leigh_ann_15_deaf's review
4.0
Deaf reader approves.
The author is fairly true to the deaf/hard of hearing experience. I honestly wasn't expecting much out of a book published by a hearing author in 1978! I was pleasantly surprised. Yolen captures the linguistic and social anger and frustration of the deaf child, raised as hard of hearing (or hearing impaired). It's actually a bit close to my own experiences, though I never was exposed to sign language or deaf culture until adulthood.
I liked that Jess and Melusina cannot comprehend or use the central languages of each other's worlds and must create a pidgin sign language to communicate with one another. Captain A tells Jess that this makes her deafness a gain, not a loss or a burden, which is an excellent message.
Overall, a cute and meaningful story.
Link to ranked list of deaf characters in fiction: https://modcast.blog/2022/12/17/ranked-deaf-characters-in-fiction/
The author is fairly true to the deaf/hard of hearing experience. I honestly wasn't expecting much out of a book published by a hearing author in 1978! I was pleasantly surprised. Yolen captures the linguistic and social anger and frustration of the deaf child, raised as hard of hearing (or hearing impaired). It's actually a bit close to my own experiences, though I never was exposed to sign language or deaf culture until adulthood.
I liked that Jess and Melusina cannot comprehend or use the central languages of each other's worlds and must create a pidgin sign language to communicate with one another. Captain A tells Jess that this makes her deafness a gain, not a loss or a burden, which is an excellent message.
Overall, a cute and meaningful story.
Link to ranked list of deaf characters in fiction: https://modcast.blog/2022/12/17/ranked-deaf-characters-in-fiction/
ineffablebob's review
4.0
This is a short fairy-tale book about friendship between a deaf girl and a mermaid. Jess - the "landgirl" - is 12 years old and the book feels about right for readers around that age.
Don't confuse this with The Little Mermaid of Disney fame - other than the idea of a mermaid who ends up on land, the two stories have little resemblance. This one is about friendship rather than romance, and learning the lesson of remembering that your actions have consequences for more than just yourself.
I don't know any hearing-impaired people very well myself, but it certainly seems to me that The Mermaid's Three Wisdoms did a good job of making Jess' struggles come alive. She spends much of her time alone, feeling like a misfit, and angry at her mother and the world at large. Her experience with the mermaid, whose inability to speak on land puts her in a similar situation, helps Jess to be more accepting of her abilities and limitations.
If you're looking for a book for a young reader, this is a fine choice.
Don't confuse this with The Little Mermaid of Disney fame - other than the idea of a mermaid who ends up on land, the two stories have little resemblance. This one is about friendship rather than romance, and learning the lesson of remembering that your actions have consequences for more than just yourself.
I don't know any hearing-impaired people very well myself, but it certainly seems to me that The Mermaid's Three Wisdoms did a good job of making Jess' struggles come alive. She spends much of her time alone, feeling like a misfit, and angry at her mother and the world at large. Her experience with the mermaid, whose inability to speak on land puts her in a similar situation, helps Jess to be more accepting of her abilities and limitations.
If you're looking for a book for a young reader, this is a fine choice.
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