Sway

Sway is a young adult contemporary novel by Jennifer Gibson. First published in 2009 and a 2012 RONE Award nominee, the book follows a young girl struggling with a hearing impairment who wonders if her new crush is too good to be true. Sway is loosely based on Gibson’s own experiences with hearing impairments, and it’s her debut novel. Alongside writing, Gibson works as a freelance photographer, illustrator, and graphic designer. She helps create book covers for authors around the world, and she’s been featured in prestigious magazines. Gibson works closely with hearing loss foundations to remove the stigma around these disabilities.

The protagonist in Sway is a teenage girl called Jessie. Jessie lives in America and attends a typical high school. Her family and best friends know that she’s kind, smart, and funny, but school’s not easy for her. She’s hearing-impaired and her classmates bully her for it. She tries to look on the bright side of life, but she’s sick of dealing with taunts, cruel jokes, and discrimination.

More than anything, Jessie wants everyone to see her for who she is. Her impairment doesn’t define her. She throws herself into different hobbies and activities to make new friends, and to show people that her hearing loss doesn’t hold her back. However, she feels lonelier than ever if people shun her or ignore her. Her closest friend is her cat, Peter Parker, because Peter never judges her.



There’s only one place where Jessie feels in control, and that’s karate class. She takes the class a few times a week at school, and the teacher’s always helpful and supportive. He knows that Jessie has a natural talent for sports, and he encourages her enthusiasm. Jessie knows that he’s got a son, Ethan, who’s around her age, but she’s never met him. That all changes during one fateful Physical Ed class at school.

One afternoon, Jessie’s karate coach brings Ethan along to the lesson. Ethan’s great at karate and he’ll be demonstrating new moves. If all goes well, Ethan plans on helping during more classes. Jessie instantly finds Ethan attractive, but she assumes he won’t notice her. She’s awkward around him and wishes she could just act natural. Ethan doesn’t judge her or comment on her disability—instead, he treats her like any other student. In turn, Jessie relaxes around him.

When she’s not studying, attending class, or practising karate, Jessie spends time with the few friends she does have or her cats. At night, the cats crowd around her and sleep on her bed. They’re more than just pets—they’re spirit guides, and they communicate with Jessie while she’s dreaming. They give her hope, confidence, and courage, and they remind her that she’s more than her disability. The cats are crucial to Jessie’s mental health throughout Sway.



Jessie starts hanging out with Ethan outside of school. They play hockey together and talk about their lives. Ethan wonders why Jessie doesn’t have many friends, and she blames her hearing loss. Ethan believes that Jessie puts up too many barriers. Although bullies pick on her, she doesn’t try very hard to make new friends. Jessie doesn’t appreciate Ethan’s judgment, but she doesn’t want to risk her new-found friendship.

One day after school, Jessie’s hanging around outside the dojo. Boys from school approach her. They laugh at her because she can’t pick up on everything they say, especially when they talk quietly. They shove her a little and push her around. She’s frightened and calls for help, and Ethan rushes out to help her. He fights the boys and they retreat. Ethan’s left comforting Jessie after her ordeal.

The more they hang out, the more Jessie dreams about kissing Ethan. She knows he’s attractive and she suspects he might fancy her, too. However, she doesn’t want to risk the fragile relationship they have by telling him how she feels. Instead, she hides her feelings and convinces herself that they’re better as friends.



Things at school don’t get any easier for Jessie, even with Ethan on her side. She’s still bullied relentlessly, and every day is a struggle. She throws her focus into martial arts and karate training, because she hates feeling defenseless. She wants to know how to protect herself if anyone physically attacks her again. Ethan teaches her everything he knows at the dojo, and he’s unfailingly supportive.

Soon, Ethan realizes that the dojo could be more accessible to disabled people like Jessie, and he encourages his father to make changes. Ethan realizes that Jessie’s more than just a friend to him—he’s crushing on her. He asks her out and they start dating. Jessie’s worried that dating Ethan will make it impossible to train together, but she soon realizes she’s got nothing to worry about. Jessie finishes the school year with a great boyfriend, self-defense skills, and more confidence than she’s had in a long time.