El Deafo

Cece Bell's autobiographical graphic novel takes an amazing look into what it's like growing up hearing impaired. The author survived meningitis when she was 4 years old, but the illness left her almost unable to hear. This is rectified with the best technology at the time: a hearing aid consisting of a large battery pack that needed to be strapped on like a forward-facing backpack and earphones. "El Deafo" is the superhero version of herself that Cece creates to cope with her differentness. While her disability causes her to be treated differently, it also gives her an advantage. The corresponding microphone that her teachers must wear so that their voices can be picked up by her hearing aid serves as an inside look into what teachers show more are like when they leave the classroom. She hears them gossip in the teacher's lounge and even going to the bathroom! It is a bright spot of amusement for her among a childhood where she misses a lot by not being able to hear naturally.

As someone with hearing problems, (who also had to deal with severe hearing loss at a young age), I was able to identify a lot with this books, particularity when people shouted at her. Like Cece, I could hear noises, but the difficulty was in turning those noises into articulate words. So, when people tried to "help" Cece by talking louder, or turning the TV up, it never helped. This book can help readers see that there are many different kinds of hearing impairment, and it's best to just ask the person how to help, rather than assume volume control is the issue. show less

A brilliant and humorous graphic memoir on what it was like for Bell to grow up deaf. I appreciated how much I learnt about a deaf experience and some basic courtesies I could do when I'm speaking when speaking to anyone: face people directly, don't exaggerate mouth movements nor slow down nor raise volume.

I also appreciated how the common themes of childhood still resonated: feeling like an outsider, navigating friendships, insecurities, crushes. Now compound this with the public misconception of deafness and having to - in Bell's case, involuntarily - physically distinguish yourself (with a Phonic Ear) in public in order to be able to communicate with the speaking and hearing world. Compound this with the symbolism of the rabbits, the show more beautiful art style, the creativity of using the speech bubbles to visualise the deafness. And the result is a funny, thoughtful, and informative memoir that I can highly recommend to readers of all ages. show less

After a bout of meningitis leaves four-year-old Cece Bell severely deaf, she must learn how to navigate the world with her bulky, cumbersome hearing aid (with a power pack worn on the chest!) and cope with the reactions of others to her deafness, not to mention adjust to it herself.

I loved this book so much I read it twice in two hours. It's a true story, with some names changed and a few childhood acquaintances combined into new characters. It's funny and sad and panic-inducing and heartwarming at the same time, not to mention instructive. Not only does it provide a potted history of hearing aids in the 1970s from a user's perspective, but also it shows the difficulties of being seen as an "other" or "special needs" person, especially show more when people offer help that is well intentioned but not actually useful. For that reason it comes highly recommended for readers of all ages. show less

Starting 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 show more ... and lonely. Can Cece channel her powers into finding the thing she wants most, a true friend? show less

El Deafo by Cece Bell is a memoir told in graphic novel format. The book is about her early childhood and time in elementary school. Bell uses adorable rabbits to tell her tale of being the only deaf kid in school and in the neighborhood.

When Cece was a toddler she contracted meningitis and lost her hearing in the process — her first clue to the fact being that no one asked her if she wanted ice cream, even though her roommate was always given some.

Rather than making her memoir one of tragic loss, she recounts her childhood through elementary school as the backstory for a superhero — El Deafo — with super hearing abilities. Because Cece draws herself (and everyone else) as a rabbit, her ears are big enough to highlight the various show more hearing aids she's given to use.

The best hearing aid, both for being able to hear the teacher in class, and for her super hero abilities, is the Phonic Ear. It's a microphone transmitter that sends to the receiver she wears. If the teacher forgets to take it off, then Cece can hear everything the teacher does (like take breaks in the teachers' lounge, eating, or even using the toilet)!

Young Cece, above all, wanted to be accepted by her classmates on her own terms. That journey involved learning how to lip read (and realizing all the frustrating situations where lip reading doesn't work), and enjoying TV in the days before closed captioning was commonplace, and annoying people who want to use her deafness to boost their own feelings of self worth.

Anyway, I could go on for hours about how much my daughter and I love this book. She and I literally had a few tugs-of-war over the book to see who would get to it next. Likewise, every person I've shown the book has enjoyed reading it. It's just one of those universal coming of age stories that is relatable to everyone through its use of humor. show less

El Deafo by Cece Bell is the autobiographical account of the author as a little girl after she contracted meningitis and became deaf. First point in this book's favor: The illustrations are absolutely delightful. If you were a fan of the Arthur cartoon growing up then you'll love her artistic style as it's very reminiscent of that. (The characters are all rabbits.) She focuses primarily on her experiences using the different hearing aid devices that she had growing up and how isolated it made her feel. Bell doesn't shy away from exploring her shame and 'otherness' in comparison to her family and friends which I think is refreshing in a middle grade book. The way that Cece ultimately copes with the changes and difficulties that she's show more experiencing is by creating an alternate persona where she uses her deafness as a superpower. I personally really loved the references of such classics as Batman (with Adam West) and one of my faves M*A*S*H. I don't know that younger readers will appreciate that as much but I thought it was a great touch. Included at the end of El Deafo is a little informational blurb about Deaf culture so if parents are reading with their kids (or teachers with their students) it makes a really awesome learning tool. I loved that kids are getting to see a character using a hearing device in a medium that is easily digestible and conveys the message that no matter what our abilities we are all 'super' in our own ways. 9/10 show less

Starting at a new school is scary, especially with a giant hearing aid strapped to your chest! At her old school, everyone in Cece’s class was deaf. Here, she’s different. She’s 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 show more feeling different . . . and lonely. Can Cece channel her powers into finding the thing she wants most, a true friend? show less