# El Deafo **Author:** Cece Bell **Lexile:** 420L **Grade range:** Grades 4–6 **Age range:** 8–12 **First published:** 2014 **Page count:** 248 **Genre:** Middle Grade Graphic Novel **ISBN-13:** `9781419710209` **ISBN-10:** `1419710206` **Canonical URL:** https://readinglist.school/book/el-deafo **License:** [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) — please credit ReadingList.school when citing. ## About this book After an illness leaves her deaf, Cece navigates school with a bulky hearing aid — and reimagines it as the superpower of her alter ego, El Deafo. Cece Bell's Newbery Honor graphic memoir about disability, friendship, and finding your people is a grades 4-6 staple. ## Themes - disability - friendship - self-acceptance - growing up ## Where this book is assigned ### Dorothy Canfield Fisher / Vermont Golden Dome Book Award - **recommended** · 4th grade · Vermont — [source: Dorothy Canfield Fisher / Vermont Golden Dome Children's Book Award — official winners list (Vermont grades 4-8, annual since 1957)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermont_Golden_Dome_Book_Award) - **recommended** · 5th grade · Vermont — [source: Dorothy Canfield Fisher / Vermont Golden Dome Children's Book Award — official winners list (Vermont grades 4-8, annual since 1957)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermont_Golden_Dome_Book_Award) - **recommended** · 6th grade · Vermont — [source: Dorothy Canfield Fisher / Vermont Golden Dome Children's Book Award — official winners list (Vermont grades 4-8, annual since 1957)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermont_Golden_Dome_Book_Award) ### Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) - **recommended** · 4th grade · Michigan — [source: Michigan Reading Association — Great Lakes Great Books Award (student-choice, grade-band shortlists; annual, since 1989). Winner/honor/nominee rolls Grades 4-5, 6-8, 9-12.](https://michiganreading.org/Great-Lakes-Great-Books) - **recommended** · 5th grade · Michigan — [source: Michigan Reading Association — Great Lakes Great Books Award (student-choice, grade-band shortlists; annual, since 1989). Winner/honor/nominee rolls Grades 4-5, 6-8, 9-12.](https://michiganreading.org/Great-Lakes-Great-Books) - **recommended** · 6th grade · Michigan — [source: Michigan Reading Association — Great Lakes Great Books Award (student-choice, grade-band shortlists; annual, since 1989). Winner/honor/nominee rolls Grades 4-5, 6-8, 9-12.](https://michiganreading.org/Great-Lakes-Great-Books) ### Great Stone Face Book Award - **recommended** · 4th grade · New Hampshire — [source: Children's Librarians of New Hampshire / NH Library Association — Great Stone Face Book Award (student-choice, grades 4-6; 20 nominees/year, annual since 1980). Winner + nominee rolls via the LibraryThing award/757 mirror of the official sponsor records.](https://www.librarything.com/award/757/Great-Stone-Face-Book-Award) - **recommended** · 5th grade · New Hampshire — [source: Children's Librarians of New Hampshire / NH Library Association — Great Stone Face Book Award (student-choice, grades 4-6; 20 nominees/year, annual since 1980). Winner + nominee rolls via the LibraryThing award/757 mirror of the official sponsor records.](https://www.librarything.com/award/757/Great-Stone-Face-Book-Award) - **recommended** · 6th grade · New Hampshire — [source: Children's Librarians of New Hampshire / NH Library Association — Great Stone Face Book Award (student-choice, grades 4-6; 20 nominees/year, annual since 1980). Winner + nominee rolls via the LibraryThing award/757 mirror of the official sponsor records.](https://www.librarything.com/award/757/Great-Stone-Face-Book-Award) ### Maine Student Book Award - **recommended** · 4th grade · Maine — [source: Maine Student Book Award — Maine's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 4-8): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.](https://www.librarything.com/award/183.1/Maine-Student-Book-Award-Winner) - **recommended** · 5th grade · Maine — [source: Maine Student Book Award — Maine's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 4-8): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.](https://www.librarything.com/award/183.1/Maine-Student-Book-Award-Winner) - **recommended** · 6th grade · Maine — [source: Maine Student Book Award — Maine's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 4-8): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.](https://www.librarything.com/award/183.1/Maine-Student-Book-Award-Winner) ### Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award - **recommended** · 4th grade · Maryland — [source: Maryland Association of School Librarians — Black-Eyed Susan Book Award (student-choice; grades 3-5, 4-6, 6-8, 6-9; annual since 1992)](https://www.maslmd.org/black-eyed-susan-book-award) - **recommended** · 5th grade · Maryland — [source: Maryland Association of School Librarians — Black-Eyed Susan Book Award (student-choice; grades 3-5, 4-6, 6-8, 6-9; annual since 1992)](https://www.maslmd.org/black-eyed-susan-book-award) - **recommended** · 6th grade · Maryland — [source: Maryland Association of School Librarians — Black-Eyed Susan Book Award (student-choice; grades 3-5, 4-6, 