In this 2015 Newbery Honor book, author/illustrator Cece Bell chronicles her hearing loss at a young age and her experiences with the Phonic Ear, a very powerful but awkward* hearing aid.

Going to school and making new friends can be tough. But going to school and making new friends while wearing a bulky* hearing aid strapped to your chest? That requires superpowers!

There’s a lot of information given to the reader but the book in no way has a preachy* feel to it. Instead the reader gets a very heartfelt look at how Bell dealt with being the only deaf child on her street and in her school. She shows the reader her transformation* from viewing her deafness and being different as a disability to seeing her differences in a much more positive light.

The Phonic Ear gives her the ability to hear — sometimes things she shouldn’t — but also isolates her from her classmates. After some trouble, she is finally able to harness* the power of the Phonic Ear and become “El Deafo, Listener for All.” And more importantly, she can declare a place for herself in the world and find a friend she’s longed for.

Along her journey Bell meets a whole range of characters — from supportive and unsupportive teachers and loving parents, to extremely pushy friends and friends who overcompensate* for her deafness. It’s a whole cast of colorful characters that young readers can relate to. The author also touches on many universal issues that kids face — being the new kid at school, learning to fit in, dealing with bullies and first crushes*.

(SD-Agencies)