Our reviews and ratings are 100% unbiased. Screenwise is a Bookshop.org affiliate and an Amazon Associate, so if you buy a book through one of our links, we may earn a commission. Bookshop.org purchases also support independent bookstores.
Screenwise Verdict
This is the rare book that checks every box: it's genuinely funny, emotionally honest, beautifully illustrated, and teaches empathy without being preachy. Cece Bell took her own childhood experience with hearing loss and turned it into something that resonates with any kid who's ever felt different or struggled to find their people.
The superhero framing is brilliant—it gives kids a way to see assistive devices as cool rather than embarrassing, while also acknowledging that no amount of reframing makes loneliness disappear. The graphic novel format makes it accessible, but the emotional complexity is real. This isn't a 'special book for special situations'—it's just a great story that happens to star a deaf kid.
The Newbery Honor and widespread critical acclaim are well-deserved. This belongs on every elementary school shelf and in any home looking for books that expand kids' understanding of the world while keeping them genuinely entertained.
Age Fit
Perfect for ages 7-12, especially kids navigating the social minefield of elementary school. The graphic novel format works for reluctant readers, while the emotional depth keeps older middle-graders engaged. Also valuable for any classroom or family wanting to build understanding about disability.
WISE Breakdown
Wholesome
92
Cece Bell's autobiographical graphic novel handles the emotional challenges of being different with warmth and honesty. The story models resilience, vulnerability, and the universal struggle to find genuine friendship. The tone is age-appropriate throughout, balancing humor with real feelings of loneliness and self-consciousness. Parent reviews consistently praise how it normalizes hearing loss without being preachy or didactic.
Imaginative
88
The superhero framing device—where Cece reimagines her hearing aid as a source of superpowers—is genuinely clever and original. The graphic novel format with anthropomorphized rabbit characters creates visual distance that makes heavy topics more accessible. The 'superpower' of hearing her teacher everywhere (including the bathroom) is both funny and inventive, turning a medical device into something magical without being saccharine about it.
Safe
95
This is an exceptionally safe read for kids. The content deals with real emotional challenges—feeling different, struggling to make friends, moments of social awkwardness—but nothing traumatic or triggering. No violence, no scary content, no inappropriate material. The most 'intense' moments are social embarrassment and loneliness, which are handled with sensitivity. Parent reviews confirm zero concerns about content appropriateness.
Enriching
94
This book is a masterclass in building empathy. Hearing kids get an authentic window into what it's like to navigate school with hearing loss, while deaf/hard-of-hearing kids finally see themselves as the hero. The Newbery Honor recognition signals its literary merit. It teaches about disability, friendship, and self-acceptance without feeling like a lesson. The graphic novel format makes it accessible to reluctant readers while still delivering meaningful emotional depth.
Parent Info
✓
Why It Might Be Great
Finally, a superhero origin story where the 'superpower' is a hearing aid—clever, funny, and genuinely original
Cece's struggle to find real friends (not just people who treat her like she's fragile) is painfully relatable for any kid who's felt different
The graphic novel format with bunny characters makes heavy emotions accessible without dumbing them down
Newbery Honor winner that's actually entertaining, not just 'good for you' reading
Gives deaf/hard-of-hearing kids a hero who looks like them, and helps hearing kids understand what it's like on the other side
⚠
What to Watch For
Some moments of social exclusion and loneliness that might hit hard for sensitive kids who've experienced similar rejection
The story spans several years, so younger readers might need help tracking the timeline
It's honest about how frustrating and isolating hearing loss can be—not a sanitized 'everything's fine!' version
Conversation Starters
"Have you ever felt like you had a secret superpower that nobody else understood?"
"Cece could hear her teacher everywhere with her Phonic Ear. Would you want that power? What would be the best and worst parts?"
"Why do you think Cece felt lonelier when she was trying to be 'El Deafo' instead of just being herself?"
"Have you ever had a friend who treated you differently because of something about you? How did that feel?"
