Synopsis:
On the Bright Side is a heartfelt young adult romance that centers on friendship, self-discovery, and learning to embrace life on your own terms. The story follows Ellie, a Deaf teenager who navigates a new school environment filled with unfamiliar expectations, social pressure, and unexpected connections. As she builds friendships and experiences first love, Ellie confronts misconceptions about disability while also grappling with universal challenges around confidence, belonging, and vulnerability. Warm, funny, and emotionally sincere, the novel highlights the importance of communication, understanding, and finding joy even when life doesn’t follow a predictable path.

About the Author:
Anna Sortino is an author and disability advocate known for writing inclusive young adult fiction that centers disabled protagonists with authenticity and care. As a Deaf writer, she brings lived experience to her storytelling, crafting narratives that challenge stereotypes while celebrating identity, community, and self-acceptance. Sortino’s work is praised for its warmth, humor, and thoughtful representation, offering readers stories that are both emotionally engaging and socially meaningful. Through novels like On the Bright Side, she contributes an important voice to contemporary YA literature focused on diversity and belonging.