January Grades 5-6 Book Club: El Deafo by Cece Bell

For the January Grades 5-6 Book Club, we read the book El Deafo by Cece Bell. Courtney, Izzie, Izzie, Rileigh, Kelsey, Laurel, Harry, Cecilia, Olivia, Evan, Julia and Nina were present. Here's what we discussed.

When did Cece lose her hearing? After losing her hearing, why does she talk differently?  

-When she was four.
-She was sick.
-She lost her hearing because she had meningitis.
-Because if she can't hear as well as she used to, she wouldn't be able to react to things the way she used to. She wouldn't be able to hear her own voice and know what she sounded like.



What are the pros and cons of the Phonic Ear? Overall, was the Phonic Ear something positive or negative for Cece? 

-My grandma taught a class of kids who had a Phonic Ear.

-I think it was a positive thing for her after a while. At first, I felt bad for her. But then she embraced it as a superpower.
-In the beginning, she felt weird that she had wires coming from her ears.
-People spoke slowly to her at times which really annoyed her.
 

Have you ever felt as if you were in a bubble of loneliness like Cece? When
was it? What did you do to help pop your bubble? Would you rather have a friend like
Laura or be in a loneliness bubble? 

-When I was in 3rd and 4th grade, I was bullied and I felt alone. People ganged up on me. I would like a friend like Laura because she liked everyone and she would have liked me.
-In my old school, I was kind of bullied. People made up something about an allergy that I didn't even have. And that spread and people made fun of me.
-There are 2 girl groups and 1 boy group in 5th grade. The groups don't talk to each other but they're not mean to each other. Everyone is friends.
-In Kindergarten, I had no friends. I tried to do something. And then I became friends with ____. 
-Nope.
-I felt that I was in a bubble of loneliness during the first day of kindergarten. But then I met new people. Then I started playing with _____.
-Sometimes on Fridays, when my cousins come over, they play with my brother and not with me. But then I play with my baby cousin instead and my loneliness bubble is burst.
-_____ has bullied me since I first met him. The only way to get him to stop was to get him to change his classes. He abused me during every single class.
-In 3rd grade, I had no friends when I moved here.

What are some misconceptions about deafness that other people have throughout El Deafo? 

-You can't hear; you're disabled.
-Speaking slowly and doing sign language.
-Talking slowly. And introducing someone by their disability.
-That just because she's deaf, she can't hear (even with the Phonic Ear). She's really no different from anyone else.


How does Cece’s view of the Phonic Ear change throughout the book? 

-At first, she thought that she had to hide her device. But then she decided to embrace it and decided not to hide it.



In her author’s note, Cece Bell writes that being different turned out to be a strength. She says, “Our differences are our superpowers.” Could you give examples of how a difference could become a superpower?

-I have braces. When I grow up, I'll have straight teeth. People won't think I'm weird anymore.
-I pulled on my earlobes so much that they became long. Then I thought that I had super hearing because of my longer ears.
-Because I'm short, I'm good at the limbo.
-In 3rd grade, I felt like I had short arms. With my short arms, I could do the flexed arm hang better.
-I'm tall, so I'm not good at crouching down low. But I can use my height to intimidate people.
-I'm short so in games, I can hide better.
-I'm tall so I can reach stuff.
-I'm taller, so I can keep stuff away from my sister.
-Nuttiness. It can be a superpower because I can confuse anyone.
-If someone has glasses, they can pretend that they have X-Ray vision.
-My superpower would be my ADHD. It makes my brain work faster.


Please rank this book from 1-5, with 5 being the best.

-(0) 1
-(1) 2
-(1) 3
-(5) 4
-(5) 5



Here's a short interview with the author, Cece Bell, explaining the story behind the story and some great words of advice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cnj5STG0SZo

For Book Club in February, we will be reading Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

"Jess Aarons has been practicing all summer so he can be the fastest runner in the fifth grade. And he almost is, until the new girl in school, Leslie Burke, outpaces him. The two become fast friends and spend most days in the woods behind Leslie's house, where they invent an enchanted land called Terabithia. One morning, Leslie goes to Terabithia without Jess and a tragedy occurs. It will take the love of his family and the strength that Leslie has given him for Jess to be able to deal with his grief."

Book Club will be meeting on Wednesday, February 11. Books will be available behind the Circulation Desk within the next few days. As always, snacks and good conversation will be provided at Book Club!