6-8, 6-9; annual since 1992)](https://www.maslmd.org/black-eyed-susan-book-award) ### Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award - **recommended** · 3rd grade · Minnesota — [source: Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award winners (Minnesota Youth Reading Awards / MYRA), via Goodreads award record — 2017](https://www.goodreads.com/award/show/39542-maud-hart-lovelace-award) - **recommended** · 4th grade · Minnesota — [source: Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award winners (Minnesota Youth Reading Awards / MYRA), via Goodreads award record — 2017](https://www.goodreads.com/award/show/39542-maud-hart-lovelace-award) - **recommended** · 5th grade · Minnesota — [source: Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award winners (Minnesota Youth Reading Awards / MYRA), via Goodreads award record — 2017](https://www.goodreads.com/award/show/39542-maud-hart-lovelace-award) - **recommended** · 6th grade · Minnesota — [source: Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award winners (Minnesota Youth Reading Awards / MYRA), via Goodreads award record — 2017](https://www.goodreads.com/award/show/39542-maud-hart-lovelace-award) - **recommended** · 7th grade · Minnesota — [source: Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award winners (Minnesota Youth Reading Awards / MYRA), via Goodreads award record — 2017](https://www.goodreads.com/award/show/39542-maud-hart-lovelace-award) - **recommended** · 8th grade · Minnesota — [source: Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award winners (Minnesota Youth Reading Awards / MYRA), via Goodreads award record — 2017](https://www.goodreads.com/award/show/39542-maud-hart-lovelace-award) ### Nēnē Award (Hawai'i) - **recommended** · 4th grade · Hawaii — [source: Hawai'i Association of School Librarians — Nēnē Award, grades 4-6 fiction (student-choice; program since 1964); winners 1982-2026 (neneaward.org + Goodreads winner roll)](https://www.neneaward.org/winners.html) - **recommended** · 5th grade · Hawaii — [source: Hawai'i Association of School Librarians — Nēnē Award, grades 4-6 fiction (student-choice; program since 1964); winners 1982-2026 (neneaward.org + Goodreads winner roll)](https://www.neneaward.org/winners.html) - **recommended** · 6th grade · Hawaii — [source: Hawai'i Association of School Librarians — Nēnē Award, grades 4-6 fiction (student-choice; program since 1964); winners 1982-2026 (neneaward.org + Goodreads winner roll)](https://www.neneaward.org/winners.html) ### Odyssey Award (Best Audiobook) - **recommended** · 4th grade — [source: Odyssey Award (best audiobook) winners + honors, via Wikipedia — 2024 Winner (Children)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odyssey_Award) - **recommended** · 5th grade — [source: Odyssey Award (best audiobook) winners + honors, via Wikipedia — 2024 Winner (Children)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odyssey_Award) - **recommended** · 6th grade — [source: Odyssey Award (best audiobook) winners + honors, via Wikipedia — 2024 Winner (Children)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odyssey_Award) ### Oregon Reader's Choice Award (ORCA) - **recommended** · 4th grade · Oregon — [source: Oregon Library Association — Oregon Reader's Choice Award (ORCA) winners by division (statewide young readers' choice program; students vote)](https://oregonreaderschoiceaward.wordpress.com/past-winners/) - **recommended** · 5th grade · Oregon — [source: Oregon Library Association — Oregon Reader's Choice Award (ORCA) winners by division (statewide young readers' choice program; students vote)](https://oregonreaderschoiceaward.wordpress.com/past-winners/) - **recommended** · 6th grade · Oregon — [source: Oregon Library Association — Oregon Reader's Choice Award (ORCA) winners by division (statewide young readers' choice program; students vote)](https://oregonreaderschoiceaward.wordpress.com/past-winners/) ### Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award - **recommended** · 4th grade · Alaska — [source: Pacific Northwest Library Association (PNLA) — Young Reader's Choice Award (est. 1940, the oldest children's-choice book award in the US): students in WA, OR, ID, MT & AK read the annual nominees and vote. Winner list 1940-2025.](https://www.pnla.org/yrca) - **recommended** · 4th grade · Idaho — [source: Pacific Northwest Library Association (PNLA) — Young Reader's Choice Award (est. 1940, the oldest children's-choice book award in the US): students in WA, OR, ID, MT & AK read the annual nominees and vote. Winner list 1940-2025.](https://www.pnla.org/yrca) - **recommended** · 4th grade · Montana — [source: Pacific Northwest Library Association (PNLA) — Young Reader's Choice Award (est. 1940, the oldest children's-choice book award in the US): students in WA, OR, ID, MT & AK read the annual nominees and vote. Winner list 1940-2025.](https://www.pnla.org/yrca) - **recommended** · 4th grade · Oregon — [source: Pacific Northwest Library Association (PNLA) — Young Reader's Choice Award (est. 1940, the oldest children's-choice book award in the US): students in WA, OR, ID, MT & AK read the annual nominees and vote. Winner list 1940-2025.](https://www.pnla.org/yrca) - **recommended** · 