Bibliography Bell, Cece. 2014. El Deafo. Ill. by Cece Bell. New York: Amulet Books. ISBN 9781419712173 Plot Summary In this poignant graphic novel memoir, Cece struggles to make friends and be like the other kids due to her hearing loss. Her Phonic Ear, which gives her the power to hear at school, also gives her superpowers, at least in her mind. Cece tells the story of her hearing loss, making friends, and becoming “El Deafo, Listener for All” along the way. Memorable, fun, and entertaining, this a great graphic novel for adults and children alike. Critical Analysis With any graphic novel, the first details you notice are in the artwork. Bell does a fabulous job of creating characters that are appealing, funny, and engaging for readers, richly colored by David Lasky. The art is appropriate for the target audience of children 8-12 years old, and conveys the book’s message clearly through text and graphics. The text and art work together to tell the story and are not overwhelming. They complement each other and are of an adequate size and font to be easily read. The page layout is effective, the art is extraordinary, and it all works together to create an amazing autobiographical story. The characters in the story are all adorably cute rabbits. Cece is especially endearing, with her love of wearing her swimsuit and her initial dislike of the un-cute hearing aid. Cece’s parents, sisters, friends, neighborhood kids, and teachers all add to the story. Cece adds in her note at the end of the novel that some of the characters are accurate, while others are a combination of people that she knew. This adds to the relevancy of the story and creates a further connection to the characters. The story takes place in the 1970’s, which is depicted throughout the story in the setting, and especially in what Cece, her family, and her friends watch on television. The music is also accurate to the time. From the neighborhood, to the school, and even to the ASL classes her mother forces her to take, the setting in illustration complements the text. The major theme of El Deafo is that “Our differences are our superpowers.” When Cece sees a deaf child in an after-school movie called “Deafo” in a derogatory manner, she finds it humorous and decides to embrace it as her alter ego, “El Deafo;” a superhero. She begins to imagine herself in different situations as “El Deafo,” fighting for what she wants, planning retaliation, and searching for a true friend. This is a theme that anyone can identify with in some way. Even though the reader may not be deaf, we all have differences, and embracing those are what makes us truly special. Bell’s writing style is fresh, youthful, and inspiring. It really feels like Cece is telling the story and it is done in a way that even elementary aged students could read and understand. It is refreshing to see an author take on a topic that can be sensitive, use their personal experience, and create a story that is engaging, relevant, and has a great lesson for readers of all ages. One especially nice feature is Bell’s note at the end describing why she wrote the book and sharing facts about the deaf community. This graphic novel is in an incredibly touching memoir that could be used in a variety of ways. Readers of all ages will enjoy this colorful, vibrant story of Cece Bell’s childhood. Response I had a deep personal connection to this story. One of my closest friends is deaf and lives just down the street. As I read this graphic novel, I showed it to her and we discussed. She also had a Phonic Ear growing up, learned to read lips, and struggled to find friends who understood her. I am not usually a graphic novel reader. In fact, I can’t remember the last graphic novel I read! This book, however, has changed my perception of graphic novels with its biographical content, rich illustrations and coloration, and heartfelt story. I love that it teaches an important lesson from a child’s perspective and encourages the reader to look at disabilities in a new light, as a superpower. Honors 2015 Newbery Honor 2015 Eisner Award 2014 Kirkus Prize Finalist Reviews “Cece loses her hearing from spinal meningitis, and takes readers through the arduous journey of learning to lip read and decipher the noise of her hearing aid, with the goal of finding a true friend. This warmly and humorously illustrated full-color graphic novel set in the suburban '70s has all the gripping characters and inflated melodrama of late childhood: a crush on a neighborhood boy, the bossy friend, the too-sensitive-to-her-Deafness friend, and the perfect friend, scared away. The characters are all rabbits. The antics of her hearing aid connected to a FM unit (an amplifier the teacher wears) are spectacularly funny. When Cece's teacher leaves the FM unit on, Cece hears everything: