El Deafo by Cece Bell

Pages: 233
Intended Audience: Tweens and up
Genre: Graphic Memoir
Notes for Parents: There is nothing offensive in this book.

The Back Cover

Starting at a new school is scary, even more so with a giant hearing aid strapped to your chest! At her old school, everyone in Cece’s class was deaf. Here she is different. She is sure the kids are staring at the Phonic Ear, the powerful aid that will help her hear her teacher. Too bad it also seems certain to repel potential friends.
Then Cece makes a startling discovery. With the Phonic Ear she can hear her teacher not just in the classroom, but anywhere her teacher is in the school—in the hallway…in the teacher’s lounge…in the bathroom! This is power. Maybe even superpower! Cece is on her way to becoming El Deafo, Listener for All. But the funny thing about being a superhero is that it’s just another way of feeling different…and lonely. Can Cece channel her powers into finding the thing she wants most, a true friend?

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

Cece Bell is a children’s book author and illustrator. This is a loose biographical account of the author’s childhood and living with her deafness.

What’s good?

Set in the 70s and poignantly illustrated using anthropomorphized rabbits (they have rabbit features but are essentially human), this is the story of a hearing-impaired girl adjusting to a hearing world. Heartwarming and humorous, the plot is straightforward and full of relatable moments. Cece is an endearing main character and has essentially the same problems as other kids, but with the added complication of being deaf and requiring a big, clunky machine to help her hear. The narration is witty and sympathetic, and her comically drawn self-portrait (Underpants – avert your eyes!) is hilarious.
Best Part: Are you death? (This is what she hears when someone asks her if she’s deaf.)

What isn’t good?

As with most graphic novels, it’s a quick read. It was over before I really felt like I got my money’s worth. There’s not a lot of depth to the characters, but there is development. The superhero idea is a good one, but it was underused. I expected a little more.
Worst part: Nothing was terrible.

Recommendation þþþþo

This was a sweet story. Cece was instantly likeable, and her story was simple yet engaging. Definitely recommended.

Bell, Cece. El Deafo. New York: Amulet Books, 2014.