Piper can't hear Dumb's music, but with growing self-confidence, a budding romance, and a new understanding of the decision her family made to buy a cochlear implant for her deaf baby sister, she discovers her own inner rock star and what it truly means to be a flavor of Dumb." 
 Ha! This was a great book! When I saw it wedged between stacks of books in the Barnes and Noble in Fresno, I was intrigued. The title just sounded so interesting! I definitely thought this book held potential. While it took me a long time to get into it (over the half-way mark,) It was worth it. A THOUSAND times over. 
 Piper is a strong independent teenager despite her deafness. (In a way, I think this is a physical way to illustrate the reader's own flaws, and teach that we can grow, and overcome them anyway.) She has frustrating parents, a new baby in the family to get the new attention and special treatment, and boy troubles of both the brotherly and romantic variety. 
 I love how real Piper is, she deals with annoying parents, misunderstandings, sibling squabbles, jealousy, disappointment, she just encounters it all! I also adore Ed and Finn. Ed is the boy who goes out of his way to express his affection for Piper. He's just so genuine! Finn is Piper's brother, and while they have intensive fights, they love each other fiercely. It was just so down to earth... 
 The only complaint I have is that Piper really did seem to have leverage in the music world so quick. But you know, it IS a character driven novel, and everything has to have a flaw. I don't have the book in front of me, and it has been a year since I read it, so unfortunately I can't comment on cursing levels.