EL DEAFO was a book I heard a lot about before I got to reading it. And yes, I recognize the…irony of hearing about a book which tells the story of a girl (Cece Bell, the author/illustrator) and her experiences growing up after she becomes “severely to profoundly” deaf. But this book was abuzz. At the 2014 ALA conference, EL DEAFO and Raina Telgemeier’s SISTERS were books I kept hearing about or seeing people carrying advance review copies of…and then it started getting rave reviews everywhere…and then people I knew had read it and couldn’t speak highly enough of it. Well, with all that hype there’s a greater chance for disappointment, but EL DEAFO is excellent comics.
Cebe Bell, who draws herself (and everyone else) as rabbit-humans, tells her story honestly and unflinchingly, using the tools of comics super effectively, most especially when it comes to her exploration of sound, something inherently absent from comics. But by manipulating lettering and word balloons and such, she achieves something only comics could do. That there’s a superhero element to it, in that Bell imagines herself a superhero with the “powers” her Phonic Ear provides, adds a layer of charm and whimsy…and gave me an excuse/reason to pair El Deafo with Pix!
Learn more about EL DEAFO here.
Pix Plus is a series of drawings presenting Pix in team-ups with notable characters from kid-friendly comics and graphic novels. The series will run Monday-Friday, from November 17-December 24. Please do share and let people know about Pix and Pix Plus!
Ask your local comic shop to order PIX: ONE WEIRDEST WEEKEND, in the December catalog, item #DEC141546