one fateful day, Rayne runs away from home to visit a special school and is pleasantly surprised at what she finds.
This book is written by an author who experienced much of the same angst and roadblocks as Rayne. Not all people are born deaf; often it happens later in life as a result of an accident or trauma, sickness, medication, or progressive disease. It's necessary for young people to participate in decisions regarding their treatment so they don't feel dismissed or viewed as lesser than.
Rayne tells us while her ears are broken, she is not. "Mostly, I don't think you like me like this. You want to fix me, because I'm not a perfect student anymore.I haven't liked me in a long time. but being here, I feel like maybe I could, even if I can't hear. I don't feel like I have to hide here. I could just be me—broken ears and all."
This book has made me much more sensitive to people with hearing loss and other disabilities. Even though they may be fighting to live a normal life, it doesn't mean they're not desperately hurting inside.
The author, Kerry O'Malley Cerra, includes this list of support groups and organizations on her book:
General Support and Information: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) https://www.asha.org
American Society for Deaf Children https://deafchildren.org
Hearing Loss Association of America https://www.hearingloss.org Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center https://clerccenter.gallaudet.edu National Association of the Deaf https://www.nad.org Cochlear Implant Technology:
Please let me know your thoughts. I'd love to hear from you. You can email me at elainewrites@earthlink.net
I wish you all a life inspired by the wonder of the world around us. May you find and live your truth, in harmony with people, nature and the environment. May you be a force for good and a source of love and comfort. May the world be a better place for you having lived and loved here.
All rights reserved 2024
Aural comprehension has deteriorated as has the equilibrium necessary to maintain balance while surfing. Rayne's parents believe surgically inserted cochlear implants are the only answer. Rayne is adamant that she will not "look like a robot" with knobs sticking out of her head and wages a virtual war to investigate alternate methods of treatment. Kelly Clarkson's song "Hear Me" sums up Rayne's feelings of desperation.
Rayne is not willing to accept that her parents have fully investigated viable options. In fact, they have but Rayne refuses to consider the possibilities. Rayne does her own online searches, makes her own phone calls, sends her own correspondence, conducts her own interviews but deems all of these options as dead ends. She wants an ongoing research study, genetic testing, stem cell research. Her hearing is interrupted so full sentences elude her even as she is told this horrible news, "The newer implants," she goes on. "The future *** them are too uncertain, and the research *** stem cell transplants shows *** at least ten years away. *** need help now, so *** don't keep falling behind *** school." She will not accept using sign language or attending a special school for deaf and hard of hearing students. Until ... one fateful day, Rayne runs away from home to visit a special school and is pleasantly surprised at what she finds.
This book is written by an author who experienced much of the same angst and roadblocks as Rayne. Not all people are born deaf; often it happens later in life as a result of an accident or trauma, sickness, medication, or progressive disease. It's necessary for young people to participate in decisions regarding their treatment so they don't feel dismissed or viewed as lesser than.
Rayne tells us while her ears are broken, she is not. "Mostly, I don't think you like me like this. You want to fix me, because I'm not a perfect student anymore.I haven't liked me in a long time. but being here, I feel like maybe I could, even if I can't hear. I don't feel like I have to hide here. I could just be me—broken ears and all."
This book has made me much more sensitive to people with hearing loss and other disabilities. Even though they may be fighting to live a normal life, it doesn't mean they're not desperately hurting inside.
The author, Kerry O'Malley Cerra, includes this list of support groups and organizations on her book:
General Support and Information: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) https://www.asha.org
American Society for Deaf Children https://deafchildren.org
Hearing Loss Association of America https://www.hearingloss.org Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center https://clerccenter.gallaudet.edu National Association of the Deaf https://www.nad.org Cochlear Implant Technology:
Please let me know your thoughts. I'd love to hear from you. You can email me at elainewrites@earthlink.net
I wish you all a life inspired by the wonder of the world around us. May you find and live your truth, in harmony with people, nature and the environment. May you be a force for good and a source of love and comfort. May the world be a better place for you having lived and loved here.
All rights reserved 2024
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December 5, 2024Fiction books often have a lot of fact behind them. That is the case of HEAR ME, by Kerry O’Malley Cerra. The author was diagnosed with hearing loss at a very early age, sixteen to be exact. She later had a cochlear implant in one ear that did give her a limited amount of hearing. This gives the book a more personal touch, one that is definitely a most compelling work that although geared to younger readers, is a book that people of all ages can greatly enjoy.
The author says this was not a book she wanted to write, because she was at one time ashamed of her hearing loss, but it was a story she decided needed to be told, after encountering a teenage girl at one her speaking events. She found the girl was not embarrassed or ashamed of hearing aids. She knew it was a positive move to discuss the topic so candidly through HEAR ME.
Rayne is only twelve years old. She has been diagnosed with hearing loss, and she is having a difficult time facing it and adjusting to it. She feels inferior to others, especially the fact she is only hearing partial sentences when people speak to her. She is angry this has happened to her, part of her own being betraying her in this manner. Her parents believe the solution to this is through cochlear implants, something that Rayne is deadset against. She is fighting with them not to go through this procedure. It causes great friction between them all. She can often read lips, which seems to her to be helpful, and does not necessitate any further assistance.
Her parents make the ultimate decision for her about the implants, and Rayne goes on a journey to talk with others about the implants, because they are not something she is comfortable with. Rayne does say her ears are broken, but she is not. She fights this every step of the way, meeting several people, some who do not understand what she is experiencing, while others are more supportive and nurturing, as she tries to make a decision that is comfortable for her and something she can accept.
The book depicts Rayne’s journey, through the various stages of trying to accept what makes her happiest, not follow the whims of others. The fact the author suffered through the same questions and doubts, makes for a book that resonates loudly in terms of accommodating issues that derail your happiness, but where you learn to live through certain disabilities. They are often minor inconveniences, where you have the ability to cope and mature because of them.
The author says this was not a book she wanted to write, because she was at one time ashamed of her hearing loss, but it was a story she decided needed to be told, after encountering a teenage girl at one her speaking events. She found the girl was not embarrassed or ashamed of hearing aids. She knew it was a positive move to discuss the topic so candidly through HEAR ME.
Rayne is only twelve years old. She has been diagnosed with hearing loss, and she is having a difficult time facing it and adjusting to it. She feels inferior to others, especially the fact she is only hearing partial sentences when people speak to her. She is angry this has happened to her, part of her own being betraying her in this manner. Her parents believe the solution to this is through cochlear implants, something that Rayne is deadset against. She is fighting with them not to go through this procedure. It causes great friction between them all. She can often read lips, which seems to her to be helpful, and does not necessitate any further assistance.
Her parents make the ultimate decision for her about the implants, and Rayne goes on a journey to talk with others about the implants, because they are not something she is comfortable with. Rayne does say her ears are broken, but she is not. She fights this every step of the way, meeting several people, some who do not understand what she is experiencing, while others are more supportive and nurturing, as she tries to make a decision that is comfortable for her and something she can accept.
The book depicts Rayne’s journey, through the various stages of trying to accept what makes her happiest, not follow the whims of others. The fact the author suffered through the same questions and doubts, makes for a book that resonates loudly in terms of accommodating issues that derail your happiness, but where you learn to live through certain disabilities. They are often minor inconveniences, where you have the ability to cope and mature because of them.
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