El Deafo by Cece Bell

 El Deafo by Cece Bell-233 pages

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This is a really good graphic memoir about the author's childhood grappling with her deafness. She got Meningitis at age 4 and it caused her to go deaf. This happened in the 1970s. She had to wear hearing aids behind her ear at home, but a phonic ear at school. Bell was somewhat embarrassed at the time and scared that the other kids would make fun of her for being different. She made (and lost and regained) some friends across her childhood. Bell created an alter ego for herself called El Deafo to help gain confidence in herself and come to grips with her deafness. This is a powerful story about growing up deaf and what it means to different people. I highly recommend reading this if you haven't.