The world would be much different if it was silent. In the novel Hurt Go Happy by Ginny Rorby, the heroine, unable to hear most sounds and forbidden by her mother to learn sign language, is alienated from society. Then one day, she meets Sukari, a unique chimpanzee whose owner has taught to sign. A whole new world opens up to Joey, but when tragedy strikes, Joey must fight hard to save Sukari’s life. This novel is one of the best novels I have ever read. On a scale of 1-10, Hurt Go Happy is a 9 for the emotional depth and unique story. The most interesting “quirk” in the novel are the sections where characters are speaking sign language to each other. The author uses imagery and figurative language to draw strong emotions from the reader. This book is recommended to any person, young or old. It is not a challenging book, but it is a novel that can change your life.
Isabel Skene (A-2)
Dear Isabel the Great,
ReplyDeleteI guess I have two thank yous to write today. I also appreciate your lovely review and the powerful last line. I hope your readers will visit my website, and my blog (if I get the address right this time) to learn more about where the characters of Sukari and Joey came from. Thank you again, Ginny Rorby
www.ginnyrorby.com
http://grorby.blogspot.com
Joey Willis is thirteen year old who lost seventy percent of her hearing at the age of six, since then, she has always felt lonely and isolated. Her mother Ruth, keeps Joey from learning how to sign and forces her to read lips. Rorby writes Ruth in a way that makes me think of her as the antagonist in the story. Ruth is always holding Joey back and keeping her from her potential.
ReplyDeleteJoey lives with her two year old brother Luke, her mother Ruth, and her stepfather Jay. The only person she can properly communicate with is Ruth. At school, her best friend is Roxy, a girl who's mother is deaf which lead to her learning how to sign. Roxy intends to teach Joey how to sign and to meet Ruth. When Roxy actually meets Joey's mother, Ruth criticized Roxy and accused her of being "trash" due to her hatred of sign language.
When Joey meets the elderly Charlie while picking mushrooms, he introduces her to his chimpanzee Sukari. Sukari is able to communicate with people by sign language. They all instantly become friends because of their similarities. Once Charlie suggests he and Sukari to meet Joey's family, she is instantly reluctant and doesn't tell the truth about her mom's grudge again sign language.
When Ruth does figure out about Charlie and Sukari, she is furious and becomes very protective. She accuses Sukari of biting people and scolds Joey afterwards. She seems to be the character that causes the most stress in Joey's life even though Joey doesn't realize it.
Ginny Rorby uses exceedingly good imagery, creating a lucid picture in the reader's mind. The characters in the book are characterized in a way that makes me sympathize for them. So far, the plot line has been rich, exciting, and most importantly, moving.
Oh and I read to Chapter Six, sorry I forgot to add that.
ReplyDeleteChapter six through ten
ReplyDeleteJoey starts to develop a kind relationship with Kenny, a boy at the public school; for her, it seems that he is the only person other than her best friend Roxy, that is compassionate to her. Roxy soon gets mad and says she hates deaf people due to the fact her mom is moving back with her father.
Ruth is starting to become increasingly irritated at Charlie and eventually forbids Joey to visit him. When she goes against her mother's wishes, she finds that he is extremely sick and has his sister Lynn watching over him.
When Charlie finally decides that Ruth is being too resistant to sign language, he comes to Joey's house and tries to convince Ruth to let Joey sign, but instead finds a crying reaction after Ruth is accused of being a part of Joey's deafness.
Expectantly, and earthquake hits and everyone is shaken. Joey finds Sukari screaming for "help," and she finds Charlie horribly injured and almost lost. After a sad moment, Joey is convinced that Charlie meant to leave Sukari to her but her mother once again objects.
Lynn tells Joey that Charlie has been saving up for Joey to attend California School for the Deaf but tells her that Ruth objected once again. When Charlie's attorney comes, she lists the things left for Joey but is soon cut off by Ruth, not wanting Sukari to be on the list.
Ruth is the constant obstacle, always holding Joey back; her character is very aggravating to me and constantly getting on my nerves. I think eventually she will soften up and realize that it is important for Joey to learn how to sign.
To p193 (in the middle of a chapter)
ReplyDeleteThis section, a great tragedy occurred, Charlie dies. The horrible incident sends Sukari to unknown places. Joey is given tuition to a private school for the deaf, hearing aids, and unknown to her, Sukari. Ruth is against Joey going to the school but later changing her mind for unknown reasons. During the campfire, Ruth tells Joey about her life is not how she wanted it, which I believe is the sole reason why she changed her mind. She didn't want Joey to be held against her dreams. Sukari was sent to Lynn, but she sent Sukari to the zoo ad after many rejections Sukari was sent to a lab for experiments. Joey is informed and outraged. The chapters reflect how important honesty, trust, and acceptance is. Rorby showed the consequences well by creating so many conflicts
Hurt Go Happy, by Ginny Rorby speaks a story of a girl named Joey Willis who has been deaf since age six. Her mother is against her learning sign language, forcing Joey into a difficult life of lip reading. When Joey meets a signing chimp by the name of Sukari and her owner Charlie, she begins to mature out of her mom's protective and strict guidelines. When something goes wrong, Sukari's life becomes threatened and Joey must learn follow her own heart.
ReplyDeleteGinny Rorby writes in a very influential style, using frighteningly detailed imagery to make the reader feel compassion and empathy to the character's struggles and obstacles. There is frequent dialogue with sign language intermixed.
On a scale of one to ten, I would give this book a nine, it was very moving and an exciting read as well. I would recommend this book to anyone of any gender or age because it's a book that can be universally relatable which is one major pro of the novel.