Five Flavors of Dumb

A deaf girl becomes manager of a high school rock band whose members don't get along.

The Challenge: Piper has one month to get the rock band Dumb a paying gig.

The Deal: If she does it, Piper will become the band’s manager and get her share of the profits.

The Catch: How can Piper possibly manage one egomaniacal pretty boy, one talentless piece of eye candy, one crush, one silent rocker, and one angry girl? And how can she do it when she’s deaf?

Piper can’t hear Dumb’s music, but with growing self-confidence, a budding romance, and a new understanding of the decision her family made to buy a cochlear implant for her deaf baby sister, she discovers her own inner rock star and what it truly means to be a flavor of Dumb.

Practical information

Author: Antony John
Publisher: Penguin (Dial)
Publication year: 2010
ISBN: 9780803734333
Age category: young adult
Disability portrayed: deafness
Genre: contemporary

Author

Antony was born in England and raised on a balanced diet of fish and chips and bizarre British comedies. To annoy his parents, he decided to pursue a career in classical music. He graduated from Oxford University and received his Ph.D. in composition from Duke University. After teaching at Duke and the University of South Carolina, he became a stay-at-home dad and began writing books — the only other job besides composing that allows him to wear sweatpants all day. He lives near Philadelphia with his family.

I spent many sleepless nights mulling over the fact that I might have gotten something wrong. What if deaf teens felt misrepresented? What if just one said, “That’s not how it really is”? I knew I’d feel like I’d let them down. [...] So I did a ton of research, spoke to everyone from deaf teens and adults, to ASL instructors, to audiologists, and admissions officers for Gallaudet University. Research doesn't guarantee that you'll get everything right, but it certainly reduces the likelihood of getting it badly wrong!

(The Book Lantern, March 2011)

Practical information

Author

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