The story El Deafo is about a young girl (the author) who becomes ill with meningitis at the age of 4 and has to be hospitalized. She recovers, but the illness has left her deaf. Cece must learn how to navigate a new life - one where she struggles to understand and be understood. She has to learn how to interact with people differently and live in a world that she is unfamiliar with. Typical struggles for any child - friendships, self-esteem, fitting in, having a crush - all become astoundingly difficult with her condition. She struggles with feelings of self-consciousness when figuring out how to wear her bulky hearing aid to school. Cece really learns who her true friends are and who is willing to stick by her side, even when being Cece's friend is not always easy. El Deafo explores these struggles and how Cece is able to cope with her differences.
I would highly recommend this novel to all pre-teen and teen readers. While I think the novel does read a little easier for a girl since the narrator is a girl, I think it is the message that leaves the reader with so many memorable life lessons. Cece opens up to share struggles that members of the hearing community would not even think about. Even the simplest things - a sleep over, playing in the yard with friends - are some of the most difficult and stressful of tasks. I highly encourage you to give this story an open mind to learn about the deaf community as an awareness to make us all better human beings.
Do NOT miss the author's note at the back of the book. Cece Bell really gives us all a great reminder about life and how to treat our own abilities and struggles and how to view others in the same way.
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