El Deafo
Cece Bell
Subjects
- Comics and Manga - from Asterix to Zelda
El Deafo is a funny, deeply honest graphic novel memoir for middle graders. It chronicles the author's hearing loss at a young age and her subsequent experiences with a powerful and very awkward hearing aid called the Phonic Ear. It gives her the ability to hear--sometimes things she shouldn't--but also isolates her from her classmates. She really just wants to fit in and find a true friend, someone who appreciates her, Phonic Ear and all. Finally, she is able to harness the power of the Phonic Ear and become ""El Deafo, Listener for All."" And more importantly, declare a place for herself in the world and find the friend she's longed for.
Reviews
El Deafo is Cece Bell's memoir, written in graphic novel form, about her insecurities and the challenges she faced as a deaf child. Both Cece and her alter-ego, the superhero El Deafo, are honest, smart and funny characters. We learn about the everyday difficulties Cece encounters when interpreting what others are communicating, together with the strategies and technology that help her to navigate life and, ultimately, unlock her superpower. I would recommend this to those who like graphic novels and enjoy learning about the lives of others.
laurincampbell
This was a very different graphic book but I quite liked it. I loved the drawings and how they were able to show and support what the main character was experiencing and, most importantly, hearing…or not… 🔔
MairiG
A beautiful use if the superhero genre to explore difference and a fantastic example of #ownvoices in graphic novels
Emwot
Review • Maximum 100 words • Very brief plot summary • Your comments about El Deafo is based on the author’s experiences after she contracted meningitis and was left permanently hearing impaired at the age of four. Unusually the story is told using a graphic novel format and the characters have the appearance of human/rabbit hybrids- in a cute way! The story follows Cece in her struggles to adjust to her new non-hearing world, the way other people treat her differently, and as she gets used to the hearing aids that will now form part of her life. As readers you are clearly and powerfully shown by use of the speech bubbles and illustrations, the loneliness and difficulties that Cece faces as, often unthinkingly, people who are trying to be kind only make her feel more alienated. Despite all the challenges Cece experiences all the usual things of childhood:falling out with friends, making new friends, crushes on a neighbour. The book contains plenty of humour that children will appreciate- Cece’s Phonic Ear enables her to hear all sorts of things that her teachers might prefer she didn’t! This is a really good read that will help readers of all ages to appreciate the difficulties faced by non-hearing people. 5 *
KatieLoo2
A really touching and often humorous recollection of the creator’s experiences growing up, and navigating the hearing world. I thoroughly enjoyed it and think it could be used to provoke a lot of discussion amongst a younger audience. The art style is also very appealing.
Having never read a graphic novel before, I felt like now was the right time to give it a go. After all, I might be missing out on something! And I’ve realised that maybe I have been. El Deafo is a humorous graphic memoir about friendship and what it is like to grow up being deaf. The main character, Cece, is 4 years old when she contracts meningitis and as a result, looses her hearing. She is given a giant hearing aid, the Phonic Ear, which enables her to hear what her teachers are saying but it makes Cece feel different to her classmates and seems set to hinder the likelihood of achieving the one thing She longs for… a real friend. As the story unfolds, Cece discovers that she is able to hear her teachers wherever they are in the school and although this is another thing that makes her different to her classmates, she learns to view this in a positive way. She realises it is her super power and so the superhero El Deafo is born. This is a great story about growing up; the highs, the lows, the embarrassments and the triumphs. These moments are enhanced by the graphic format of the story, which helps to add detail and humour in a way that I was not expecting. This is an author and genre that I’d definitely look out for again.
kjeffries
An insight into the frustrations of hearing loss and school life with hearing aids. Graphic fiction is very accessible. Recommended to help understanding.
Heather1
This graphic novel is a brilliant look at the life of Cece as she moves through life using her hearing aids to help her. This covers a range of emotions and insecurities that will be familiar to many children. The worry of how people see you and also the ups and downs of friendships. This book is a brilliant way to help all children understand more about hearing loss and the ways that we can communicate with others who are Deaf or have some form of hearing loss. This was only the second graphic novel I have read and I enjoyed it. I will be passing this book on. It is an American book so does have some vocabulary that we do generally use in the UK but that doesn’t take away from it. Would recommend for age 9+
Mrsd271015