El Deafo

Bell, C. (2014). El deafo.  New York: Abrams.

In this graphic novel, Cece loses her hearing after having meningitis when she was four years old.  This story tells the struggles of her having to have a hearing aid she calls the Phonic Ear.  She tells the difficulty of lip reading, not being like other kids, and not wanting to learn sign language.  Cece imagines herself as a superhero named El Deafo the Listener for All.  This story is about wanting a friend who will accept her with her differences.

Book Trailer:
https://search.yahoo.com/search?fr=mcafee&type=C211US1264D20160210&p=book+trailers+for+el+deafo

Cece Bell was able to create this graphic novel El Deafo, a Newbery Honor Book, from her own struggles with being a deaf child. I would sell this book to students who are studying memoirs and graphic novel buffs.  I would also connect to readers who have read books about being different like Wonder and Out of My Mind. Other books by Cece Bell are I Yam A Donkey!, Sock Monkey Rides Again, and Itty Bitty.  She illustrated the other books as well, but they are children’s picture books.  In her picture books, Bell uses speech bubbles which is similar to the style of a graphic novel.