bathroom visits, even teacher lounge improprieties It is her superpower. She deems herself El Deafo! inspired in part by a bullied Deaf child featured in an Afterschool Special. Cece fearlessly fantasizes retaliations. Nevertheless, she rejects ASL because it makes visible what she is trying to hide. She ventures, "Who cares what everyone thinks!" But she does care. She loathes the designation "special," and wants to pass for hearing. Bell tells it all: the joy of removing her hearing aid in summer, the troubles watching the TV when the actor turns his back, and the agony of slumber party chats in the dark. Included is an honest and revealing afterword, which addresses the author's early decision not to learn ASL, her more mature appreciation for the language, and her adage that, "Our differences are our superpowers." – School Library Journal “When Cece is 4 years old, she becomes “severely to profoundly” deaf after contracting meningitis. Though she is fitted with a hearing aid and learns to read lips, it’s a challenging adjustment for her. After her family moves to a new town, Cece begins first grade at a school that doesn’t have separate classes for the deaf. Her nifty new hearing aid, the Phonic Ear, allows her to hear her teacher clearly, even when her teacher is in another part of the school. Cece’s new ability makes her feel like a superhero—just call her “El Deafo”—but the Phonic Ear is still hard to hide and uncomfortable to wear. Cece thinks, “Superheroes might be awesome, but they are also different. And being different feels a lot like being alone.” Bell (Rabbit & Robot: The Sleepover, 2012) shares her childhood experiences of being hearing impaired with warmth and sensitivity, exploiting the graphic format to amplify such details as misheard speech. Her whimsical color illustrations (all the human characters have rabbit ears and faces), clear explanations and Cece’s often funny adventures help make the memoir accessible and entertaining. Readers will empathize with Cece as she tries to find friends who aren’t bossy or inconsiderate, and they’ll rejoice with her when she finally does. An author's note fleshes out Bell's story, including a discussion of the many facets of deafness and Deaf culture.” – Kirkus, starred review “A bout of childhood meningitis left Bell (Rabbit & Robot: The Sleepover) deaf at age four, and she was prescribed a Phonic Ear, with a receiver draped across her chest and a remote microphone her teachers wore. Her graphic memoir records both the indignities of being a deaf child in a hearing community (“IS. THAT. AAAY. HEAR-ING. AAAID?”) and its joys, as when she discovers that the microphone picks up every word her teacher says anywhere in the school. Bell’s earnest rabbit/human characters, her ability to capture her own sonic universe (“eh sounz lah yur unnah wawah!”), and her invention of an alter ego—the cape-wearing El Deafo, who gets her through stressful encounters (“How can El Deafo free herself from the shackles of this weekly humiliation?” she asks as her mother drags her to another excruciating sign language class)—all combine to make this a standout autobiography. Cece’s predilection for bursting into tears at the wrong time belies a gift for resilience that makes her someone readers will enjoy getting to know.” – Publishers Weekly, starred review Connections
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Bibliography Kerley, Barbara. 2014. A Home for Mr. Emerson. Ill. by Edwin Fotheringham. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 9780545350884 Plot Summary The great writer, Ralph Waldo Emerson, longed for a simple life in the country surrounded by the things he loved. In this picture book biography, the story of Ralph’s life in Concord is beautifully told and illustrated, along with an event that almost took his home away forever. Readers of all ages will enjoy learning more about the life of this inspiring and historically important American writer. Critical Analysis This award winning book about Ralph Waldo Emerson highlights his desire for a home and community that supported freedom of thinking, creativity, and friendship. Written by Barbara Kerley, this title focuses on the home that Emerson loved and the people that filled it. Kerley is known for her nonfiction/informational picture books and has won numerous awards for them. She uses careful research to develop her story and cites her sources at the end of the book. Kerley also includes an author’s note where she discusses Emerson’s life and the history around it in a succinct and easy to understand way. This biographical story is organized in picture book format. It feels more as if you are reading a story than a biography, which is engaging for younger readers. The story follows a clear sequence starting when Emerson was a young