The class clown, who teaches her the importance of laughter and friendship, introduces her to her friends, including a rebellious young girl, a withdrawn boy, and the class clown himself. Despite her own difficulties, Cece is determined to learn and become the best she can be. Mike, Cece’s crush, gets back in touch with her after she shares her hearing device with him.Ĭece Bell (voiced by Ellen DeGeneres) must contend with fitting in at a predominantly hearing school during the 1970s era in Salem. She feels normal and super at the same time, which is an adjustment for her fantasy of El Deafo. Cece finds a true friend in Martha, who treats her the same no matter what.Ĭece’s Phonic Ear makes it possible for her to hear teachers talking to her and other students participating in extracurricular activities.

She creates El Deafo, a superhero alter ego with super hearing, as a result. For the duration of her education, the Phonic Ear is required to be worn by her in addition to the larger, specialized hearing device. Cece struggles to be accepted by other children because of her deafness. Friends are frequently difficult to make for Cece. Cece Bell, also known as Cece, a rabbit in the novel, is obsessed with being deaf in order to balance her childhood with her deafness. In El Deafo, a deaf bunny named Cece is self-conscious about wearing her Phonic Ear (a hearing aid strapped to her chest and connected to a microphone) at school, and she transforms into a superhero persona to gain confidence.Įl Deafo, a graphic novel written and illustrated by a young adult, describes the author as a semi-autobiographical figure. She has said that her experience as a deaf person has influenced her work as an author and that she often incorporates themes of deaf culture and identity into her stories. Bell was born deaf and uses American Sign Language as her primary mode of communication.

Is Cece Bell Deaf?Ĭece Bell is an author and illustrator who is known for her work in the graphic memoir genre. As her life changed dramatically, she created an alter-ego, El Deafo!, in her capacity as a alter-ego. A large Phonic Ear and hearing aids began to appear on her chest as soon as she received her hearing aids.

To pronounce el deafo, say “el day-foh.”īell, at the age of four, was severely disabled by a meningitis attack that left her profoundly deaf. She attends school, makes friends, and even becomes a member of the school safety patrol. Despite her hearing loss, Cece is determined to lead a normal life. The book tells the story of Cece, a young girl who loses her hearing after a bout with meningitis. El Deafo is a children’s book written and illustrated by Cece Bell.

El Deafo by Cece Bell