Evaluation of the book:
The format of graphic novel is the perfect medium to express the message presented in El Deafo. The graphic format allows protagonist Cece’s misheard words and visual difficulties to be expressed in a way that the reader - who may not share Cece’s difficulties - can understand and visualize. For example, on pages 108-109, Cece’s hearing aid batteries die and the graphic format allows the reader to experience what she’s going through as her teacher’s lecture slowly fades out of sight until only empty speech bubbles are present. Cece can’t hear her teacher; the reader cannot read the teacher’s words.
El Deafo is told from Cece’s fiercely independent perspective. The different types of text boxes and comic boxes help the reader understand exactly what Cece is feeling, dreaming, or experiencing. Certain text boxes represent Cece’s narration, certain bubbles around the comic boxes represent her dreams, certain yellow text bubbles represent her eavesdropping on her teachers using her Phonic Ear, etc. The use of these different graphic media allow the story to be told 100% from Cece’s point of view; she is the only narrator, telling her own story.
The illustrations in this novel are simple and enjoyable. The characters are all presented as rabbits and the colors are all bright and solid. Overall, the presentation of this book is approachable and illustrates well the fact that deafness - the theme of the book - is not necessarily scary and unapproachable. Cece, despite her deafness, experiences the same growing pains as any other child. El Deafo presents both Cece’s deafness and her normal growing pains in a hilarious, enjoyable, and approachable way through the use of fun, brightly colored, adorable illustrations.
Response:
How did you learn, and how much were your views and opinions challenged or changed by this text, if at all?
Through this graphic novel, I learned about being deaf, but most importantly about how deaf people are just people too, experiencing life in much the same way that I experience it. I’ve always known that empathy is important, but this graphic novel helped give me a sense of empathy for Cece and the deaf community that I hadn’t previously felt.
Critique?
El Deafo is extremely well done, easy to read and enjoyable even for my inexperienced-with-graphic-novels self. The illustrations are adorable and fun; the different types of text boxes are easy to follow and present Cece’s point of view clearly. The graphic elements help present Cece’s deafness in a way that normally hearing people can understand. Overall, the book is well-geared towards instilling empathy in its readers, while also being a ton of fun to read.
How well did you enjoy the text (or not) as entertainment or as a work of art?
I enjoyed El Deafo very much both as entertainment (I found myself laughing out loud at Cece’s misadventures) and as art (I wanted to linger on each page to find every detail present in the colorful illustrations). I was nervous before starting the novel because I have little experience reading graphic novels. El Deafo was the perfect introduction to the genre; Cece’s story was easy to follow, beautiful to read, and so much fun.
Conclusion:
The beautiful illustrations attract the reader to this graphic novel, Cece’s fierce personality and funny narration guides the reader through her daily struggles, and the graphic format presents a visual and understandable example of what Cece goes through as a deaf person. Overall, this graphic novel is excellent for building empathy and putting oneself in the shoes of someone who is “different.” El Deafo teaches the important lesson that, even though some people around us seem “different,” they are usually - like Cece - more like us than not. I’d recommend this book to any young reader to help him or her grow in empathy. I’d also recommend this book to any reader, young or old, as an enjoyable and relatable adventure in being a child again.
APA Style Reference:
Bell, C. (2014). El Deafo. New York, NY: Amulet Books.
I enjoyed El Deafo very much both as entertainment (I found myself laughing out loud at Cece’s misadventures) and as art (I wanted to linger on each page to find every detail present in the colorful illustrations). I was nervous before starting the novel because I have little experience reading graphic novels. El Deafo was the perfect introduction to the genre; Cece’s story was easy to follow, beautiful to read, and so much fun.
Conclusion:
The beautiful illustrations attract the reader to this graphic novel, Cece’s fierce personality and funny narration guides the reader through her daily struggles, and the graphic format presents a visual and understandable example of what Cece goes through as a deaf person. Overall, this graphic novel is excellent for building empathy and putting oneself in the shoes of someone who is “different.” El Deafo teaches the important lesson that, even though some people around us seem “different,” they are usually - like Cece - more like us than not. I’d recommend this book to any young reader to help him or her grow in empathy. I’d also recommend this book to any reader, young or old, as an enjoyable and relatable adventure in being a child again.
APA Style Reference:
Bell, C. (2014). El Deafo. New York, NY: Amulet Books.
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