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El Deafo
El Deafo | Cece Bell
A 2015 Newbery Honor Book Going to school and making new friends can be tough. But going to school and making new friends while wearing a bulky hearing aid strapped to your chest? That requires superpowers! In this funny, poignant graphic novel memoir, author/illustrator Cece Bell chronicles her hearing loss at a young age and her subsequent experiences with the Phonic Ear, a very powerfuland very awkwardhearing aid. The Phonic Ear gives Cece the ability to hearsometimes things she shouldntbut also isolates her from her classmates. She really just wants to fit in and find a true friend, someone who appreciates her as she is. After some trouble, she is finally 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 shes longed for.PRAISE FOR EL DEAFOSTARRED REVIEWS "A standout autobiography. Someone readers will enjoy getting to know." --Publishers Weekly, starred review "Worthy of a superhero." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review "This empowering autobiographical story belongs right next to Raina Telgemeiers Smile (2011) and Liz Princes Tomboy." --Booklist
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chloecosmo
El Deafo | Cece Bell

“Our differences are our superpowers.“

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chloecosmo
El Deafo | Cece Bell

This book is ideal for talking about empathy and inclusivity. Students can discuss or write about a time they felt different or misunderstood.

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chloecosmo
El Deafo | Cece Bell
Pickpick

This graphic memoir follows Cece, who becomes deaf at a young age and learns to navigate life with a Phonic Ear hearing aid, creating her superhero alter ego, El Deafo.

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Kshakal
El Deafo | Cece Bell
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Karisimo Yes! I think this was the first graphic memoir I read! 2w
Kshakal @Karisimo same!! 2w
TheBookHippie Kids love this book. 2w
32 likes3 comments
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mfarragher
El Deafo | Cece Bell

“Being deaf is my superpower.”

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mfarragher
El Deafo | Cece Bell

"El Deafo" can be used in the classroom to foster discussions about diversity, inclusion, and the importance of understanding different perspectives. It encourages students to embrace their differences and promotes empathy through shared storytelling.

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mfarragher
El Deafo | Cece Bell
Pickpick

This is a charming graphic novel that shares the author‘s childhood experiences growing up deaf. Through illustrations and a relatable narrative, Cece navigates the challenges of school, friendships, and her unique hearing aid, which she imagines as her superpower. The story highlights themes of acceptance and understanding, making it both educational and entertaining. Readers will connect with Cece's journey of finding her voice and confidence.

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Chloeeberlein
El Deafo | Cece Bell

“Being different is what makes us special.“

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Chloeeberlein
El Deafo | Cece Bell

Cece Bell shares her experience growing up with hearing loss and the superpower she found in her hearing aid.

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Chloeeberlein
El Deafo | Cece Bell
Pickpick

This heartfelt graphic memoir combines humor and authenticity, teaching kids about friendship and acceptance.

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Kshakal
El Deafo | Cece Bell
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Perfect 👍🏻 8mo
Eggs Great selections👏🏻👏🏻 8mo
26 likes2 comments
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cottagelantern
El Deafo | Cece Bell
Pickpick

4/5 ⭐️s
this personal story tackles a serious subject and a difficult set of circumstances with humor and bravery. I appreciated how the author depicted her disability as both a superpower and something difficult and frustrating (as someone with disabilities, this was very relatable for me!). graphic novels really work well for educational purposes/memoir, and this is probably my favorite one that I have read thus far.

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Cortg
El Deafo | Cece Bell
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Pickpick

A friend from bookclub has been wanting me to read this for a while now. It‘s a great middle grades graphic novel to highlight deafness or really any disability. It touches a lot on feelings and being different from your peers. #ReadHarder23 ~a graphic novel that represents disabilities
#Pop23 ~a book with a rabbit on the cover

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Soubhiville
El Deafo | Cece Bell
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Pickpick

What a great middle grade graphic novel!
Cici got meningitis when she was 4, and lost most of her hearing. This is her story of adapting to hearing aids and growing her self confidence and self acceptance until fifth grade.
Based on the author‘s own childhood.

