Give Me a Sign is an adorable YA debut for summer

Everyone deserves to have their happily-ever-after and that’s just one of the sentiments shared within the pages of Give Me a Sign.

A YA debut by Anna Sortino, Give Me a Sign is one of the most exciting and fun books I’ve read this summer. Even though I’m not a big YA reader anymore, the pitch for this one and the cute cover was enough to convince me to read it.

I know that everyone says not to judge a book by its cover but sometimes, those cute covers are enough to make you want to pick it up. For Give Me a Sign though, it’s less about the cuteness of the cover and more about what the book represents.

If you’re looking for a fun summer read set at a summer camp for the blind and deaf, Give Me a Sign is one of the most unique books I’ve read this year. I’d like to thank the publisher for sending me an ARC to read early.

Give Me a Sign by Anna Sorinto is a promising YA debut.

At the beginning of the book, we meet Lilah who is deaf and she sees some of the challenges she faces in the hearing world until we find out about a summer opportunity. Lilah decides to become a junior counselor for Camp Gray Wolf which is a camp for the deaf and blind which is an entirely new set of challenges.

While we watch camp through Lilah’s eyes, we’re also enmeshed in so many different people who have all different disabilities and the varying levels they come with. Of course, it wouldn’t be a camp book without a little bit of summer romance for Lilah as she’s starting to get feelings for another counselor.

Even though this book is a lot of fun, it does have some larger topics and subject matter I’ve never thought about. As someone who isn’t deaf, I don’t even have to think about these things which is a privilege. Even so, I feel as though this book tackles things such as the spectrum of deafness, accessibility, and how being in the hearing world can warp someone’s perception of you.

The commentary in this book also feels perfect for a YA audience, too. Whether you’re deaf or not, the book makes sure to focus on issues teens are dealing with such as romance, drama between friends, and trying to find your place. Honestly, it ended up being such an eye-opening experience for me and I hope this book ends up in the hands of those who need it and will appreciate it.

While I do think the pacing was a bit off and I would have liked to see a bit more romance, Give Me a Sign was a fun read so I can’t really complain. I think if you’re looking for a summer camp book, you won’t be disappointed with this one.

Give Me a Sign by Anna Sortino is out now wherever books are sold. 

Will you be adding Give Me a Sign to your summer reading list? Let us know in the comments.