The Sound of Waves

The Sound of Waves takes readers on a journey with Benjamin, a thirteen-year-old boy, who is navigating his way in an inclusive school, being the only deaf student. He is constantly bullied and derided for his inability to hear without his hearing aids. He also has the dual challenge of coping with speech delay and being socially isolated from his peers. It is a story of facing inner fears to achieve personal growth despite challenges.

The novel explores themes of friendship, growth, identity, adversity, empathy, courage, prejudice and family, among others. The book provides representation for a marginalized and often underrepresented group of children in Jamaican literature. In the end, readers’ conception of people with special needs will be wider and healthier.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sandrene Jackson-Douglas was born in Clarendon, Jamaica and lives in Switzerland. She holds a master’s degree in Education and for a number of years has worked in the field as an English and history teacher in schools in Kuwait. She considers herself an advocate for people with special needs and is committed to bringing awareness to the issues that they sometimes face. The Sound of Waves is her first novel.