Vibrant. Colourful. Passionate. Those are the three words I would use to describe El Deafo. Because while my advance reading copy is in black and white, the comic strips every shade of grey and tone; I am not talking about the drawings. Yes, in colour there is a whole new area of impact to lend itself to vivifying your reading experience. But even with empty speech bubbles Cece's desire to fit in and cope with her journey alongside others is apparent, even with her hearing aid turned off, her story is loud, clear and as honest as it can be.

Even stuck in her own circle of solitude, Cece's yearning to be free of her problems, emanates outwards, and around, and towards us. And I admire her for it. And I cherish her little cartoon image of rabbit ears and triangle nose; for it has moulded itself into the space around me: my companion El Deafo is now always on hand to support me. Surely if a tiny child can brave deafness, loneliness, helplessness, then I can challenge my difficulties with superhuman strength?

El Deafo is your little pocket of bravery and struggle for happiness and normalcy disguised in rich cartoons and heartwarming conclusions. Smile [Raina Telgemeier] used to be my one favourite visual novel to re-read over and over.
Now I have two!

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