Hurt Go Happy

The subjects of the disabled and animal rights are rarely written about, primarily because they is largely misunderstood. Hurt Go Happy, however, delves into the subject of social issues about the animal kingdom and the disabled very thoroughly. Though Ginny Rorby writes from a modern setting, and though this book is not technically a coming-of-age novel, Hurt Go Happy will leave a strong impression on any reader.
The main character is a 70% deaf girl named Joey, whose mother has forbidden her to learn sign for fear of the public finding out exactly how Joey became deaf. However, Joey meets an old scientist who has a pet chimpanzee named Sukari who speaks sign, and Joey begins to learn to communicate with the outside world. Everything goes well for Joey and Sukari, despite Joey's mother finding out about Sukari. But an unexpected earthquake and Charlie's death puts Joey and Sukari in an unimaginable situation where the survival of a deaf girl's best friend is threatened. Through the cunning and determination only coming from one whose world has been silent for seven years, does a bond of empathy and love develop between the two unlikely and separated companions.
I would give this book a solid 9, mostly because it was far more intriguing than the other book I read. I did not give it a ten because it started off kind of slow, and the only book I have read that I would have given a ten is The Book Thief, purely because of its sheer genius. Had I not read The Book Thief, Hurt Go Happy would be my favorite book. It was very well written, obviously the result of years of research and a talented storyteller. Because Joey cannot hear, the setting is very realistic. Rorby creates a very solid picture of what Joey's world looks like because to Joey, the world sounds of nothing but explosions, nearby lawnmowers, and other loud power tools. Rorby uses quite a bit of figurative language and imagery to convey the setting. It feels like one is actually there, like a shadow observing the plot and characters.
I would recommend this book to anyone, but anyone who feels strongly for the rights of animals should definitely read it. The points of so-called human superiority and animal torture/testing/abuse are emphasized dramatically. Anyone who stands up for the rights of the disabled should read Hurt Go Happy as well. Rorby plainly points out what the hearing think of the deaf, and likewise. An interesting twist is that most of the time, Joey is not jealous of the hearing. She misses the sound of birds and her mother's voice, but Joey is otherwise content to be mostly deaf. Rorby puts an interesting spin of the opinions of the deaf, something I have never seen before. I enjoyed this book very much overall.
-By Rachel Rise, p. A2