Pictured with the somewhat elusive Igor, who came out from under his covers to watch a bug that got in the house.

dabbe Another photo contest winner and pic that made my day! #incredibleigor 💕 2y
Texreader I do wish this book was around when my daughter was little. She was born with a birth defect and went completely dead in her left ear at about 4. It probably would have helped me and her understand what was happening better. I would spontaneously cry often about it. 16 years later we are much better but she had some tough times growing up mostly because of it. 2y
IndoorDame Hi Igor 😻 2y
RaeLovesToRead Igor!!! 🥰🥰🥰 *boop* 2y
Tamra Both my kids loved it and have read it multiple times! 2y
85 likes5 comments
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Robotswithpersonality
El Deafo | Cece Bell
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Pickpick

An earnest window into the personal experience of a deaf child, I also found it a bit of a cultural artefact as it is relating memories of a childhood in the 1970s. The art is sweet, and there are literal warm fuzzies! Also fully identify with Batman being the favoured superhero of my formative years. An engaging lesson in empathy. Highly recommended, don't forget the Author's Note in the back!

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suvata
El Deafo | Cece Bell
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Pickpick

#StoryGraph: nonfiction graphic novel memoir middle grade funny hopeful informative fast-paced
|first published 2014

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.

47 likes1 stack add
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IamIamIam
El Deafo | Cece Bell
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Today was Dress Like Your Favorite Book Character at school & my daughter wanted to be El Deafo!!! This book is a household favorite & it was a pleasure to make this happen!!!

monalyisha LOVE! 😍 2y
IamIamIam @monalyisha 🥰🥰🥰 2y
jlhammar Fantastic costume! Love that book. 2y
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IamIamIam @jlhammar Thanks!!! 😁😁 I love that she was so excited about it!!! 2y
tpixie Great costume!!! 2y
IamIamIam @tpixie Thanks so much!!! 2y
tpixie @IamIamIam and sweet girl 👧🏻 2y
IamIamIam @tpixie 🥰🥰🥰 2y
mrp27 Love it!! 2y
IamIamIam @mrp27 Thanks!!! 2y
30 likes10 comments
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Smrloomis
El Deafo | Cece Bell
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Pickpick

This has been on my list forever so I‘m glad I finally read it. It‘s excellent and I highly recommend it!

jlhammar Agree, loved this one! 2y
Smrloomis @jlhammar 👍🏽 2y
54 likes2 comments
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erzascarletbookgasm
El Deafo | Cece Bell
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Pickpick

Cece Bell‘s life changed drastically when at 4 years old, meningitis left her hearing severely impaired. In this graphic novel memoir, she shares how she felt during her elementary school years, how she embraced her differences. She chose not to learn to sign, and had to wear a big hearing aid to school, making her feel embarrassed and worried at first, but soon learnt it became her ‘superpower‘.

erzascarletbookgasm An insightful personal account of growing up with loss of hearing.
#MiddleGradeMarch #MiddleGradeMarchThroughTime
3y
jlhammar Loved this one! I guess there is an El Deafo Apple TV+ animated series now. 3y
TheBookHippie I love this book. 3y
76 likes3 comments
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Professional_Book_Dragon
El Deafo | Cece Bell
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Pickpick

I loved this book. Even being animals I felt pulled in and was emotionally attached. I really liked the end when the author explains how this is not a book that explains all deaf people‘s feelings but mine as a child.

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Rachiiebookdragon
El Deafo | Cece Bell
Pickpick

Read as part of the @DeweysReadathon #deweys24hourreadathon Pre-game and for a prompt for @bookriot #readharderchallenge2021 😊 An interesting and insightful, the 2nd book this month I have read about Deaf culture 😊 4/5

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LibraryCin
El Deafo | Cece Bell
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this. This is a story meant for kids. There were a lot of up and down emotions in this one, and she sprinkled in some humour at times, as well.

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Allylu
El Deafo | Cece Bell
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Pickpick

El Deafo! The Superhero for the hearing impaired! This book was great. It really gave an honest at how CeCe felt growing up deaf and how she handled it. I hope everyone recommends it to all the kids they know - and adults! It was witty, empathetic, the graphics were great, and CeCe Bell is married to Tom Angleberger! I‘m sure they make an outstanding team. #100YEARS100BOOKS #BookSpinBingo #11 #MGMarch book #19!

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 4y
15 likes1 comment
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mom2bugnbee
El Deafo | Cece Bell
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Pickpick

I read my first graphic novel. Nope, not kidding. ☺

Based on the author's childhood experiences with her phonic ear, this was heartwarming & educational. I imagine that this is being read, in a lot of school classrooms, much like Wonder.

⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

EvieBee Wow! Congrats on a new genre! What‘s next on the menu? 4y
mom2bugnbee @EvieBee Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier. Also not my typical genre! 4y
34 likes2 comments
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Butterfinger
El Deafo | Cece Bell
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Pickpick

Love this graphic novel. It brings to mind the special people in my life who are hard of hearing: Nicholas, when he received his cochlear implant I had a special microphone and I would sing, "Hello Darling, it's nice to see you." I was blessed to teach him for 2 years. He died of methane poisoning when he was in 6th grade. His father was not sober on a cold night and he left the generator going on the inside of the house. He would've been 20.

Butterfinger Mrs. Kirkpatrick, a wonderful principal, who reads lips. She has never treated it as a disability and you would never know it, but she understands that she has to advocate for herself and she will tell you she needs to see your lips. She has been on my mind so much this past year because of the masks. I'm sure she makes her staff wear see-through ones. #JoyousJanuary @Andrew65 4/5 #BBRC @LibrarianRyan @Sarahreadstoomuch 4y
jessinikkip I love seeing boks that represent desfness well. Being deaf myself, it means a lot to actually see it. Seen some really bad ones before, of course, you can tell who does their research 4y
Sarahreadstoomuch I love this book, but your first story/connection broke my heart ❤️ how tragic. 4y
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LibrarianRyan 😁❤️👍🏻 4y
Butterfinger @Sarahreadstoomuch I was crying when I read the book. There were so many similarities. 4y
Butterfinger @Jessieleah I did think about tagging you. 😊 4y
Jessieleah @Butterfinger hahahaha thanks! 😊 4y
Andrew65 Well done 👏👏👏 4y
58 likes2 stack adds9 comments
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Kali
El Deafo | Cece Bell
Pickpick

I love how this book captures what her childhood was like, the way she felt. As a hearing person, I will never understand how isolating deafness can be, so this book can really be an eye opener into how people's differences can make them feel alone.

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Fantasy_bookworm
El Deafo | Cece Bell
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#sundayfunday
@ozma.of.oz

1: oh, of course! Graphic novels have to structure the plot differently, because they‘re just one large installation instead of several short ones.
2: damn this is an awesome book
3: stylized. If you knew me irl you‘d know I love anime.

BookmarkTavern What a cute style for 2! Thanks for posting! 4y
Fantasy_bookworm @ozma.of.oz 😊 4y
6 likes2 comments
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ImperfectCJ
El Deafo | Cece Bell
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Pickpick

I read this on Kindle so I missed out on David Lasky's colors, but even in black-and-white, it's a lovely story. My son and I read it together, and despite some cringing I did seeing some of my own gaffes on the pages, I liked how it opened up conversation between us and helped give us both a different perspective on deafness, on disability vs difference, and on our interactions with deaf relatives and friends.

#bookspinbingo

Bits This has been on my tbr list forever! Do you have a connection to Deaf culture? I'm a teacher at a deaf school. 4y
ImperfectCJ @Bits My spouse's cousin and her husband are deaf, and they moved to our area last year to work in a deaf school so we're able to visit with them a lot more than before (only virtually at the moment, but they're helping us learn more ASL so when we get together in person again we're not tempted to lean on their kids to interpret so much). And that's our little bit of a connection to Deaf culture. :-) 4y
Bits @ImperfectCJ Cool! That's really awesome you're both learning ASL! It makes such a difference. Good luck with it! 😁 4y
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ImperfectCJ @Bits Thank you! May I ask what you teach at your school? Are there challenges with the current pandemic situation that are unique to your student population? 4y
ValerieAndBooks @ImperfectCJ @Bits I‘m Deaf myself so can say good for you all learning/using ASL ! Clear masks and/or clear face shields should be a must for sure in the Deaf schools. Facial expressions and mouth morphemes are a vital part of ASL. 4y
Bits @ImperfectCJ @ValerieAndBooks I teach high school English. Yes, there are a lot of challenges with face coverings. Clear masks have fog and glare issues that obstruct clarity and shields are meant to be used with a mask. A lot of signs have touch points on the face. Basically no matter what you do it's going to impede some aspect of the language. ⬇️ 4y
Bits ... I'm very thankful that my school did change their plan and we are now staying virtual for the first quarter (due to high levels in our city). Modern technology isn't perfect but it allowed us to communicate naturally last spring and I'm looking forward to continuing online in a couple weeks. @ImperfectCJ @ValerieAndBooks 4y
ImperfectCJ @ValerieAndBooks The facial expressions are challenging for me, even without masks. I don't think I'm generally very facially expressive and it takes a good bit of effort to remember to do it (and even more to not worry about looking silly). The word "morpheme" is pretty awesome, btw. 4y
ImperfectCJ @Bits I wondered that about the clear masks knowing how easily my glasses fog when I'm not even breathing directly on them. There seem to be no perfect solutions in this situation, but I like seeing some of the innovations people are coming up with. 4y
52 likes1 stack add9 comments
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ImperfectCJ
El Deafo | Cece Bell
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"I was a regular little kid."

