El Deafo

El Deafo
AuthorCece Bell
IllustratorCece Bell
David Lasky (colors)
LanguageEnglish
GenreChildren's literature
Graphic novel
Autobiography
PublisherAmulet Books[1]
Publication date
September 2, 2014
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint
Pages248
ISBN9781419712173
OCLC870199731
LC ClassHV2534.B44 A3 2014

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 deafness. The characters in the book are all anthropomorphic bunnies. Cece Bell, in an interview with the Horn Book Magazine,[2] 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+.[3]

Plot

The book depicts the childhood of Cece Bell, who lost her hearing at a young age and required the assistance of a Phonic Ear hearing aid while she was growing up to be the person who she is now.

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.

Characters

  • Cecilia 'Cece' Bell: Main character
  • Dorn: Cece's kindergarten teacher
  • Mrs. Lufton: Cece's 1st grade teacher
  • Mrs. Ikelberry: Cece's 3rd grade teacher
  • Mrs. Sinklemann: Cece's 5th grade teacher
  • Emma Knight: Cece's 1st best friend
  • Laura: Cece's best friend in 1st and 2nd grade
  • Ginny Wakeley: Cece's new friend in 3rd grade
  • Martha Ann Claytor: Cece's best friend in the end of 4th grade and continues to be one
  • Mike Miller: Cece's 1st crush and new neighbor
  • Babarah Bell: Cece's mother
  • George Bell: Cece's father
  • Ashley Bell: Cece's older brother
  • Sarah Bell: Cece's older sister
  • Mr. Potts: Cece's gym teacher
  • El Deafo: Cece's alter-ego
  • Johnny: A kid that rides the bus with Cece

Awards and honors

El Deafo is a Junior Library Guild book.[4]

The Horn Book Magazine,[5] Kirkus Reviews,[6] the Los Angeles Public Library,[4] Publishers Weekly, and School Library Journal[4] named it one of the best books of 2014. It was also a New York Times Notable Children's Book.[4]

Awards for El Deafo
Year Award Result Ref.
2014 Cybils Award for Elementary and Middle Grade Graphic Novel Winner [7]
Goodreads Choice Award for Best Middle Grade and Children's Nominee [8]
Kirkus Prize for Young Readers' Literature Finalist [6][9]
2015 Guardian Children's Fiction Prize Longlist [10][11]
ALSC Notable Children's Books Selection [12]
Charlotte Huck Award Honor [13]
Children's Choice Book Award for Debut Author Finalist [14]
Eisner Award for Best Publication for Kids Winner [15]
Eisner Award for Best Reality-Based Work Finalist [16]
Great Graphic Novels for Teens Selection [17]
Judy Lopez Memorial Award Winner [18]
Newbery Medal Honor [19][20]
2024 Odyssey Award Winner [21]

Critical reception

El Deafo was well received by critics, including starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews[6] and Publishers Weekly.[22]

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."[22]

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."[6]

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."[23]

Booklist's Sarah Hunter called El Deafo an "empowering autobiographical story" and noted how "Bell’s bold and blocky full-color cartoons perfectly complement her childhood stories—she often struggles to fit in and sometimes experiences bullying, but the cheerful illustrations promise a sunny future."[24]

Katherine Bouton, a writer from The New York Times, calls the book inspirational for those who are different.[25]

