One prime example of deaf children is Charlie. We can see how Charlie faces some challenges growing up as a deaf child with hearing parents as she gets a cohclear implant but has challenges with hearing fully. Charlie is originally enrolled in a mainstream education setting where she is then, under her father's custody, enrolled in sigh language classes and River Valley School for the Deaf. Since Charlie had limited experience in a deaf school, Charlie quickly realizes that has a lot to learn. The true family struggle Charlie faces is her relationship with her mother as as she was the one who wanted Charlie to have the implantation. Charlie's mother has always opposed Charlie learning sign language, making Charlies new education put more of a wedge in between their relationship. Charlie's mother pushes for her to get a reimplanted after years of her device being faulty. Charlie struggles with this as she finds her community at River Valley. Charlie slowly realizes that she did not have much control over her conditions growing up as she was not as understood. 

February was born to a deaf mother who within the book is suffering from Dementia. February has always been an ally of the deaf community as she is a CODA (child of a Deaf adult). February has known ASL as a way to communicate with her mother. February struggles to let go of her mother and have others take care of her as she fears sending her to a place where the staff does not know ASL, doing her best to keep her mom safe. February herself growing up was able to experience the system of neglect of proper education for deaf children. Given this, February works as a headmistress at River Valley to help provide deaf students with the opportunities they deserve. 

Austin lives a life where both him and his mom are deaf, while his father is hearing. Austin is a fifth generation deaf on his mother's side while his father is hearing but completely fluent in ASL and works as an interpreter. Within the deaf community, Austin's family is very well known in the deaf community and they are very proud of their deafness. Austin has always been immersed in the deaf community, having early access to ASL and support in the deaf community, and struggles when his sister, Skylar, is to be considered for fitting for a cochlear implant. Austin and his grandfather become very offended by this news as they view implants as a tool for hearing people.