Deaf issue of m/c - a journal of media and culture

The “Deaf” issue of m/c [M/C Journal, Vol. 13, No. 3 (2010)] is now available online. M/C Journal was founded (as "M/C - A Journal of Media and Culture") in 1998 as a place of public intellectualism analysing and critiquing the meeting of media and culture.  You may be interested in my contribution Representations of Deafness and Deaf People in Young Adult Fiction. 


Miriam Nathan Lerner contributed Narrative Function of Deafness and Deaf Characters in Film. Miriam's documentary, The Heart of the Hydrogen Jukebox is a must see! Check out my interview with her in 2007!

Other pieces include:
EDITORIAL: A Deaf Knowingness - Donna McDonald, Liz Ferrier
The Triton - Sandra Hoopman
FEATURE: Body Language - Jessica White
Becoming Deaf - Karen McQuigg
Journey of a Deaf-Blind Woman - Christy Reid
Fluid Identities: A Journey of Terminology - Michael Uniacke
Interpreters in Our Midst - Breda Carty
Hart Crane’s Speaking Bodies: New Perspectives on Modernism and Deafness - Rebecca Sánchez
Do Androids Dream of Electric Speech? The Construction of Cochlear Implant Identity on American Television and the “New Deaf Cyborg” - Pamela Kincheloe
Marginalising the Mainstream: A Signed Performance of The Miracle Worker Places Deaf Issues Centre-Stage - Caroline Heim
Looking across the Hearing Line?: Exploring Young Deaf People’s Use of Web 2.0 - Nicole Matthews
The Politics and Practice of Voice: Representing American Sign Language on the Screen in Two Recent Television Crime Dramas - Jennifer Rayman

DAREDEVIL/ECHO: VISION QUEST (PREMIERE HARDCOVER) IN STORES: September 29, 2010

I don't think I need to go on and on about this... because I always do and you know I love this character (Echo in Daredevil) and artist David Mack (as in MAD PROFESSIONAL CRUSH). But here it is!   ISBN: 978-0-7851-4521-9 Release Date: September 29, 2010 Source: Marvel.com

DAREDEVIL/ECHO: VISION QUEST (PREMIERE HARDCOVER)

COVER BY: David Mack WRITER: David Mack PENCILS: David Mack THE STORY: Maya Lopez, dubbed Echo by the press, is a young deaf woman capable of replicating any action she sees — including an individual’s fighting style. She once nearly took down Daredevil, believing him to be the one who killed her father. After learning that it was actually Wilson Fisk, her legal guardian, who was responsible, she shot him and left New York in an attempt to discover herself. Now, with her perceptions completely altered, can she make sense of the world? Echo embarks on a Native American vision quest to pick up the pieces of her shattered life. Written and illustrated by acclaimed Kabuki creator David Mack. Combining innovative storytelling, painting techniques and page design, Mack has won nearly every major comic-industry award, including the prestigious Eisner Award for Best Painter, and garnered praise from such luminaries as Jim Steranko and The Washington Times. Collecting DAREDEVIL #51-55. Rated T+ …$19.99

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Across the nation, universities are announcing their 2010 Common Reading selection. Many of them have selected The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot. Gallaudet University is no exception. Skloot's book has made its way into national and local papers, has become a best seller, and has library patrons waiting in haste!
 
At Gallaudet University, on February 24, 2010 as part of her national book tour, Skloot recounted the story of the late Henrietta Lacks, a woman scientists are familiar with based only on her cells since they were the first "immortal" human cells grown in culture. The visit was an emotional one for the author, who learned that in the 1950s, Gallaudet housed a school for black deaf students. Henrietta Lacks's children, some of whom were deaf and hard of hearing, lived in Baltimore during that time, yet the family was never aware of the school or a similar one in Baltimore. Instead, the children barely learned how to read and write after attending public schools that never accommodated their needs.
Gallaudet University's Denison House, a new student housing project that places a faculty member and graduate student with undergraduate students, will use The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks as the centerpiece of its bioethics theme during the coming year.

While this isn't a traditional selection for my blog, it's a fascinating story that involves deaf individuals. I will post more about this during the year once the author visits campus.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Crown; 1 edition edition (February 2, 2010)
ISBN-10: 1400052173
ISBN-13: 978-1400052172

My Sister's Voice by Mary Carter

My Sister's Voice by Mary Carter
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Kensington (May 25, 2010)
ISBN-10: 0758229208
ISBN-13: 978-0758229205

Product Description 
A proudly deaf artist in Philadelphia, Lacey Gears is in a relationship with a wonderful man and rarely thinks about her childhood in a home for disabled orphans. That is, until Lacey receives a letter that begins, 'You have a sister. A twin to be exact'. Learning that her identical, hearing twin, Monica, experienced the normal childhood she was denied resurrects all of Lacey's grief, and she angrily sets out to find Monica and her parents. But the truth is far from simple. And for every one of Lacey's questions that's answered, others are raised, more baffling and profound. "My Sister's Voice" is a beautifully written novel about sisterhood, love, and the stories we cling to until real life comes crashing in. 

The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin by Josh Berk

Yes, I know! I'm behind! This book was published in February and I'm *just* now getting around to posting it here and I haven't even read it! But that doesn't mean I didn't know about it... especially since many of you kind readers hounded me about it:) Writing that it's been a hard year would be an understatement.... and since this isn't a tell-all blog, I'll just keep my excuses to myself and hold my head in shame (or at least in a book for the remainder of the summer).