Television adaptation

A three-part animated miniseries adaptation of the graphic novel was released on Apple TV+ on January 7, 2022.[26] The miniseries features the voices of Pamela Adlon, Jane Lynch and Chuck Nice. The miniseries is narrated by author Cece Bell with music by Waxahatchee. Most of the dialogue is filtered through hearing aids. The child version of Cece Bell is voiced by Lexi Finnigan, who is also deaf and has cochlear implants.[27]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Amulet Books". Archived from the original on 27 May 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  2. ^ Deirdre Baker (November 12, 2014). "Cece Bell on El Deafo". The Horn Book. Archived from the original on 16 January 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  3. ^ "'El Deafo' Apple TV Plus Review: Stream It Or Skip It?". Archived from the original on 2022-02-23. Retrieved 2022-02-23.
  4. ^ a b c d "El Deafo by Cece Bell". Junior Library Guild. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  5. ^ "Horn Book Fanfare 1938 to present". The Horn Book. Archived from the original on 2021-10-30. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  6. ^ a b c d "El Deafo". Kirkus Reviews. 2014-07-22. Archived from the original on 2023-03-20. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
  7. ^ "2014 Cybils Winners". Archived from the original on 2023-03-24. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  8. ^ "El Deafo". Goodreads. Archived from the original on 2023-04-03. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  9. ^ "Awards: Thurber; Maine Readers' Choice; Kirkus Prize". Shelf Awareness. 2014-10-01. Archived from the original on 2023-03-07. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  10. ^ "Awards: Hellenic Winners; Guardian Children's Fiction". Shelf Awareness. 2015-07-15. Archived from the original on 2016-08-20. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  11. ^ "David Almond Wins Guardian Children's Fiction Prize 2015". Publishers Weekly. 2015-11-19. Archived from the original on 2022-08-15. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  12. ^ "Notable Children's Books: 2015". Booklist. 2015-03-15. Archived from the original on 2021-10-18. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  13. ^ "NCTE Charlotte Huck Award® Outstanding Fiction for Children Winner List" (PDF). National Council of Teachers of English. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-04-03. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  14. ^ "Children's Choice Book Award Finalists Announced". Publishers Weekly. 2015-02-19. Archived from the original on 2022-11-11. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  15. ^ "2010-Present". Comic-Con International: San Diego. 2012-12-02. Archived from the original on 2014-02-13. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  16. ^ Asselin, Janelle (2015-05-22). "2015 Eisner Award Nominations Announced". ComicsAlliance. Archived from the original on 2022-12-03. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  17. ^ "Great Graphic Novels for Teens: 2015". Booklist. 2015-03-15. Archived from the original on 2022-01-22. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  18. ^ "Meet Our Previous Winners". The Judy Lopez Memorial Award. Archived from the original on 2022-01-06. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  19. ^ "El Deafo | Awards & Grants". American Library Association. 2015-04-12. Archived from the original on 2021-12-06. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  20. ^ Communications and Marketing Office (2015-02-06). "American Library Association announces 2015 youth media award winners". American Library Association. Archived from the original on 2022-11-28. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  21. ^ "2024 Odyssey Awards for Excellence in Audiobook Production for Children and Young Adults announced". ALA News. American Library Association. 22 January 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  22. ^ a b "El Deafo by Cece Bell". Publishers Weekly. 2014-07-07. Archived from the original on 2022-10-05. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  23. ^ Richards, Susannah (2014-09-19). "El Deafo". Shelf Awareness. Archived from the original on 2022-05-25. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  24. ^ Hunter, Sarah (August 2014). "El Deafo". Booklist. Archived from the original on 2023-03-27. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  25. ^ Sonic Youth Archived 2015-11-05 at the Wayback Machine August 22, 2014
  26. ^ "Trailer: Cece Bell's 'El Deafo' Joins Apple TV+ Kids Lineup January 7". 16 December 2021. Archived from the original on 16 December 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  27. ^ "Miller School Patient Lands Role as Main Character's Voice on Apple TV's El Deafo Series". 8 March 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2023.

Read other articles:

Гвеліспері

Гвеліспері («змієподібні»; (груз. გველისფერი)) — в грузинській міфології — помічник божества. Згідно з народними уявленнями, гвеліспері являли собою змія або дракона, який сидить на ланцюгу. Він виступав помічником божества, що завдає поразки всім його ворогам.

 

La Corne-en-Vexin

Coordenadas: 49° 17' 55 N 1° 55' 23 E La Corne-en-Vexin   Comuna francesa    Localização La Corne-en-VexinLocalização de La Corne-en-Vexin na França Coordenadas 49° 17' 55 N 1° 55' 23 E País  França Região Altos da França Departamento Oise Características geográficas Área total 16,85 km² População total (2018) [1] 545 hab. Densidade 32,3 hab./km² Código Postal ​60240 Código INSEE 60209 La Corne-en-...

 

Liste des plus hauts gratte-ciel d'Ankara

Depuis la construction du siège de la Turkish Petroleum en 1974, 110 gratte-ciel (immeuble de 100 mètres de hauteur et plus) ont été construits à Ankara dans la capitale de la Turquie. En octobre 2018 la liste des immeubles d'au minimum 110 mètres de hauteur est la suivante d'après Emporis et le CTBUH [1],[2] TOBB Towers Sheraton Hotel Ankara Dikmen Valley Towers Halkbank Headquarters Cankaya Hotel Rang Nom Hauteur Étages Année 1 Elya Royal Tower 195 m [3] 45 2020 2 T...

