El Deafo's title and cover put me off at first. Even though I read a fair amount of stand along graphic novels, the image of this one put me off like Martha and eye patches. Once I saw it one book of the year lists, I decided to give it a try. Yah, I was dumb. This book is fabulous! Author and illustrator Cece Bell crafts a charming memoir of her elementary years during which her studies, friendships, and self confidence were greatly affected by sudden, profound hearing loss. Oh, and everyone looks like a rabbit. I'm always amazed when authors can resurrect those childhood emotions in such vivid detail that I can feel their pain and joy from that time period though I never experienced those events myself. This book would be an excellent edition to an elementary classroom library.