開始新的學校生活總是令人恐懼，尤其是胸前還綁著一個巨大的助聽器！在西西以前的學校，班上的每個人都是聾啞人士。在這裡，她與眾不同。她確信孩子們都盯著「語音耳」──這個強大的助聽器，能幫她聽到老師的聲音。可惜的是，它似乎也注定會讓她疏遠潛在的朋友。
然後，西西有了驚人的發現。有了“語音耳”，她不僅能在教室裡聽到老師的聲音，還能在學校裡任何老師所在的地方聽到老師的聲音——在走廊裡……在教師休息室……在洗手間！這就是力量，甚至可能是超能力！西西正在成為「傾聽者」（El Deafo，全民傾聽者）的路上。
但成為超級英雄的妙處在於，這只是另一種感受與眾不同……和孤獨的方式。西西能否運用她的力量，找到她最渴望的東西：一個真正的朋友？
《El Deafo》是一本寓教於樂的兒童讀物，它不僅能讓聽障兒童成為他們心中的英雄，也能激勵其他人去思考與自身不同的經驗。就像其他優秀的兒童讀物一樣，它為小讀者提供了一個機會，讓他們思考自己在類似情況下會如何行動或反應，並透過故事的力量培養同理心和理解力。
Starting at a new school is scary, especially with a giant hearing aid strapped to your chest! At her old school, everyone in Cece’s class was deaf. Here, she’s different. She’s sure the kids are staring at the Phonic Ear, the powerful aid that will help her hear her teacher. Too bad it also seems certain to repel potential friends.
Then Cece makes a startling discovery. With the Phonic Ear, she can hear her teacher not just in the classroom, but anywhere her teacher is in the school—in the hallway . . . in the teacher’s lounge . . . in the bathroom! This is power. Maybe even superpower! Cece is on her way to becoming El Deafo, Listener for All.
But the funny thing about being a superhero is that it’s just another way of feeling different . . . and lonely. Can Cece channel her powers into finding the thing she wants most: a true friend?
El Deafo is a book that will entertain children, give hearing-impaired children a hero of their own, and challenge others to consider an experience unlike their own. Like other great works for children, it provides the opportunity for young readers to consider how they would act or react in a similar situation, helping to build empathy and understanding through the power of story.
