I'm not sure what to think about your portrayal of Jennifer because, as you say, you haven't finished the book yet. I do appreciate wholeheartedly your attempt to ask the Deaf community for advice which doesn't happen often. So thank you.
I do agree with deaflibrarian in how there are few positive portrayals of deaf people in literature. I always flinch when I see a marginal deaf character who's always sweeping the floor and eyeing everyone else wanting to join their world or something like that. And what about all those metaphors using the word "deaf"? "Deaf as a post" "Deafening noise" "Deaf to the cries of her child" "My words fell on a deaf ear". I don't mean to say you're going to do portray Jennifer negatively. I just wanted it to be clear that deaf people often get negatively stereotyped in literature and that I sincerely hope future authors would be considerate of such. And I believe you are being considerate by posting on this site.
May I recommend a reading list? If you'd like some material to work with for your book, Oliver Sack's "Seeing Voices" is a great introduction to the Deaf community and general issues within. "Hearing People Only" is also a great introductory book. It's in Q & A format. And of course Mark Medoff's "Children of a Lesser God" is a classic. It actually sounds like what you propose. Sarah, the main character in CLG, was born in a hearing family and grew up ashamed. She considered herself a reject. Her parents were ashamed of her. Her father left. Her mother was cold. The opposite of Jennifer in one vein, Sarah escaped with boys who'd take her to a dark corner. But like Jennifer, Sarah's very angry... ah just read it! Ha, I'll give away the whole story if I keep going. Well, perhaps you're already familiar with the story. And please if you saw the movie (with Marlee Matlin and William Hurt), read the original script, it's so much better. It was originally on Broadway with Phyllis Frelich. If you're up for it, Harlan Lane has a few books (although very thick and sometimes dense).
It's interesting how you say she casts her disability in a negative light. While that may be true for some people, I generally find that deaf people who aren't accepted by their own families find another family in the deaf community and there they find their identity thus happiness and pride in themselves. It seems more plausible that Jennifer would escape to the deaf community. (Somewhat like deaflibrarian suggested.) It'd even add to your story (well that's a bit bold of me, I suppose, to suggest anything for your storyline!) if Jennifer chose the deaf community over her own family. It'd add a little twist.. Like Codger says, "the conflict with a hearing family is a very interesting and realistic angle to play on."
And it's more usual for deaf people to abandon lip-reading/speech for ASL than the other way around.
As for talking, I do use my voice with my family. But that's only because they don't know enough sign to understand me. That's always pissed me off. I learned their language, why couldn't they learn mine? As a result, I feel I haven't been able to really communicate with them. Conversations are limited. "How was your day?" "Fine, yours?" "Fine."
I have a hearing husband. We use ASL but I find when I argue with him I use my voice! Funny how that happens...
Good luck with your book. What else have you written? If you don't mind...
