Required Reading

Cece Bell writes a graphic memoir about how she became deaf at 4 years old when she contracted meningitis. Cece has to learn many things once her meningitis is cured. Once she starts school, she is able to attend a school with other deaf students where she feels normal and part of the group. Her family has to move and she now has to attend a mainstream school. Being the “new kid” is already hard enough, having a huge hearing aid around your neck isn’t going to make the process any better. The hardest part for her was feeling accepted and treated like a normal girl even though she is deaf and has to wear a hearing aid. Cece creates an alter ego who she names “El Deafo,” to help her cope with some of her issues with others.