Ellen Outside the Lines
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Ellen Outside the Lines
Grades 7 & up
Realistic Fiction
Ana on the Edge |
Book Summary:
El(len) and (Laur)el have been best friends forever - the two Els. As their school Spanish trip to Barcelona begins, Ellen is already struggling with a lot of changes, and it's even more uncomfortable for her since Laurel is spending more and more time with other friends. A surprise scavenger hunt separates them further, as Ellen joins a different team. She starts to get to know her new teammates as they explore a new city together. Maybe this is something she can handle. Book Review: This is a book that does a great job showing people without autism what authentic autism can look and feel like. Ellen is a sympathetic character, and her conflict with Laurel is stronger because Laurel isn't portrayed as a shallow monster - just a friend who's also working on growing up. A particular plot point was hard to believe - Ellen is so agitated at the beginning of the book about not being able to check in simultaneously with Laurel that it feels like a trip to a new country with a new language is not something she could realistically handle. And her father goes along as a chaperone, and is highly supportive and understanding, but then he also leaves her with a new team and doesn't seem to check in with her very often, even though she's dealing with a lot (crowds stress her out, and she's in a tourist hot-spot). It also seems like Isa's character is too perfect and not as complex as the others, who present with realistic flaws. I loved seeing students take a trip to Barcelona and appreciate the beauty and culture there - while the book is realistic fiction, it's nice to have a side serving of information-without-lecture. LGBTQ representation and identity will be welcome for many readers, although it is not central to the plot to the same extent as the author's first book. "Have you ever piled more things in your arms than you can easily hold?
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