Two young deaf people, Abel and Janice, elope from their punitive school in the 1920s and begin married life with high hopes. But navigating ‘Outside’, the world of the hearing, is harder than they anticipated. After a misunderstanding about a car payment kickstarts years of debt for the couple, we follow them through the birth of their daughter Margaret, through grinding work, quiet tragedies and humble triumphs over the decades, as the rich language of Sign – and their powerful love for each other – enable them to survive.
Inspired by the author’s work with the deaf community, In This Sign is a rare, compassionate portrait of the lives of deaf people, and a moving family saga.

With an Introduction by Sara Novic and a new Afterword by the author