El Deafo

Bell, C. (2014). El Deafo. NY: Abrams

Summary: Cece Bell is a young girl that loses her hearing due to meningitis and has a hearing aid. The hearing aid helps her to hear what is going on around her, but it also causes her to be different. She allows herself to be mistreated by others because she fears losing her friends. To cope she creates a persona called "El Deafo" and her hearing aid is her superpower. Cece begins to become more outgoing and meets a new friend named Martha. After Mike, her crush, conducts an experiment with her Phonic Ear and private teacher conversations, she becomes an instant hit. Finally, Cece feels accepted and part of her community.
Commentary: The character of Cece is well-developed and relatable. She is a little girl with a lot of heart and most readers will find her endearing. She is the young impulsive child that readers often sees as adorable and with a lot of potential. The theme of this book is also about acceptance of others that have special needs. Cece feels like she has to endure the mistreatment of her friends in order not to feel lonely. She learns that there are good people that are not going to care that she has a hearing aid. She has to love herself in order for others to love her too.
Connections: Teaching Resources, Author Interview, Book Trailer, Book Review
Similar books: Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson; Sunny Side Up by Jennifer L. Holm; Little Robot by Ben Hatke
Textbook Connections: Reading aloud from El Deafo can help students see that there are kids with special needs that have thoughts and feeling just like them.