Impossible Music

In an emotionally compelling tale crackling with originality, when a teen musician goes deaf, his quest to create an entirely new form of music brings him to a deeper understanding of his relationship to the hearing world, of himself, and of the girl he meets along the way. 

Music is Simon’s life—which is why he is devastated when a stroke destroys his hearing. He resists attempts to help him adjust to his new state, refusing to be counseled, refusing to learn sign-language, refusing to have anything to do with Deaf culture. Refusing, that is, until he meets G, a tough-as-nails girl dealing with her own newly-experienced deafness.

In an emotionally engaging tale crackling with originality, Simon's quest to create an entirely new form of music forces him into a deeper understanding of his relationship to the hearing world, of himself, and of the girl he meets along the way. 
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"Filled with philosophical ideas about the definition of music and its accessibility to the deaf, this thought-provoking love story considers how to move forward into a new reality."—Publishers Weekly   "Simon's story of confronting deafness and Deaf culture feels fresh....An honest, satisfying, and surprisingly original coming-of-age story."—Kirkus   "[P]rofound....An inspiring read that is told with verve and depth."—Booklist   "A thought-provoking examination of what music is and means through a well-researched portrayal of ­sudden hearing loss."—School Library Journal   "Simon renegotiates his bond with music, drawing on John Cage’s 4’33” and other pieces rethinking the meaning of the art form....It’s an original and intriguing notion, and Australian author Williams, himself a musician (though a hearing one), brings passion and considerable knowledge to the topic."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books