The Silent Journey: A Deaf Immigrant’s Tale

Introduction

Havelah McLat pens a story of defeating the odds, courage, and the American immigrant dream in The Silent Journey. In 1932, Anika, a Ukrainian deaf youth, lives in a silent world. She can read lips and communicate via speech, but her deafness makes her speech awkward, and she feels lonely and misunderstood. Her Papa, known as Tato, leaves Ukraine for American shores. He desires a new life for his daughter and her caregiver, Iryna, away from Stalin’s iron fist and social ostracism for Anika. 

Review

Anika and Iryna follow him to New York. At one point, Anika and Iryna face a storm at sea. Anika notes, “My body shuddered, so I tried to distract myself with cheerful thoughts. A warm fire, delicious food, and a comfortable bed in a home in New York formed in my mind. I pictured Tato, wearing his biggest smile as he welcomed me into his arms. When he opened the door coming home from a long day at work, his tired eyes would sparkle with delight. I always ran into his arms, and he would ask how my day went, then carry me to my room. Before he would leave, I hugged him one more time and he gave me a goodnight kiss. The memory soothed me. My fingers gripped the blanket even tighter. I must stay strong for Iryna and make Tato proud.” (p.47) 

The two make it to Ellis Island but shortly after their arrival Iryna suffers a heart attack which leaves Anika alone to find her father. Anika feels like a fish out of water in a city full of people who don’t speak her native tongue. Every passerby ignores her or sends her disdainful looks when she attempts to speak English. The way forward without Iryna’s faithful guidance and comfortable presence seems bleak. 

Will Anika’s deafness play a role in helping her find her father or be a stumbling block to her quest? Will she have the courage and tenacity to find her father in a huge, unfamiliar city?

It is touching how Anika clings to memories of her Tato whenever the wear and tear of the immigrant journey and the frustration of her deafness threaten to stamp out her resolve. Perhaps these memories give her an extra measure of courage to face her fears. 

Tato’s words come back to her when Anika must find someone to help her out after Iryna unexpectedly passes away. She meets a woman who is nice, but Anika isn’t sure if she should trust her. “Tato’s warning about trusting strangers still reverberated in my head. Could I trust her? Were people here the same as in Ukraine? I searched her eyes. They were kind and patient, waiting for me to calm myself and accept her help.” (p. 66). Anika’s acceptance of a new caregiver becomes a turning point that helps her feel less lonely and find her father.

Without the wise advice and sweet memories of her father, being lost in New York would have probably been too overwhelming for Anika and cause her to give up.  Memories of Tato’s face and physical stature come back to her at a crucial juncture at the end of the novel and play a role in discovering happiness. But I will leave that plot point for the reader’s discovery! 

Thanks to Havelah Maclat for penning an immigrant story from a disabled person’s perspective. It is a fresh take on the countless immigrant stories that fill our history books.

Giveaway

Havelah McLat is graciously giving away an Ebook to one fortunate winner. Leave a comment by April 15 and you’ll be entered. International readers are welcome!

By the way, Havelah is not a stranger to my blog. You may remember Journey Bloomfield’s review of Dust and Crown last September.

Our Guest Blogger

If you feel like Kate is taking over my blog with her review of The Light Shines In last week, and reviewing again this week…you might be onto something! I appreciate Kate’s love of reading and her willingness to help me share books that I don’t have time to read.

Kate writes, “The Lord’s hand of watchful care and protection blessed my life from my start as a tiny premature infant. Doctors diagnosed me with cerebral palsy from birth complications which mainly affected my legs and motor skills. I also have a learning disability that does not allow me to write down or process thoughts as fast as other people. I am a former homeschooler and obtained an Associate in Arts degree from a North Carolina community college after five years of hard work! I discovered and developed a love for writing in college. Now I pen articles for my local church newsletter and write book reviews. I enjoy my current job as a part-time library assistant in a Christian library in Matthews, NC. I have a servant’s heart and a willing attitude to grow in old skills and develop new ones along whatever path the Lord chooses to take me.”

Don’t forget to check out other great MG novels on Greg Pattridge’s MMGM blog!