4th grade · Washington — [source: Pacific Northwest Library Association (PNLA) — Young Reader's Choice Award (est. 1940, the oldest children's-choice book award in the US): students in WA, OR, ID, MT & AK read the annual nominees and vote. Winner list 1940-2025.](https://www.pnla.org/yrca) - **recommended** · 5th grade · Alaska — [source: Pacific Northwest Library Association (PNLA) — Young Reader's Choice Award (est. 1940, the oldest children's-choice book award in the US): students in WA, OR, ID, MT & AK read the annual nominees and vote. Winner list 1940-2025.](https://www.pnla.org/yrca) - **recommended** · 5th grade · Idaho — [source: Pacific Northwest Library Association (PNLA) — Young Reader's Choice Award (est. 1940, the oldest children's-choice book award in the US): students in WA, OR, ID, MT & AK read the annual nominees and vote. Winner list 1940-2025.](https://www.pnla.org/yrca) - **recommended** · 5th grade · Montana — [source: Pacific Northwest Library Association (PNLA) — Young Reader's Choice Award (est. 1940, the oldest children's-choice book award in the US): students in WA, OR, ID, MT & AK read the annual nominees and vote. Winner list 1940-2025.](https://www.pnla.org/yrca) - **recommended** · 5th grade · Oregon — [source: Pacific Northwest Library Association (PNLA) — Young Reader's Choice Award (est. 1940, the oldest children's-choice book award in the US): students in WA, OR, ID, MT & AK read the annual nominees and vote. Winner list 1940-2025.](https://www.pnla.org/yrca) - **recommended** · 5th grade · Washington — [source: Pacific Northwest Library Association (PNLA) — Young Reader's Choice Award (est. 1940, the oldest children's-choice book award in the US): students in WA, OR, ID, MT & AK read the annual nominees and vote. Winner list 1940-2025.](https://www.pnla.org/yrca) - **recommended** · 6th grade · Alaska — [source: Pacific Northwest Library Association (PNLA) — Young Reader's Choice Award (est. 1940, the oldest children's-choice book award in the US): students in WA, OR, ID, MT & AK read the annual nominees and vote. Winner list 1940-2025.](https://www.pnla.org/yrca) - **recommended** · 6th grade · Idaho — [source: Pacific Northwest Library Association (PNLA) — Young Reader's Choice Award (est. 1940, the oldest children's-choice book award in the US): students in WA, OR, ID, MT & AK read the annual nominees and vote. Winner list 1940-2025.](https://www.pnla.org/yrca) - **recommended** · 6th grade · Montana — [source: Pacific Northwest Library Association (PNLA) — Young Reader's Choice Award (est. 1940, the oldest children's-choice book award in the US): students in WA, OR, ID, MT & AK read the annual nominees and vote. Winner list 1940-2025.](https://www.pnla.org/yrca) - **recommended** · 6th grade · Oregon — [source: Pacific Northwest Library Association (PNLA) — Young Reader's Choice Award (est. 1940, the oldest children's-choice book award in the US): students in WA, OR, ID, MT & AK read the annual nominees and vote. Winner list 1940-2025.](https://www.pnla.org/yrca) - **recommended** · 6th grade · Washington — [source: Pacific Northwest Library Association (PNLA) — Young Reader's Choice Award (est. 1940, the oldest children's-choice book award in the US): students in WA, OR, ID, MT & AK read the annual nominees and vote. Winner list 1940-2025.](https://www.pnla.org/yrca) ### Utah Beehive Book Award (Children's Fiction) - **recommended** · 4th grade · Utah — [source: Children's Literature Association of Utah (CLAU) — Beehive Book Award, Children's Fiction division (student-choice; annual since 1980)](https://clau.org/) - **recommended** · 5th grade · Utah — [source: Children's Literature Association of Utah (CLAU) — Beehive Book Award, Children's Fiction division (student-choice; annual since 1980)](https://clau.org/) - **recommended** · 6th grade · Utah — [source: Children's Literature Association of Utah (CLAU) — Beehive Book Award, Children's Fiction division (student-choice; annual since 1980)](https://clau.org/) ### Vermont Golden Dome Book Award - **recommended** · 4th grade · Vermont — [source: Vermont Dept. of Libraries — Golden Dome Book Award (formerly the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award, est. 1957): Vermont's statewide grades 4-8 children's-choice program (students read the nominees and vote). Winner list 1957-2020.](https://libraries.vermont.gov/) - **recommended** · 5th grade · Vermont — [source: Vermont Dept. of Libraries — Golden Dome Book Award (formerly the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award, est. 1957): Vermont's statewide grades 4-8 children's-choice program (students read the nominees and vote). Winner list 1957-2020.](https://libraries.vermont.gov/) - **recommended** · 6th grade · Vermont — [source: Vermont Dept. of Libraries — Golden Dome Book Award (formerly the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award, est. 1957): Vermont's statewide grades 4-8 children's-choice program (students read the nominees and vote). Winner list 1957-2020.](https://libraries.vermont.gov/) --- _Generated from primary-source citations indexed on ReadingList.school. For the full HTML view with reading-list cross-references, see https://readinglist.school/book/el-deafo._