ASL and the value of language are a central conceit in the novel. At the story’s outset, Charlie finds herself at the beginning of a new phase in her life. She lives solely under the care of her father, enrolls in a Deaf boarding school, and learns a new language. Though Charlie has lived with a cochlear implant for many years, it does little to enhance her communication abilities, particularly in the hearing world. Forced to remain in a mainstream educational setting that is unwilling to cater to her needs, Charlie learns to adhere to the norms of the hearing world, reading lips and speaking with her mouth to communicate. Over time, the constant need to acclimate and appease her hearing counterparts instills in Charlie a deep-seated assumption that her existence is a burden. Without the tools to adequately express herself or connect with others, Charlie becomes accustomed to letting interactions with others—and her youth—pass her by.

Only after Charlie commits to learning ASL does she begins to make significant strides in her relationships, communication skills, and self-confidence. After struggling to keep up for the first few weeks at River Valley, Charlie slowly begins to notice major improvements.