Ellie Engle doesn’t stand out. Not at home, where she’s alone with her pet fish since her dad moved away and her mom has to work around the clock . Not at the bakery, where she helps out old Mr. Walker on the weekends. And definitely not at school, where her best friend Abby—the coolest, boldest, most talented girl in the world—drags Ellie along on her never-ending quest to “make her mark.” To someone else, a life in the shadows might seem boring, or lonely. But not to Ellie. As long as she has Abby by her side and a comic book in her hand, she’s quite content.

Too bad life didn’t bother checking in with Ellie. Because when a freak earthquake hits her small town, Ellie wakes up with fantastical powers that allow her to bring anything back to life with just her touch. And when a video of her using her powers suddenly goes viral, Ellie’s life goes somewhere she never imagined—or wanted: straight into the spotlight. 

Surviving middle school is hard enough. Surviving middle school when paparazzi are camped out on your front lawn and an international pop singer wants you to use your powers on live tv and you might be in love with your best friend but she doesn’t know it? Absolutely impossible.

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Ellie’s first person narration takes us through 30 chapters. It’s an eye opening account of being yourself and not always trusting what you see on the surface in others. Ellie is like many middle school kids who prefer to stay in the background and not bring any attention to themselves.

Ellie loves to read comics and hides the fact she has a crush on her best friend. She can’t understand other girls’ infatuation with the cute guys. It’s best to stay quiet and not reveal her true self.

A hands-on frog dissection lesson in a 7th grade science class changes everything. Yes, that dead frog comes back to life when Ellie accidentally uses her newly discovered powers. So much for staying in the shadows.

Friendship, family, and believing in yourself instead of what others think is the core of this fun and engaging tale. I could easily see a sequel as to how Ellie uses her powers in the future. There is in fact a sequel, but it will feature her new friend in BREONNA BOYD IS A LEGEND! Hopefully we will see more of Ellie in this next book.

FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: ELLIE ENGLE SAVES HERSELF by Leah Johnson

1. Social media influence is something most middle grade kids will admit to, especially as they spend a good chunk of time looking at Tik Tok videos. It was a fun sidelight to see how being in the middle of a pop star’s request can change your perception of their world.
2. Bree and Sammy were true heroes of the story as they see Ellie not as a freak of nature, but as a new friend.
3. Mom is trying to do the best for her daughter, so it was great to see the struggles she has in an upended family. It’s not often revealed in MG lit how the parent is coping.
4. Mr. Walker, Ellie’s grandfather’s best friend, was a surprising support. His baking skills go so much further than making delicious treats. He’s also a true friend To Ellie and they connect in a “didn’t see that coming” plot twist.
5. A strong character is one where you see some of yourself in their personality. Ellie will for sure provide this to many in the intended audience.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Leah Johnson is an eternal midwesterner and author of award-winning books for children and young adults. Her bestselling debut YA novel, You Should See Me in a Crown, was a Stonewall Honor Book, and the inaugural Reese’s Book Club YA pick. In 2021, TIME named You Should See Me in a Crown one of the 100 Best Young Adult Books of All Time. Leah’s essays and cultural criticism can be found in Teen Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Cosmopolitan among others. Her debut middle grade, Ellie Engle Saves Herself is available now.

(For more about Leah Johnson be sure to visit her author website)

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