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Deaf Child Crossing | 
 enlarge | Author: Marlee Matlin
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Category: Book
List Price: $15.95
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Avg. Customer Rating:  15 reviews
Sales Rank: 832257
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 208
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 7.8 x 4.7 x 0.8
ISBN: 0689822081
EAN: 9780689822087
ASIN: 0689822081
Publication Date: September 1, 2002
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Oscar-winning actor and producer Marlee Matlin makes her writing debut about a topic she knows very well--the difficulties of growing up deaf. Nine-year-old Megan is thrilled when Cindy moves in down the street, even though the two couldn't be more different. Megan is boisterous; Cindy is shy. Megan loves everything with a passion, especially the color purple; Cindy shrinks from attention. Megan is deaf; Cindy can hear. Together, they forge an unlikely friendship that is tested when the two decide to attend summer camp together. There is another deaf child in their bunk, and suddenly Megan seems to forget the promise she made to Cindy to be "BFF," Best Friends Forever. Cindy struggles with this rejection, even as it forces her to step out from behind Megan's shadow and learn to speak up for herself. Once they are home again, the two reconcile when a hair-pulling argument dissolves into laughter. The preeminent author of fiction about children with disabilities has always been the beloved Jean Little (Little by Little, Mine for Keeps, etc.). Having said that, Matlin is no Little, but her writing style is competent and clearly describes the realities of Megan's world. And even though Matlin's gently told story doesn't rise much above the "message" of Megan's disability, it's still a message that youngsters need to hear. (Ages 8 to 10) --Jennifer Hubert
Product Description
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. Megan is excited when Cindy moves into her neighborhood -- maybe she'll finally have a best friend. Sure enough, the two girls quickly become inseparable. Cindy even starts to learn sign language so they can communicate more easily. But when they go away to summer camp together, problems arise. Cindy feels left out because Megan is spending all of her time with Lizzie, another deaf girl; Megan resents that Cindy is always trying to help her, even when she doesn't need help. Before they can mend their differences, both girls have to learn what it means to be a friend. Marlee Matlin, Academy Award-winning actress, has written a compelling and often humorous story of friendship, loosely based on events from her own childhood growing up in Chicago. Deaf Child Crossing will strike a chord with anyone who has ever had, or wanted, a best friend.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 10 more reviews...
 A bundle of contradictions... May 26, 2008
Marlee Matlin's Deaf Child Crossing stars Megan Merrill, a profoundly deaf nine-year-old living in Illinois. Her parents and her older brother Matt are all hearing, but they communicate with Megan through a combination of sign language and speech. Megan wears hearing aids and is able to read lips, but is unable to use the telephone, a constant source of frustration for her.
As the story begins, Megan is eagerly awaiting the arrival of her new neighbors...of their daughter in particular. She has few school friends, and longs for a friend her own age. Cindy is at first intimidated by the loud, forward Megan (she is unable to modulate her speech volume), but the two strike up a friendship. The two are like day and night: Megan's room is messy, everything is purple, and she plays Billy Joel songs really loudly, where Cindy's room is white, plain, and orderly. Megan is computer savvy, where Cindy's never been on a chat room. Megan is good at Rollerblading, while Cindy runs into things. But Megan and Cindy quickly declare each other BFF: Best Friends Forever, and Cindy tries to learn sign language so that the two have an easier time communicating.
Megan becomes really upset when her mom wants her to go to a summer camp, throwing tantrums and going into hysterics. She has a top-secret reason why she's reluctant, but Cindy eventually convinces her that they should go to camp together. Before they even get on the bus, the two have had a major falling out over Cindy signing for Megan in a department store. Megan is furious that Cindy would dare to help her without asking first, and Cindy can't understand what Megan is so upset about.
Megan has a lot to learn about being a good friend, though. At camp, she quickly abandons Cindy for Lizzie, another deaf girl. And when Megan and Cindy's cabin come up with a great idea, Megan claims all the credit, even though it was Cindy's idea. A dramatic ghost story sets the climax in motion, but there's nothing too traumatic.
The child-friendly introduction to Deaf culture (Closed Captioning, TDD, sign language interpreters, signing songs) was generally effective, but it would have been nice if a fingerspelling alphabet had been included in the back as was done with the sequel Nobody's Perfect.
Overall, I found Deaf Child Crossing to be a bundle of contradictions: Megan is an unlikeable protagonist. She's pushy, whiny, and when she comes up against something she can't do, like talk on the telephone, she throws tantrums and takes out her frustration on her family and friends. Instead of facing challenges, she runs, frequently getting herself into trouble. And she treats her supposed BFF like dirt, not understanding why it's important to give other people credit.
 "I Love This Book Just The Way It Is" October 19, 2007
Coining Megan's favorite Billy Joel song, this book is fine read for all. The book says it is appropriate for ages 8-12, but I think even older youth and adults alike will enjoy this fine read about young people maturing.
The story revolves around the maturing of two neighborhood girls of 9, one deaf and the other hearing. From each other they gain much: a best new friend, understanding of differences, and growing to find love even among quarreling, the best part is making up, etc. Takes youth of all ages back to summer vacations, summer camp, discovering best friends, learning about one's self. Truly enjoyable to dream back to those days!
This fine story by Matlin will expand many young and old people's perceptions about the deaf and their abilities. I'm going to share this book with youngsters I know, and have already donated a copy to a classroom's library.
Nice to see that so many of the reviews here did not take away the surprises at the end
Loved it! March 8, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book illustrates how it feels to be a deaf child growing up in a hearing world. Even though the character isn't 100% deaf.
Karen in Chicago September 9, 2006
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I met Marlee when this book came out. She was an absolute sweetheart. Her parents are darling as well. I just finished reading this book for a second time and was about to email and ask where is the sequal? I can't wait to read it. I am a mother of an 8 year old hearing impaired son, so Megan's loudness was very familar to me...I had many laughs with this book. It really does bring you close to home if you are a parent of a deaf or hard of hearing child. I am sure I will read this book many more times. Thanks Marlee for showing everyone what it is like to grow up deaf in Chicago!
Very Good July 5, 2006
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I read this book and it was wonderful if you like stories about camp or friendship. I couldn't stop reading it and woke up early just to finish it. It was beautifully written and I will definitely get the sequel.
The only thing that disappointed me was that it was confusing. I felt like one minute, Megan and Cindy loved each other, and another they were enemies. It was hard to understand, but other than that it was a good book.
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