Burleigh Bombers Australian Football Club

This article relies excessively on references to primary sources. Please improve this article by adding secondary or tertiary sources. Find sources: Burleigh Bombers Australian Football Club – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (November 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) Burleigh BombersNamesFull nameBurleigh Bombers Australian Rules Football ClubNickname(s)BombersClub detailsFounded1979? [note 1]Colours  ...

 

Kabinett Buffet

Louis-Joseph Buffet war zwischen 1875 und 1876 Premierminister FrankreichsKabinett Louis Buffet Das Kabinett Buffet war eine Regierung der Dritten Französischen Republik. Es wurde am 10. März 1875 von Premierminister Louis-Joseph Buffet gebildet und löste das Kabinett Courtot de Cissey ab. Es blieb bis zum 23. Februar 1876 im Amt und wurde daraufhin vom Kabinett Dufaure III abgelöst. Buffet war formell Vice-Président du Conseil, während Staatspräsident Patrice de Mac-Mahon Président d...

 

Eichenmehltau

Eichenmehltau Eichenmehltau (Erysiphe alphitoides) Systematik Unterabteilung: Echte Schlauchpilze (Pezizomycotina) Klasse: Leotiomycetes Ordnung: Helotiales Familie: Echte Mehltaupilze (Erysiphaceae) Gattung: Erysiphe Art: Eichenmehltau Wissenschaftlicher Name Erysiphe alphitoides Griffon & Maubl. Der Eichenmehltau (Erysiphe alphitoides, Basionym: Microsphaera alphitoides) ist ein Schlauchpilz der Ordnung Erysiphales und gehört zu den Echten Mehltaupilzen. Der vermutlich aus Nordamerika ...

Klarenbeek (dorp)

Klarenbeek Plaats in Nederland (Details) Situering Provincie Gelderland Gelderland Gemeente Apeldoorn ApeldoornVoorst Voorst Coördinaten 52° 10′ NB, 6° 4′ OL Algemeen Inwoners (1 januari 2021) 3280[1] Overig Postcode 7380 - 7382 Netnummer 055-301 Belangrijke verkeersaders N789 Portaal    Nederland Locatie in de gemeente Apeldoorn Locatie in de gemeente Voorst Klarenbeek is een lintdorp in de Nederlandse provincie Gelderland, ten oosten van Apeldoorn. Het dorp ...

 

Трошер

ТрошерTrochères   Країна  Франція Регіон Бургундія-Франш-Конте  Департамент Кот-д'Ор  Округ Діжон Кантон Мірбо-сюр-Без Код INSEE 21644 Поштові індекси 21310 Координати 47°20′43″ пн. ш. 5°18′23″ сх. д.H G O Висота 188 - 206 м.н.р.м. Площа 5,1 км² Населення 169 (01-2020[1]) Густота 34...

 

GJB4

GJB4 المعرفات الأسماء المستعارة GJB4, CX30.3, EKV, gap junction protein beta 4, EKVP2 معرفات خارجية الوراثة المندلية البشرية عبر الإنترنت 605425 MGI: MGI:95722 HomoloGene: 7339 GeneCards: 127534 علم الوجود الجيني الوظيفة الجزيئية • gap junction channel activity المكونات الخلوية • كونيكسون• مكون تكاملي للغشاء• تقاطعات الفجوة بين ال...

MedStar Health

For the Australian medical retrieval service, see MedSTAR. This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages) This article relies excessively on references to primary sources. Please improve this article by adding secondary or tertiary sources. Find sources: MedStar Health – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (September 2015) (Learn how and w...

 

Felony disenfranchisement in the United States

Prohibiting criminals from voting in elections in the United States In the United States, a person may have their voting rights suspended or withdrawn due to the conviction of a criminal offense. The actual class of crimes that results in disenfranchisement vary between jurisdictions, but most commonly classed as felonies, or may be based on a certain period of incarceration or other penalty. In some jurisdictions disfranchisement is permanent, while in others suffrage is restored after a per...

 

Education in Ethiopia

Overview of education in Ethiopia Lycée Guebre-Mariam, the French international school in Addis Ababa Education in Ethiopia was dominated by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church for many centuries until secular education was adopted in the early 1900s. Prior to 1974, Ethiopia had an estimated literacy rate below 50% and compared poorly with the rest of even Africa in the provision of schools and universities. After the Ethiopian Revolution, emphasis was placed on increasing literacy in rural areas....

