Deaf Child Crossing
By Marlee Matlin

An appealing and enduring story.

     Megan anxiously waited -- looking for her new neighbors. She was told they had a girl the same age as her. Megan wanted to meet her first, because she wanted a friend that didn't treat her different or mean. Maybe this girl is the "best friend forever" she's looking for!

     Cindy and her parents moved from the city. While unloading from the car, Megan startled Cindy. She ran up to Cindy and introduced her self in her funny voice. When Cindy tried to reply in kind - with her voice - Megan was slow to answer.

     Cindy looked straight at Megan. Now she looked a little frustrated. "What's the matter? Are you deaf or something?" she yelled back.

Megan screamed out, and then fell to the ground, laughing hysterically. "How did you know that?" she asked as she laughed.

     And so began a special summer in which Megan and Cindy discovered how to combine their hearing and deaf worlds to create a special friendship. Throughout the storyline, the girls experienced the routine of integrating the hearing with the deaf, and deal with the emotions that come with this type of relationship - surprises, joy, compassion, confusion, hurt, anger, and most of all understanding. Given the advice from their mothers, their experiences at summer camp, and the added aggravation of Megan's brother, the girls just might become "best friends forever."

     Deaf author Marlee Matlin is a person rich with confidence and talent. Watching her on TV as she works and interacts with others gives one the impression she is willing to try just about anything. And Matlin proves just that as she presents her first children's story. Deaf Child Crossing is for reading ages eight - twelve, and her main character has the same no-nonsense, independent personality as the author who created her.

     Parents, you can't go wrong in buying Deaf Child Crossing for the girls in your lives. It's not just a story about deaf and hearing. It's a story about awareness, compassion and compromise concerning others. A recommend read and "a must" for all middle school and public libraries.