{"id":36389,"date":"2014-11-07T10:02:38","date_gmt":"2014-11-07T14:02:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/bookdragon\/?p=36389"},"modified":"2014-11-07T11:09:54","modified_gmt":"2014-11-07T15:09:54","slug":"el-deafo-by-cece-bell-color-by-david-lasky","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/bookdragon\/el-deafo-by-cece-bell-color-by-david-lasky\/","title":{"rendered":"El Deafo by Cece Bell, color by David Lasky"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"El<\/a>You might not recognize her name immediately, but if you click here<\/a> (and happen to have children of a certain age, and\/or like to browse\u00a0the kiddie sections of libraries and bookstores), you’ll definitely recognize Cece Bell\u2019<\/a>s literally artful creations. This, her first graphic title, is also her first autobiographical work: “El Deafo\u00a0<\/em>is based on my childhood (and on the\u00a0secret nickname I really did give myself back then),” she shares\u00a0in her “A Note from the Author” at book’s end. “It is in no way a representation of what all deaf people might experience … I was more interested in capturing the specific feelings I had as a kid with hearing loss than in being 100 percent accurate with the details.”<\/p>\n

Regardless of how much that “100 percent”\u00a0is fact or fiction quickly becomes\u00a0a moot point once you’ve read the book. Because this is one superheroic adventure of growing up “different” … and, as Bell learns, “Our differences are our\u00a0superpowers<\/em>.”<\/p>\n

At 4, meningitis leaves Bell “‘severely to profoundly’ deaf.” Thankfully, her spirit remains indomitable: “Just because I can’t hear good doesn’t mean I can’t\u00a0look<\/em> good,” she tells her mirror as she dons her favorite itty-bitty polka-dotted bikini when she returns home from the hospital. “I look\u00a0fantastic<\/em>!”<\/p>\n

When Bell visits her\u00a0doctor (she so savors those\u00a0cherry lollipops after), he presents her with “a little box with cords attached to it.” Suddenly, a mere dial adjustment turns Bell’s surround-sound back on.\u00a0Alas,\u00a0hearing is not the same as understanding: “Simple conversations are now so difficult,” Bell admits, especially when she\u00a0hears “shoes” instead of\u00a0juice, or “goat” instead of Coke.<\/p>\n

Kindergarten turns out to be a perfect introduction to going-to-school-with-cords when Bell is\u00a0placed in a classroom with other cord-connected children. Their caring, patient teacher not only covers math, reading, and writing, but also teaches the kids to\u00a0lip-read. Alas, Bell’s\u00a0family leaves\u00a0their “small row house in the big city … for a big house in a small town” and Bell’s new school\u00a0doesn’t offer\u00a0a cord-friendly\u00a0class. Instead, she must rely on her new “superpowerful, just-for-school-hearing aid: The Phonic Ear<\/a>” which allows Bell to hear the teacher with clarity\u00a0\u2013 in the class\u00a0and<\/em>\u00a0far beyond (think faculty room, smoking lounge, and, uhm … that private little facility called a toilet, oh my my my!).<\/p>\n

And yet Bell’s\u00a0superhearing sets her apart: “Superheroes might be awesome, but they are also different. And being different feels a lot\u00a0like being alone.” Making friends, feeling welcome, being included, is something Bell struggles with grade after grade: domineering Laura, loudly-screeching Ginny, hilarious but fearful Martha, gorgeous new neighbor Mike, each teach her important lessons on building true, lasting relationships.<\/p>\n

Although Bell’s precocious star might look\u00a0more bunny than human (those\u00a0oversized ears can’t be\u00a0coincidental, ahem!), El Deafo<\/em>\u00a0proves to be\u00a0a universal story about anykid searching, testing,\u00a0finding her place among her watching, questioning, too-often judging peers. Big ears aside, perhaps Bell’s cunicular cast is also paying sweet homage to Grandma Bell, the original creator of a beloved stuffed toy named Miss Bunn, who makes a few panel appearances between the pages\u00a0[click here and scroll halfway down<\/a>\u00a0to meet\u00a0the\u00a0pink ginghamed prototype]. Bell’s childhood superpower might have been her superhearing, but in adulthood, she’s indubitably enhanced her aural talents with superpowered superstorytelling, as well.<\/p>\n

Readers<\/strong>: Middle Grade<\/p>\n

Published<\/strong>: 2014<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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