Water Lilies (Monet series)

Series of paintings by Claude Monet This article is about the series of paintings. For other uses, see Water lily. Claude Monet, The Water Lilies – The Clouds, 1920–1926, Musée de l'Orangerie, Paris Claude Monet, The Water Lilies – Setting Sun, 1920–1926, Musée de l'Orangerie, Paris Claude Monet, Reflections of Clouds on the Water-Lily Pond, c. 1920, 200 × 1276 cm (78.74 × 502.36 in), oil on canvas, Museum of Modern Art, New York City Water Lilies (French: Nymphéas [nɛ...

 

Felipe Dias da Silva dal Belo

Felipe oleh Rapallo80, 2017Informasi pribadiNama lengkap Felipe Dias da Silva dal BeloTanggal lahir 31 Juli 1984 (umur 39)Tempat lahir Guaratinguetá[1], BrasilTinggi 1,88 m (6 ft 2 in)Posisi bermain BekInformasi klubKlub saat ini InternazionaleNomor 26Karier junior1999–2002 UdineseKarier senior*Tahun Tim Tampil (Gol)2002–2010 Udinese 139 (5)2010 → Fiorentina (pinjaman) 18 (0)2010–2013 Fiorentina 8 (0)2011 → Cesena (loan) 7 (0)2012–2013 → Siena (loan)...

 

Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-Geboortekerk (Berbroek)

Onze-Lieve-Vrouw Geboortekerk De Onze-Lieve-Vrouw Geboortekerk is de parochiekerk van Berbroek, gelegen aan de Grotestraat 82 aldaar. Reeds in 1308 was er sprake van een kapel in Berbroek. Toen scheidde de parochie zich van die van Herk-de-Stad af. De huidige kerk is echter van 1892. Ze werd nog verbouwd omstreeks 1955. Het is een neogotische kruisbasiliek in baksteen met halfingebouwde toren. De kerk is niet georiënteerd: De toren ligt op het zuiden. Deze vierkante toren heeft vier geleding...

Ma'ale Akrabim massacre

1954 attack on Israeli civilians by Arab fedayeen Ma'ale Akrabim massacrePart of Palestinian Fedayeen insurgencyThe bus after the incidentLocation of the attack(Near the Ein Netafim spring, on Highway 12, Southern Israel)LocationScorpions Pass, south of Makhtesh KatanCoordinates30°54′24″N 35°07′53″E / 30.90667°N 35.13139°E / 30.90667; 35.13139Date16/17 March 1954 (IST, UTC +2)Attack typeAmbushDeaths12Injured2 vtePalestinian FedayeeninsurgencyEarly engagemen...

 

William Jones (judge)

Welsh judge and Member of Parliament SirWilliam JonesSir William Jones in a 1675 engraving by William SherwinMember of the 1597, 1604 and 1614 Parliamentfor BeaumarisMember of the 1601 Parliamentfor Caernarvonshire Personal detailsBorn1566Died(1640-12-09)9 December 1640 Sir William Jones (1566–1640) was a Welsh judge, and a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Welsh Borough of Beaumaris.[1] Life From a family settled in North Wales, he was eldest son of William Jones of Castellmarch, C...

 

Intelligence agency

Agency dealing with secret intelligence This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: Intelligence agency – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (November 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) The George Bush Center for Intelligence, headquarters of the Central Intelligence Agen...

List of UNESCO Global Geoparks in Europe

Europe[a] is the cradle of the geoparks movement.[1] The European Geoparks Network is a founding member of the Global Geoparks Network and it functions as a regional geopark network of it. As of November 2022, there are 94 UNESCO Global Geoparks in 28 European countries and there are several territories in an aspiring or planned phase, or in a national geopark status.[2] Further elements of the geodiversity of the continent is represented on the World Heritage list, un...

 

WWE The Bash

Pour les articles homonymes, voir Bash. The Great American Bash WWE The Bash (The Great American Bash jusqu'en 2008) est un pay per view annuel de la World Wrestling Entertainment et se déroulait chaque année au mois de juin ou juillet. Cet évènement était à l'origine tenu par la National Wrestling Alliance et par la suite la World Championship Wrestling avant d'avoir été remis au goût du jour par la World Wrestling Entertainment en 2004. De 2004 à 2006, c'était un pay-per-view exc...

 

Strategi Solo vs Squad di Free Fire: Cara Menang Mudah!