El Deafo clearly presents some of the difficulties of growing up deaf. It shows that there are varying degrees of hearing impairment and that children deal with the situation differently.
Positive Messages
a lot
El Deafo emphasizes that, although deafness might cause someone to feel lonely, it shouldn't be an impediment to making strong friendships. The graphic novel can serve as a springboard for discussions about loneliness, fitting in, and finding inner strength.
Positive Role Models
a lot
Cece's often confused by social situations, but she has the grace and bravery to persevere and make lasting friendships. The cartoonist doesn't portray herself as perfect but rather as a sensitive person who yearns for strong connections with her peers and sometimes makes mistakes. She knows her deafness makes her different from her friends, but she wants to be taken on her own terms. Her wish to fit in sometimes causes her to stifle her own feelings or misbehave in a mild sort of way.
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that 2015 Newbery Honor BookEl Deafo by Cece Bell is a sweet, funny, and affecting graphic memoir of growing up with a hearing impairment. From kindergarten onward, Cece wants a best friend to call her own, but her deafness and feelings of insecurity sometimes get in her way. She has an unrequited crush on a neighbor boy, and the only strong language is a character saying someone's making her life "hell." In two scenes, adults drink wine and smoke cigarettes.
I think my expectations were too high for this book. I think it is certainly important to give kids the opportunity to learn about and empathize with the experiences of the author. Because I have read some really amazing stories in which there are similar opportunities with regard to other subject matter ("Out of My Mind," "Fish in a Tree," for example), I thought this would be similar. I found this story interesting as an adult, but it seemed aimed at a much younger age group than 9--the story-teller and the language were very child-like. And, however educational and important this story is, it was simply not a page-turner for me. It was a fast read because it was simple, not because I had to keep going to find out what happened.
What's the Story?
A bout with meningitis at age 4 leaves Cece with impaired hearing. As she goes off to first grade, she wears the Phonic Ear, a giant hearing aid strapped to her chest. Although she can understand some conversations, she still misses a lot of what's being said by those around her. She wants nothing more than to have a best friend, but can the Phonic Ear provide a way to find one?
Funny, perceptive, and truthful, EL DEAFO expertly captures the experience of wanting to fit in and find a best friend, whether you're deaf or can hear perfectly. Young Cece is a hugely likable main character, alternately feisty and insecure, engrossed in her fantasy life while attuned to the pitfalls of reality. Cartoonist Cece Bell may use anthropomorphic rabbits as stand-ins for her characters, but their humanity shines through on every page.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the ways in which people with hearing impairments are depicted in the media. What books, movies, or TV shows address deafness with sensitivity and truth?
Why do you think the author of El Deafo depicts all the characters as rabbits? How would the story change if the human characters were presented realistically?
Why is it sometimes difficult to make new friends? What can you do to make the process easier?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Michael Berry
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