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

BarbaraTheBibliophage Love this book! 4y
36 likes1 comment
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BarbaraTheBibliophage
El Deafo | Cece Bell
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I love a good medically topical nonfiction book, and while they don‘t always include disability, it‘s not uncommon. Here are a few.

Tagged book
Fire in my Eyes by Brad Snyder
The Diving Bell & the Butterfly
Life Disrupted by Laurie Edwards (also In the Kingdom of the Sick, same author)
Battle for Grace by Cynthia Touissant
The Last Best Cure by Donna Jackson Nakazawa
How to be Sick by Toni Bernhard
Waking by Matthew Sanford

#integrateyourshelf

KVanRead I forgot about Diving Bell - LOVE that one! This looks like a great list - I will be checking these out. 4y
55 likes1 comment
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KVanRead
El Deafo | Cece Bell
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Looking forward to seeing everyone‘s posts on this one as I definitely want to expand my reading in this area.

The two that come to mind are the tagged graphic novel and Jenny Lawson‘s Furiously Happy both of which I loved.

I‘ve heard good things about Disability Visibility and have added to my groaning TBR.

#IntegrateYourshelf #DisabilityAwarenessMonth

ChasingOm I loved this graphic novel too — I just left my copy of it in a Little Free Library in downtown Huntington, WV. 😄 And YES, Jenny Lawson is a treasure!! 4y
See All 6 Comments
KVanRead @ChasingOm That‘s lovely! 4y
ValerieAndBooks El Deafo is great! I have Disability Visibility stacked already. 4y
KVanRead @ValerieAndBooks Glad to know you liked El Deafo! Will look forward to your thoughts on Disability Visibility 4y
28 likes6 comments
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yourfavouritemixtape
El Deafo | Cece Bell
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Mehso-so

Have not read a graphic novel in ages, so I chose this one for the #ReadWithMrBook prompt #BooksAndDisabilities. And I liked it. It was heartwarming and easy going.

4 likes1 stack add
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rockpools
El Deafo | Cece Bell
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Pickpick

At four years old, a childhood illness results in Cece losing her hearing. This is her fictionalised memoir of growing up in the 70s/80s, wearing a large ‘phonic ear‘ to school, not wanting to be treated differently, struggling to make friends and taking refuge in the superpowers of her alter-ego ‘El Deafo‘.

It‘s a sweet, optimistic story - totally recommended.

53 likes1 stack add
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booklover3258
El Deafo | Cece Bell
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Pickpick

My review of this book can be found on my Youtube Vlog at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UL7e4HZQOdM

Enjoy!

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Hestapleton
El Deafo | Cece Bell
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Pickpick

It‘s fine I just WEPT my way through this cute #ownvoices MG graphic memoir about the author growing up after losing her hearing. Bell writes movingly about the experience of deafness as a child and contextualizes her experience in a great author‘s note at the end. I learned a lot and want to save this to share with my kids one day. #BBRC ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Book 3/12 for #bfc28

65 likes3 stack adds
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ChasingOm
El Deafo | Cece Bell
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Is anyone else doing the #BookRiot 2020 #ReadHarder challenge? I love the podcast they do for Book Riot Insiders about the challenge, and the first one of 2020 made me want to jump in & recommend one of my favorite #YANonFiction reads, as well as note which books I've checked out to satisfy this prompt for my Reading Harder self. 😄

The tagged book is an amazing graphic memoir for young adult/middle grade readers. Highly recommend!

28 likes2 comments
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keetoncarter
El Deafo | Cece Bell

When i finally finder her, I know that everything is different. I think she knows too.