Review of You Speak for Me Now

[ken4512]

[Following is a volunteer review of "You Speak for Me Now" by Sandy Graham.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Sandy Graham’s contemporary novel You Speak for Me Now is an edgy, thought-provoking, and heart-warming story of a family’s enduring love, and courage to speak out for democracy and an individual’s rights and freedoms in a democracy. 

The well-written and well-crafted fiction is set for the most part in Boise, Idaho, with some parts set in Vancouver, BC. The story begins in high school, when the two main characters, Emma Simon and John McEwan are students. Emma is deaf and finds herself isolated and unable to communicate in class. John is musically gifted, empathetic, outgoing, and one of the top students. When John realizes Emma is deaf, he teaches himself sign language and becomes Emma’s interpreter in school. Emma’s sharp mind opens up. The two become fast friends, a friendship that eventually matures into love and marriage. 

Together Emma and John collaborate and develop an innovative app called Sign-Talk, designed to improve communication for the deaf in text messaging. They establish a company, Sign-App Inc., finding almost immediate success.

At the same time, John is drawn into politics, speaking out on the challenges of protecting democracy and fighting dictatorship in the US. His opponents are conservatives and are determined to drive him out of politics.  The situation becomes dangerous and life-threatening for John, Emma, and their young son Peter. Emma decides to leave with their son Peter for Canada, to protect their lives. Both John and Emma are heartbroken. John remains in Boise. Their Sign-App company closes under intense pressure and influence by conservatives. The story turned into a page-turner for me. How would John and Emma each face the challenging turn in their lives? Would they be able to come together again?

Riveting and immersive, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Sandy Graham’s novel You Speak for Me Now for its courageous characters and superb development of the major themes of family dynamics and political activism. I liked how the title of the novel, You Speak for Me Now expands from its beginnings in John’s learning sign language to interpret Emma’s questions, comments, and answers in class, and how it becomes their personal language. As the story unfolds, the application of You Speak for Me Now broadens.  

I liked how the compelling story of a family’s love and commitment to each other is interwoven with their proactive and determined political commitment to democracy, to the way of life in a democracy, and to protect the rights and freedoms of individuals in a democracy. 

I liked the personal dynamics between Emma and John and how they bring together their individual talents, their strengths, to work together, in their startup company as well as in finding ways to speak out for protecting democracy. I felt the story gained greater depth and strength as it unfolded, including John and Emma’s individual inner journeys, and how their love and commitment to each other is challenged under intense pressure.

I was profoundly moved by the story’s twists and turns in the later chapters. From my perspective, what emerges is that ultimately this is a story of hope and resilience, of two people who become a source of strength for each other. I felt that the political, social, and cultural challenges faced by Emma and John connected deeply and resonated with those issues in today’s world.

I’m rating Sandy Graham’s novel You Speak for Me Now 5 out of 5 stars because I think this is a well-told and heart-warming story of enduring love, courage to stand up, sing, speak up for one’s beliefs, and the rights of others in a democracy. I found nothing to dislike in this novel. A terrific and thought-provoking read indeed.

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You Speak for Me Now
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[Kutloano Makhuvhela]

Thank you for sharing this review. I found it enjoyable especially about your honesty. Good job.