Finished 'True Biz'? What to Read Next
Published on March 31, 2026
By Tricia B.
Spring brings the return of One Book Siouxland, the annual community reading program from Siouxland Libraries. This year’s selection is True Biz by Sara Nović. Although my personal experience with Deaf culture is limited, this book opened my eyes. One of the joys of reading is that it allows us to see the world through someone else’s perspective and gain insight into challenges we might not otherwise understand.
After finishing a great book, it can be tricky to find your next one, so if you’ve finished True Biz, here are some excellent suggestions for your next read.
The Hearing Test by Eliza Callahan
This novel explores a year in an artist’s life after being diagnosed with Sudden Deafness.
The Sign for Home by Blair Fell
Arlo Dilly, a deafblind young man raised under strict guardianship, once fell in love with a mysterious girl at a school for the Deaf before tragedy separated them. Years later, a college assignment brings back memories and makes him question the truth of what he’s been told. With the help of a few unusual friends, Arlo sets out to uncover the past and find the girl he never stopped loving.
El Deafo by Cece Bell
El Deafo is a graphic memoir about a young girl named Cece who loses her hearing after an illness. When she starts school, she struggles to fit in and communicate with others while using a bulky hearing aid called the Phonic Ear. Over time, Cece imagines herself as a superhero called “El Deafo,” which helps her find confidence and friendship.
Give Me a Sign by Anna Sortino
Give Me a Sign follows Lilah, a Deaf teen who attends a summer camp for the Deaf and Blind. There, she builds new friendships, navigates her feelings for a boy, and learns to embrace her identity and independence.
The Faculty Lounge by Jennifer Mathieu
A group of high school teachers navigate personal and professional chaos after a strange incident at their school, revealing the humor, struggles, and connections within life in education.
In the Wild Light by Jeff Zentner
In the Wild Light follows Cash Pruitt, a teen from a small Tennessee town who earns a scholarship to an elite prep school after discovering a cure for a deadly fungus. As he adjusts to a new world of opportunity, he struggles with leaving his hometown and the people he loves while trying to build a better future.
Deaf Utopia: a Memoir -- and a Love Letter To a Way of Life by Nyle DiMarco
Deaf Utopia is a memoir about growing up in a multigenerational Deaf family and embracing Deaf culture. DiMarco shares his experiences navigating the hearing world, finding success in entertainment, and advocating for Deaf education and accessibility.
The Story of Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon
A deaf man, Homan, and a woman with a developmental disability, Lynnie, escape from an abusive institution in the 1960s. When they are separated, a widow named Martha secretly raises their baby while the family spends decades hoping to reunite.
A Quiet Kind of Thunder by Sara Barnard
Steffi, a Deaf teen, and Rhys, a teen with selective mutism, navigate friendship, first love, and the challenges of communicating in a world that often misunderstands them.