Hurt Go Happy

Joey Willis is a thirteen-year-old girl who has been deaf since age six. Her mother forbids her from learning sign language, insisting she rely on lip reading and speaking. Joey forms a connection with Dr. Charles Mansell, a neighbor who knows sign language and has a chimpanzee named Sukari. Through her interactions with Dr. Mansell and Sukari, Joey begins secretly learning to sign and discovers a new world of communication. The story follows Joey as she navigates family tensions, her growing bond with Sukari, and her journey toward self-advocacy. Her determination to communicate on her own terms leads her to make choices that put her at odds with her mother's wishes. This novel explores themes of belonging, disability rights, and the fundamental human need to connect with others. The parallel between Joey's imposed silence and Sukari's captivity raises questions about freedom, choice, and what it means to have a voice.

Readers connect emotionally with this story about a deaf girl and her relationship with a chimpanzee who knows sign language. Many note they cried multiple times while reading. Readers appreciated: - Authentic portrayal of deaf experience and culture - Clear explanations of sign language - Animal rights themes without being preachy - Educational value about both deafness and chimpanzees Common criticisms: - Slow start before the main plot begins - Some found the mother character unrealistic - A few felt the ending was too sad for younger readers Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (6,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (180+ ratings) Common Sense Media: 4/5 Sample review: "This book opened my eyes to what it's like being deaf in a hearing world. The relationship between Joey and Charlie touched my heart." - Goodreads reader Several teachers report success using it in middle school classrooms, noting it sparks good discussions about disability rights and animal welfare.

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Half Brother by Kenneth Oppel A thirteen-year-old boy's life changes when his researcher parents bring home a baby chimpanzee to raise as part of a language acquisition study.

Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai A young Vietnamese girl learns to navigate a new language and culture in America while processing her grief and finding her voice through poetry.

Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper A brilliant eleven-year-old girl with cerebral palsy who cannot speak works to break free from the constraints of her disability.

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate A silverback gorilla living in captivity at a mall tells his story of friendship and freedom as he works to save a baby elephant from his fate.

🦍 Ginny Rorby spent three years researching American Sign Language and chimpanzee behavior to write this novel accurately. 🌟 The book was inspired by the real-life story of Washoe, the first chimpanzee to learn American Sign Language. 📚 "Hurt Go Happy" won the 2007 American Library Association's Schneider Family Book Award for its portrayal of the disability experience. 🤝 The novel's title comes from actual sign language - when signing these words together, they mean "to comfort" or "to console." 🦧 The author incorporated real scientific studies about primate language acquisition into the story, including research from the Washoe Project and Dr. Penny Patterson's work with Koko the gorilla.