CCBC booklist are compiled from books we have recommended in various editions of CCBC Choices. Most of these booklists are updated annually. You can also select books from one or more booklists to create a custom list, which can also include additional books from the CCBC-Recommended Book Search.
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On the Bright Side
CCBC Review:
When Ellie’s boarding school for the Deaf closes, Ellie (white) must finish high school in her hometown of Cincinnati. Jackson (white) is another senior at Ellie’s public high school. His recent puzzling health issues have scuttled his soccer season and his relationship with his former teammates. Assigned to show Ellie around school, the two slowly hit it off. Ellie, who has a hearing aid and a cochlear implant, is most comfortable with sign language, but one of her new interpreters doesn’t always convey Ellie’s thoughts accurately. Ellie is also viewed skeptically by her new classmates, who’ve heard her speak and wonder if she’s truly deaf. At home, Ellie’s parents have never bothered to learn sign language and get upset when she removes her hearing aid and cochlear receiver, compounding Ellie’s frustration. Jackson, working to learn signs, is one bright spot in all the change. Romance is just beginning to blossom when Jackson’s health takes a dramatic turn, and he’s diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). As Jackson adjusts to this new reality and learns more about life with MS, Ellie gains new confidence and independence as she finds Deaf community. Each is figuring big things out but also realizing that they don’t want to give up on their relationship. This compelling novel illuminates dimensions of disability experience, including the frustration of ignorance and importance of community for each of the main characters. ©2025 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
CCBC Age Recommendation: Age 12 and older
Age Range:
Grades 6-8 (Ages 11-13)
Grades 9-12 (Age 14 and older)
Format:
Novel
Subjects:
Deaf and Hearing Impaired People
Families
Illness and Disease
Independence/Self-Reliance
Love and Romance
Physical Disability
School
Diversity subjects:
Cognitive/Neurological
Physical
On CCBC Booklist:
School Stories: Selected PreK-12 Literature about the School Experience
Publishers:
Penguin Random House, Putnam
Publish Year: 2024
Pages: 305
ISBN: 9780593697863
CCBC Location: Fiction, Sortino
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Our Recommended Book Search includes access to CCBC-recommended titles based on subject headings created by our staff.
Please send questions or comments about CCBC booklists to ccbcinfo@education.wisc.edu.