boy, to finding his home again after a devastating fire. The timeline is logical, easy to follow, and tells the story concisely in an entertaining way. The illustrations, done in digital media by Edwin Fotheringham, are fun, entertaining, and complex. Each illustration has emotion, color, and even some fantastical elements that play perfectly with Emerson’s personality and life. The illustrations really bring the story to life and make it that much more fun to read! Another feature of the book that was interesting was the use of quotes from Emerson inside the front and back cover. The quotes provide another way for readers to connect with Emerson and his life’s story. A Home for Mr. Emerson is entertaining and educational. It focuses on an important aspect of Emerson’s life; his home, family, and community. Readers of all ages will connect with Emerson’s love of the simple things in Kerley’s well-written and entertaining biography. Response I really enjoyed this nonfiction/biographical story! I have to admit that Ralph Waldo Emerson is not a writer I knew much about. After reading this book, I felt motivated to learn more about his life and his writing. Readers will easily connect to Emerson’s love of family and home, which come alive through Fotheringham’s entertaining illustrations. The illustrations were one of my favorite parts of story; each time I read it, I noticed a new detail in the pictures. This story was an enjoyable read that I will enthusiastically share with young readers. Honors A Junior Library Guild Selection 2014 Parents’ Choice Gold Award NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor Book 2014 Oregon Spirit Book Award for Nonfiction Best New England Books 2014, The Boston Globe Gold Award Winner, National Parenting Publications Awards “Trailblazers” Seasonal Showcase, The Children’s Book Council 2015 International Literacy Association Teacher’s Choices Reading List 2015 “Must-Reads” Picture Books, Massachusetts Center for the Book Reviews “This introduction to the life of Ralph Waldo Emerson will help readers begin to understand the thoughts and values of this great American thinker. Emerson grows up in Boston, but yearns to make a life closer to nature where he can surround himself with books and friends. He finds a perfect home in Concord, Massachusetts, where he and his wife raise a family. Emerson eagerly becomes a part of the community, even playing the role of hog reeve, gathering up the town's runaway pigs. After collecting his thoughts in journals, Emerson begins traveling across the country to lecture, attracting visitors from around the world to his doorstep. A house fire later in his life devastates Emerson, but allows the town to demonstrate their affection for him as they rebuild his home. Emerson, who is likely little known to younger students, is brought to life in an approachable biography. The colorful depictions of Emerson are warm, cheerful, and full of movement. Children will love the cartoonlike illustrations that make Emerson seem like a superhero as he dives into oversized books and flies through the sky on another giant tome. Quotes from his writings are liberally used to illuminate moments of his life, allowing readers to get to know the man through his own words. The author's note provides further information about Emerson and his philosophy of thought. An eye-catching, kid-friendly biography that is a wonderful addition to any collection.” – School Library Journal “Kerley and Fotheringham are known for their upbeat picture books about famous historical figures. This work about Ralph Waldo Emerson—someone who is probably not known to many children—is a tale of deep love for his home and community in Concord, Massachusetts. After a fire destroys Emerson’s house, neighbors rally around him, returning some of the generosity and affection received from his family over the years. This has the same format and style of Kerley and Fotheringham’s earlier works, with colorful illustrations featuring cartoon-style figures in a pleasing, open layout. The brief text focuses on the story of Emerson’s community life and doesn’t bother much with why he was famous, which works well for the storytelling even as it may leave some readers wondering just who he was. Some of his famous quotes are placed in the endpapers and woven into the story. Back matter includes a helpful author’s note and a page of suggestions to encourage readers to examine their own lives and values.” -- Booklist Connections
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AuthorMy name is Mrs. Scott and I'm a secondary Media Resource Specialist (librarian) in Texas. This blog was created as part of my graduate coursework at Texas Woman's University. All reviews and opinions are my own.
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