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El Deafo

Part One

Bell, C. (2014). El Deafo. Amulet Books.

Grades 4–7

Graphic Novel / Memoir

Part Two

I really enjoyed El Deafo because it was both funny and meaningful. The story explains Cece Bell’s experiences growing up with hearing loss and learning how to feel confident in herself.

The illustrations helped make the story easy to understand and added humor throughout the book. I also liked how Cece learned to accept herself and recognize her own strengths. While reading this story with students, I would ask questions such as: “What challenges did Cece face?” and “How did Cece become more confident throughout the story?”

Part Three

The plot follows Cece’s experiences at school, with friends, and with her hearing aid. The setting feels realistic and relatable for many students. The theme focuses on self-acceptance, friendship, and understanding differences.

The graphic novel format is one of the strongest parts of the book because the illustrations help readers understand emotions and situations more clearly. Overall, this book is very effective because it promotes empathy and inclusion in an engaging way.

Part Four

Lesson Objective

Students will explain how pictures contribute to meaning in a graphic novel.

Discussion Questions

How did Cece feel different from other students?
What helped Cece become more confident?
How do the illustrations help tell the story?

Lesson Activity

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.7 — Make connections between text and visual presentation.

Students will make their own comic strip about an important moment in their lives.