Honestly Elliott by Gillian McDunn - ESSENTIAL

 Honestly Elliott by Gillian McDunn, 255 pages. Bloomsbury, 2022. $17

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Middle schooler Elliott is struggling – with his ADHD, with missing his best friend and with his parents’ divorce. Every other week end he stays with his dad and his new wife, Katie, who is pregnant. Elliott is upset at his mom and dad, especially his dad for leaving them and for getting married again and for having a new baby that will probably replace him. He loves being in his mom's cozy kitchen where he can cook and create foods with fun and exciting flavors. He loves to cook and wants to be the best chef ever. At school his friends do not want him on their team when it comes time to do a special group project. Elliott and Maribel, a super smart, and super organized girl are put on a team together. Elliott wants people to see him how he is. Maribel is also wanting to show people her true self. Can these two student work things out and cooperate on a project?

I loved this book and highly recommend it. The characters are believable and very well written. I felt for Elliott, I was rooting for Elliott and cheering him on. The same with Maribel. What these two come up with is ingenious. Elliott and Maribel both realize that sometimes you have to make mistakes in order to figure out how to do something right. I loved this book and read it in one sitting. The characters are default white.

Ellen-Anita, Librarian