El Deafo by Cece Bell

“I was a regular little kid… But then everything changed” (Bell, 2014, p. 1).

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Cece Bell’s nonfiction graphic novel, El Deafo, is not only entertaining and heartwarming, but also educational. El Deafo is an autobiography, as it loosely tells the story of the author’s struggle with the new addition of a hearing aid. Although based on a true story, some parts of the story are compiled from one or more memories and possibly out of order, so that the story line and theme remain intact and comprehensible.

The general topic of the book revolves around deafness, and how it can potentially be seen as a disability or as an incredible, superhero ability. The author recalls her experiences with having a hearing aid as a young child in elementary school and its effect on her social and academic life. The book is organized in a comic-strip style and separated by chapters for each scene in the autobiography. It begins with the main character, Cece, in pre-school and follows her into her sixth grade year in primary school. At the end of the book, the author pens a note to the reader, explaining the different types of hearing loss, the Deaf community, and her implications of Deaf culture. She also goes into detail over her struggles, inspirations, and her true feelings as a child with hearing loss.

El Deafo is a book that can be read by all ages. It specifically targets readers in middle grade years, as it touches on social wellness issues, such as peer pressure, acceptance, individuality, and loneliness. Teachers, especially guidance counselors, may find this a valuable read, in order to promote inclusion while still recognizing differences and challenges faced by peers. Not only will students relate to Cece’s loneliness and struggles, but students will also laugh with the main character, as she attempts to read lips and use her hearing aid correctly. Although humor is one of the strengths in this book, the strongest point may be the overwhelming empathy felt by the reader throughout the book. Whether Cece was angry for being different or having a good time with new friends, the author finds a way to convey true emotions to the reader using words and illustrations.

Although I lack experience with the Deaf community and hearing aids, I was able to relate to the general theme of feeling like an outsider. In fifth grade, I had my first pair of glasses, and in sixth grade, I became a self-proclaimed “braceface”, much like Cece Bell calls herself “El Deafo”. I looked very different compared to the close group of friends I had and felt extremely self-conscious throughout my formative years. Just like the author, I had to learn about self-acceptance and the meaning of true friendship.

In this video, Cece Bell explains her inspiration to write El Deafo, shows off her famous hearing aid, and describes the concept of having secret superpowers. This would be a great video to show students after reading the book, allowing them to make a real-world connection with the story. Spiraling the concept of individuality and each person having superpowers, teachers could have students write a brief description of their own personal superpowers with a matching illustration of themselves as a superhero!

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Another book with a similar theme is Smile by Raina Telgemeir. In this book, the main character suffers an accident that results in a damaged smile. Like El Deafo, Smile takes the reader on a journey to self-acceptance.

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Bell, C. (2014). El Deafo. New York City, United States of America: Harry N. Abrams.