Anna Sortino is the young adult author of Give Me a Sign and On the Bright Side. She writes stories about disabled characters living their lives and falling in love. She's Deaf and passionate about diverse representation in media. Born and raised in the Chicagoland area, Anna has since lived in different cities from coast to coast, spending her free time exploring nature with her dog or reading on the couch with her cat.

Praise for On the Bright Side
A Schneider Family Book Award honor book
A Best Book of the Year for Kirkus Reviews and School Library Journal
A NYPL Best Book of the Year
A Children's Book Council Favorites Award selection

★ "A sweet, well-written romance with just a touch of drama for excitement. The book never feels preachy or lags narratively in the interest of didacticism, yet it also tells a meaningful story about ableism, audism, and self-determination....A skillfully executed, nuanced, and engaging book." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ "A brilliantly honest romance...that strikes the perfect balance of hope and resilience while challenging readers to consider a world outside of their own." --School Library Journal, starred review

★ "In a story that could have easily become didactic, Sortino instead brings depth and care to discussions around disability pride, the difficulty of a disability that is constantly in flux when others think you 'look' healthy, and the desire for a cure for painful and progressive illnesses." --The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review

"On the Bright Side is a poignant, romantic, and deeply heartfelt story of resilience in the face of life's most challenging and unpredictable circumstances--and how love can be the thing that sees us through. You will be thinking about Ellie and Jackson long after you've turned the last page."
--Amber Smith, New York Times bestselling author of The Way I Used to Be and The Way I Am Now

"Tender, honest, and utterly human, On the Bright Side is a sparkling story that reminds us to live life on our own terms, even when it throws us a curveball." --Adib Khorram, award-winning author of Darius the Great Is Not Okay

"[Ellie and Jackson's] sweet courtship leans into missteps and aching human moments in this empathetic romance that intricately depicts Deaf and disabled experiences." --Publishers Weekly

Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

Pub date: 2025-07-01

Length: 336 pages