“Miriam Zadek brings more than 90 years of living to the pages of this memoir, and each vignette is suffused with her intelligence, wit, and wisdom. As the ‘hearing sister’ in a family with many deaf members, she observed up close and personally the challenges of being deaf in a hearing world, and came to be a strong and effective advocate for deaf and hard of hearing people. Her own love of life and dedication to helping children and families was a gift to me and many other parents of deaf children, and that love shines through this book."

“Miriam Hearing Sister is a deeply candid and refreshingly spirited memoir about a hearing child growing up with two deaf sisters and a hard of hearing father at a time when perspectives on deafness were narrow and constrained. As a child, Miriam is both uniquely bonded to her sisters as well as acutely conscious of how different their experiences are. Distinctive, moving, and powerful, readers will find this book both enjoyable and informative.”

“What is understood about deafness and what it means to be part of a Deaf/hearing family has changed dramatically from the 1920s to today, and yet what it means to be a human being, a daughter, and a sister has not changed so much. Miriam Zadek offers a unique look at a Jewish Deaf/hearing family’s experiences with numerous stories of Jewish life on the Lower East Side and the New York City suburbs in the 1920s, during World War II, and after. Her memoir is a true, rare treasure.”

“This memoir is a captivating story that allows us into the most private and sacred moments of a family, and as we enter it, we become a part of that family. Miriam Zadek writes with strength, courage, and grace. It is in this unabashed honesty and vulnerability that this story becomes not only hers, but all of those who read it.”

“With wisdom and humor, Miriam shares her remarkable life stories from childhood to 93 years old, growing up as the only hearing sister, the middle sister to her older sister, Sylvia, and younger sister, Shirley. Her vignettes testify to the strong and loving relationships between Miriam, her parents and sisters, family, and friends. It is no surprise that her experiences shaped her activism and life’s work. Miriam inspires me every day. I feel blessed to know her, to learn from her, and to partner with her in working for our Alma mater, Barnard College. May she continue to go from strength to strength.”