I was entirely dialed into Nović’s story to the extent that I left the pages only to Google more information after learning tidbits like this, yet I couldn’t even bring myself to close the book to arrive at a lecture on time. A casual mention of the Clash playing at a Deaf club on one page taught me that punk rock bands used to rent out Deaf clubs as concert venues. Some of the culture insertions were previously included in my classes, but some were entirely new to me. As a former student of IU’s reputable ASL program, I had been exposed to some of the background thanks to my professors, but readers ranging from Charlie’s novice level of study to Austin’s native level would find it equally as accessible. Introductions to Deaf culture are plugged into the novel, comprising pages sharing ASL grammar and history with readers. Nović straddles hot topics with unreal grace - navigating conversations about cochlear implants, radical politics, parental overstep and high school relationships with ease. Austin experiences personal conflict when his sister is born hearing, joining a generations-deep Deaf family. Kayla, Charlie’s roommate at River Valley, uses TikTok to teach her followers about Black ASL, a dialect of ASL whose diverging signs sometimes garner her casually racist remarks. River Valley is equally relatable and insightful, littered with experiences all high schoolers have had and those particular to members of the Deaf community. Readers are immersed in a coming-of-age tale that envelops communities of all kinds, illuminating universal and group-specific experiences.
Nović, an instructor of Deaf studies and creative writing, lends authenticity and grace to the story. Charlie is a transfer student raised without access to sign language, Austin is the resident cool kid who comes from a legacy Deaf family, and February is their headmistress. Each character’s chapter is designated with an icon of the letter “c,” “a” or “f” in American Sign Language’s fingerspelling. In it, readers jump perspectives primarily between Charlie, Austin and February. It’s a frequently used sign in River Valley School for the Deaf, where Nović sets her April masterpiece. “True biz” - the exclamation from which the book draws its title - means “really, seriously, definitely, real-talk,” according to the book.
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