In Silence: Growing Up Hearing in a Deaf World

by Ruth Sidransky

Book Overview

At last, Ruth Sidranksy s groundbreaking book "In Silence: Growing Up Hearing in a Deaf World" is back in print. Her account of growing up as the hearing daughter of deaf Jewish parents in the Bronx... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345374258
• ISBN13: 9780345374257
• Release Date: October 1991
• Publisher: Ballantine Books
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.2" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

In Silence: Growing Up Hearing in a Deaf World

Gave new insight to the development and importance of American Sign Language. A ugly picture of prejudice that teaches inclusion and acceptance of every human being. Heart-warming story of the relationship between two deaf parents and their hearing daughter. Made me laugh. Made me cry. Made me determined to treat all people respectfully.

In Silence: Growing Up Hearing In A Deaf World

In many ways, this book parallels "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn" by Betty Smith; both are autobiographical accounts of the lives of two women growing up in Brooklyn, New York, although from entirely different ethnic backgrounds. Where Betty Smith's account opens the reader to a world from a strong Irish-Catholic heritage in turn-of-the-century New York City, Ruth Sidransky's account starts a bit later and reveals her Jewish faith coupled with the feeling of exclusion from the hearing world, on behalf of her dear parents. Nevertheless, hardships and love are plentiful for both women and their families, with Ruth's a bit more complex. Both deal with sensitive issues such as child molestation, poverty, overcoming diversity, etc., but are handled with care, even at times with humor. I would strongly recommend this book, particularly to students looking for insight into the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing world; additionally, it, like its counterpart, offers excellent historical, religious, cultural, sub-cultural, and ethnological perspectives of life in early to mid 1900's New York City.