Turn On the Light So I Can Hear

A young artist badly in need of money bluffs her way through an interview into a job she is not prepared for.

 
To succeed, she must make room in her life for two people: Curtis, a deaf architect who has sworn he will never date a hearing woman, and thirteen-year-old Alex, profoundly deaf, rebellious, bold, and frightened. As each takes new risks in friendship and love, the hearing and deaf worlds come together.
 
With sign language--nimble and evocative--at its center, Turn On the Light So I Can Hear is about reaching across distances, the transformative powers of art, and finding a place to belong.
 
Teri Kanefield awards and distinctions include the 2015 Jane Addams Book Award for The Girl From The Tar Paper School.