Product Code Database
El Deafo is a graphic novel written and illustrated by Cece Bell. The book is a loose autobiographical account of Bell's childhood and life with her Hearing loss. The characters in the book are all anthropomorphic Rabbit. Cece Bell, in an interview with the Horn Book Magazine, states "What are bunnies known for? Big ears; excellent hearing," rendering her choice of characters and their deafness ironic.
The graphic novel was adapted into a three-part animated miniseries for Apple TV+.
While the hearing aid enables her to hear the world around her, it also distances her from some children her own age because she is seen as "different". This causes both frustration and depression in Cece, as she is desperate to find a true friend but frequently feels that she has to accept poor treatment from others being afraid of losing what few friends she has. She deals with these feelings by treating her hearing aid as a superpower, as it gives her the ability to hear everything. For example, she hears private teacher conversations, as her teachers wear a tiny microphone that transmits sound to Cece's hearing aid; and not every teacher remembers to turn it off when they leave the classroom. She adopts the secret nickname "El Deafo".
As time passes Cece grows more assertive and opens up to the people around her, especially when she meets a new friend who doesn't seem to care that she wears a hearing aid. She also grows comfortable in confronting people that treat her differently because of her deafness, finding that many of them are largely unaware that their actions cause her emotional harm. Ultimately Cece opens up to her new friend and reveals her secret persona as "El Deafo", much to the delight of her friend, who agrees to serve as her sidekick. As she gets older, she realizes that she no longer has to hide her "superpower" with others.
The Horn Book Magazine, Kirkus Reviews, the Los Angeles Public Library, Publishers Weekly, and School Library Journal named it one of the best books of 2014. It was also a New York Times Notable Children's Book.
| +Awards for El Deafo !Year !Award !Result !Ref. | |||
| 2014 | Cybils Award for Elementary and Middle Grade Graphic Novel | Winner | |
| Goodreads Choice Award for Best Middle Grade and Children's | Nominee | ||
| Kirkus Prize for Young Readers' Literature | Finalist | ||
| 2015 | Guardian Children's Fiction Prize | Longlist | |
| ALSC Notable Children's Books | Selection | ||
| Charlotte Huck Award | Honor | ||
| Children's Choice Book Award for Debut Author | Finalist | ||
| Eisner Award for Best Publication for Kids | Winner | ||
| Eisner Award for Best Reality-Based Work | Finalist | ||
| Great Graphic Novels for Teens | Selection | ||
| Judy Lopez Memorial Award | Winner | ||
| Newbery Medal | Honor | ||
| 2024 | Odyssey Award | Winner |
Publishers Weekly called the book "a standout autobiography," writing, "Cece’s predilection for bursting into tears at the wrong time belies a gift for resilience that makes her someone readers will enjoy getting to know."
Kirkus Reviews wrote that Bell's "whimsical color illustrations (all the human characters have rabbit ears and faces), clear explanations and Cece’s often funny adventures help make the memoir accessible and entertaining."
Similarly, Susannah Richards, writing for Shelf Awareness, wrote "Readers will delight in the insightful and funny thoughts Cece shares through the guise of her cape-wearing alter ego, the superhero El Deafo. Cece's universal feelings make this memoir accessible to anyone who has experienced moments of awkwardness in wondering what others are thinking, making friends or wishing they had super powers."
Booklist
Katherine Bouton, a writer from The New York Times, calls the book inspirational for those who are different. Sonic Youth August 22, 2014
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