El Deafo

Bell, C. (2014). El Deafo. NY: Abrams

This books tells about the childhood of Cece Bell. Due to a sickness, Cece has lost her hearing and now requires the assistance of a hearing aid. While the hearing aid does help her, readers get a good look at how she struggles to fit in at her school and is seen as being different. Cece desperately wants to find a true friend, and as a result of this longing, accepts poor treatment from others in hopes of not losing their "friendship". Once Cece realizes that her hearing aid enables her to hear things that others can't, she begins to treat her hearing aid as a superpower, and nicknames herself "El Deafo". Through this persona, Cece becomes more confident in herself, and even gets a new best friend that decides to become her sidekick. This book serves as inspiration for all of those who were considered "different" by their peers, and shows them that they too can overcome this obstacle.