Of Sound Mind is the story of Theo, a high school senior with a unique family. He is the only one in his family who can hear. His family relies on him heavily as an interpreter to the hearing world. Theo has been surrounded by silence his whole life. He has had to bear the burden of interpreting from the age of six. Throughout the book, we see Theo’s struggle to break free from the dependency of his family. He wants to have his own life, but fears that his family will not survive without him. While waiting for the bus home, he sees a girl who catches his eye. The girl, Ivy has much in common with Theo. They both have a deaf parent and both sign. Ivy and Theo speak of their struggle of coexisting in two cultures.

Theo is described as intelligent and a whiz in math. He is not part of the in crowd, but isn’t necessarily a nerd. Ivy is described as a person who easily blends into any crowd. Both characters struggle with their personal demons on a day to day basis. Ivy’s mother left her and her father when she was young. To compensate for the loss of her mother, she nurtures people around her with wonderful cooking, thus filling the gap her mother left behind.

Theo’s mother Palma is a “prima donna” sculptor who has been pampered her entire life. She believes everyone is at her beck and call, especially Theo. Although his family is well off, his mother insists that Theo interpret for her. She is so obstinate that she runs most interpreters away in less than three days. His father Thomas is the opposite of his mother. He rarely asks for help and is the true caregiver of the family. Jeremy, Theo’s younger brother is shown as an everyday kid who just happens not to hear. He admires and relies on Theo’s emotional strength during hard times. The sudden death of a family member helps Theo’s family face personal issues they were unwilling to acknowledge.

Ferris brings her readers into a world rarely discussed in YA books. Common items in the home of deaf people are mentioned; the TTY telephone and blinking lights when the door bell rings. Theo mentions how he can never have a conversation with a family member if their hands are full or they are not facing them directly. Ferris shows the importance and expression that signing can have when used. The dialogue of the novel was typed in a different font and type when characters communicated through signing. The not well known culture of the deaf in our society is shown through day to day living and genuine emotions. Ferris does not forget that Theo and Ivy are teenagers and shows how their relationship grows into a love for one another. The plot takes the reader on a roller coaster ride of emotions. Ferris’ character Palma had me hating a character with gusto. When an author can pull you with three dimensional characters, you know she has you hooked.