Parents' Guide to

El Deafo

By Michael Berry, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Charming, funny comics memoir of growing up deaf.

Book Cece Bell Autobiography 2014
El Deafo Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 11+

Based on 5 parent reviews

UwUgottapoo
UwUgottapoo Adult
June 20, 2020
age 14+

Very inappropriate for young kids

In one part el deco looks down her shirt and spells attic >^
sjjess
sjjess Parent of 4 and 8-year-old
August 27, 2015
age 7+
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.
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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?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (5 ):
Kids say (19 ):

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?

Book Details

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