Hear Me
Age 10+
Children's & Young Adult Fiction & True Stories
A sensitive and authentic portrayal of a girl experiencing progressive hearing loss, written by an author with progressive hearing loss.
A year after being diagnosed with hearing loss, twelve-year-old Rayne is doing her best to live a “normal” life. But even with hearing aids, she has trouble following conversations, understanding song lyrics, and even surfing. Rayne’s parents want her to get cochlear implants, which could restore her hearing, but Rayne isn't convinced the surgery for CIs is worth the risks and challenges. She begs her parents to consider other options, but they're not budging.
With the surgery looming, Rayne sets off on a search for alternatives. Along the way, she discovers that “normal” can have many meanings—and that even though her ears may be broken, she is not.
Creators
Kerry O'Malley Cerra is the author of the award-winning middle-grade novel Just a Drop of Water. She holds a degree in social science education and currently works as a high school media specialist. She lives in Florida with her family and two poorly behaved rescue dogs.
Reviews
Asterisks replace unheard words of dialogue in this moving middle grade novel, based on the author’s own life, that follows an adolescent girl’s struggle with both progressive hearing loss and her parents’ insistence that she get cochlear implants.
The New York Times
