Our March book selection for the Girls Leadership Parent & Daughter Book Club is…
El Deafo by Cece Bell.
About the Book
& the Girls Leadership Connection
Cece is the only deaf bunny at her school. On the plus side, she gets to wear a high-powered hearing aid that gives her super powered abilities. She fantasizes about being the first deaf superhero: El Deafo. But it’s not all superhero daydreams. Cece feels humiliated by her prominent hearing aid and frequent misunderstandings with her peers.
El Deafo is a graphic novel. The comic-style drawings of bunnies make this an appealing and fun read for kids, and they support comprehension of the story. Ms. Bell uses the graphic elements in the text to immerse the reader in Cece’s experience. For example, when the text fades, we understand that Cece’s not hearing very well. When the text bubbles are empty, we share Cece’s silent experience and frustration.
Although communication is hard for Cece, she must learn to express her feelings, especially when she is not getting what she needs from a friendship. She figures out how to identify the difference between positive and negative relationships, and she makes it a point to find friends with whom she feels safe and accepted. Throughout all her experiences, Cece finds inner happiness by doing things that make her happy, whether watching movies, laughing with her siblings, or daydreaming.
Buy, borrow, or download a copy of this book and read it before your March book club meeting.
We’ll send everyone who has signed up for Book Club a Meeting Guide and Discussion Questions for El Deafo
Not signed up yet?
Take me to the Book Club Sign Up!
About the Author
Cece Bell has written and illustrated many books for children, including The Sock Monkey Series and Rabbit and Robot: The Sleepover, which won a Geisel Honor in 2013.
El Deafo is based on Ms. Bell’s childhood experience growing up hearing impaired. She won the Newbery medal for this book in 2015.
Ms. Bell was born in Virginia, where she still lives with her family. You can learn more about her on her blog and on Twitter @CeceBellBooks
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