00002373

loved learning about ASL ( )

I think this book is a great story for readers. Jessi is a middle school aged girl who is babysitting a family in her neighborhood. There are two children in the family, a young girl and her older brother, Matt. Jessi learns sign language for the family because Matt is deaf. The neighborhood kids also start to learn ASL to communicate with Matt; they feel as if they are using a secret language. I am fond of the book because of the portrayal of being different. Matt is not looked as any differently nor is he the conflict of the story. Instead, Matt is embraced and looked up to because he has a talent no one else has "awesome." the neighborhood kids exclaimed (p58). The book also incorporates dance and becoming independent which is important for children knowing they can be different, enjoy many hobbies and that they are not alone. ( )

One of my favourite BSC books. I tend to prefer Jessi's books, because I love reading about her ballet, and as I'm also very fascinated by sign language, this is extra interesting to me. ( )

I'll admit here that i liked this book twenty years ago. The series was rather "eh", but this particular book I liked. I liked that Jessi learned sign language and had a real practical use for it, too.