Without reading the book, I can tell you why I want to read it.... one, the author includes an adorable prom picture of himself with his then girlfriend/ now wife. Later, they would be in a punk band together (okay, that's really two things); three, the author admits on his website that he did a little research. He writes, "I began to research Deaf culture and found it fascinating!" Immediately I'm wondering what kind of research.... I've already sent him an email so hopefully we'll find out (and if he reads this post-- please respond! hint hint), and four, on his website he wrote, "So I decided that I would write a mystery -- something dark and full of ghosts and murder -- using the big party and deaf narrator and the coal mining setting". I like all that is dark; I like ghosts and murder; you all know I like deaf characters, especially narrators; and, my father grew up in the coal mining community of Wilkes-Barre, PA (my grandfather was a miner) about an hour from where Mr. Berk was born.




The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin by Josh Berk

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (February 9, 2010)
ISBN-10: 0375856994
ISBN-13: 978-0375856990


About the Book:
Being a hefty, deaf newcomer almost makes Will Halpin the least popular guy at Coaler High. But when he befriends the only guy less popular than him, the dork-namic duo has the smarts and guts to figure out who knocked off the star quarterback. Will can’t hear what’s going on, but he’s a great observer. So, who did it? And why does that guy talk to his fingers? And will the beautiful girl ever notice him? (Okay, so Will’s interested in more than just murder . . .)


Those who prefer their heroes to be not-so-usual and with a side of wiseguy will gobble up this witty, geeks-rule debut.

To Be Released in November!

Five Flavors of Dumb (This title will be released on November 11, 2010), Antony John Reading level: Ages 12 & Up
Publisher: Dial

THE CHALLENGE: Piper has one month to get a paying gig for Dumb—the hottest new rock band in school.
THE DEAL: If she does it, she'll become manager of the band and get her share of the profits, which she desperately needs since her parents raided her college fund.
THE CATCH: Managing one egomaniacal pretty boy, one talentless piece of eye candy, one crush, one silent rocker, and one angry girl who is ready to beat her up. And doing it all when she's deaf. With growing self-confidence, an unexpected romance, and a new understanding of her family's decision to buy a cochlear implant for her deaf baby sister, Piper just may discover her own inner rock star.

When I wrote Antony John about his book, Five Flavors of Dumb in December 2008, he responded, "Incidentally, the narrator's motivation for managing her high school rock band is that she plans to attend Gallaudet and her parents have just blown her entire college fund. I guess this means you'd be her professor!" I just heard back from him and I can't wait to read his book and do an interview:) I'll keep you posted!

Deaf Characters in Adolescent Literature Online Class at Gallaudet University

For more information on enrollment and the class, visit Gallaudet University's website

ENG 295- Deaf Characters in Adolescent Literature (3)
5/17/10-7/9/10
Online

Eng295 Pajka

View more presentations from Sharon Pajka-West.

Wisconsin Statewide Professional Conference

How To Deaf Characters

View more presentations from Sharon Pajka-West.

Book Analysis

View more documents from Sharon Pajka-West.

Sequel to Meg Burden's NORTHLANDER

In June 2008 I had the pleasure of interviewing Meg Burden about her book Northlander. Since that time, Ms. Burden's book has received many notable awards including "Book of the Year, YA Fiction" by ForeWord Magazine  and "Notable YA Fiction" by the International Reading Association. 
I'm very excited to read this new selection in the Tales of the Borderlands. Deaf Character, Finn, apparently has a much larger part in the sequel. The book will be published in April but I should receive an advance reader from the publisher any day now. I'll let you know what I think! 

The King Commands (Tales of the Borderlands) by Meg Burden
Paperback: 312 pages
Publisher: Brown Barn Books (April 12, 2010)
ISBN-10: 0979882419
ISBN-13: 978-0979882418

Product Description
In this eagerly awaited sequel to NORTHLANDER, THE KING COMMANDS: Tales of the Borderlands Book Two, Ellin Fisher, now a Healer, must choose between her love for the young Northlander king and her duty to her own people, the Southlings, who are feared and hated in the North.

From the Publisher
The Northlands are in turmoil, divided by those who support King Alaric's decrees welcoming the Southlings and their magic, and those who will stop at nothing to send them back to the Southland where they belong. But the Southland, too, is being torn apart as the Southlings with mental gifts and healing magic are hunted by the mysterious Guardians, captured and never heard from again.

As the legendary peace of the Southland crumbles and the throne of the Northlands is challenged, Ellin Fisher, the powerful young Southling who befriended the Northlands royalty, must make a terrible choice. Is it her destiny to fight for equality in the Northlands, or to embrace her calling as a Healer and help other True Southlings escape from the Guardians who killed her family? In the midst of this, while the home she's chosen and the land she left behind both stand poised on the brink of civil war, Ellin must choose where her heart lies, as well. She loves King Alaric, but will Princess Nathalia, another newcomer to the Northlands, stand in the way?

Loyalty and romance, secrets and destinies, threaten to tear Ellin and her newfound family in the Northlands apart, especially when a loved one betrays her and old enemies become new friends. Only one thing is certain: the Borderlands will never be the same again.

BRINGING UP SOPHIE by Linda Kurtz Kingsley

BRINGING UP SOPHIE by Linda Kurtz Kingsley


Mike and Pete are once again working together on a project! Mike, who is deaf, and his family are raising Sophie who will one day become a service dog for someone with a disability. Again, Pete and Mike learn to communicate and work together using signs and speech. 24 signs to learn and a puppy to enjoy!


In October 2008, I interviewed author Linda Kurtz Kingsley about her book, Signs of Jays. Here is a sequel, Bringing Up Sophie. The story concerns two friends, one Deaf character who attended a public school mainstreaming program, and his hearing friend. Both help raise a service pup that goes to school and later to a person with a disability. The book is beautifully illustrated in water colors and includes 24 new ASL signs.


To purchase this book, visit http://www.jasonandnordic.com/