This novel tells the story of a 12-year-old violin prodigy named David Rothman who suddenly loses his hearing. He had been an overnight success performing Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in New York but then on his birthday suffers an irreparable hearing loss. The book shows how he must now adapt to a new deaf culture and American Sign Language in order to continue his education and pursue his future. It is based on the author's own experience suddenly losing most of his hearing in middle age. He hopes the book will provide hope and inspiration for deaf youth.

1. Novel GOODBYE TCHAIKOVSKY
Michael Thal
GOODBYE This book would be an eye-opener for hearing people. As for me, if I
TCHAIKOVSKY had the chance to read it when I began losing my hearing at the age of
16, it would have given me hope, comfort and inspiration. I would rec-
Michael Thal ommend this book to any young adult or teenager who is going through
hearing loss or other disability.
Audience: 10-16
Valerie Stern, LCSW, Psychotherapist, Los Angeles
ISBN: 978-0-88092-469-6
Number of Pages: 119
Pricing:
About the Author
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Publication Date: March 2012
Available Date: February 2012
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A twelve-year-old violin virtuoso, David Rothman, is plunged
into a deaf world, necessitating him to adapt to a new culture and Michael Thal grew up in the suburbs of New York City on Long
Island. After graduating from the University of Buffalo he earned his
language in order to survive. Rothman is an overnight success. master’s degree in education at Washington University, St. Louis. When
He performs Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in New York’s Sym- he moved to Los Angeles, he continued his education and earned anoth-
phony Hall with rave reviews attracting the attention of the Queen er master’s degree in Reading. He says: “I grew up in the hearing world.
of England. His future is laid out for him like a well-lit freeway. As a child I played the violin, went to concerts, movies, and Broadway
Then, on his birthday, David suffers from a sudden and irrepa- shows. When my daughters were still in elementary school, I woke up
rable hearing loss, plunging him into a silent world. The novel to a profound silence caused by a virus. The virus attacked again six
years later making my right ear deaf and my left with a 65% loss. I can
shows how an adolescent boy copes with deafness. How will he understand people one-on-one, but not in groups. At the age of forty-
communicate with his friends? What can he do about school? four, the severe hearing loss took me away from my job as a sixth grade
Where does his future lie? teacher. From that experience, I was inspired to write this story. If a
person has a willingness to learn and an open mind to explore all pos-
sibilities, he can find a way to succeed.”
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