Ellie Engle Saves Herself!

Twelve-year-old Ellie Engle stands at a turning point in her life - she longs for change but fears risk. When she receives a mysterious magical journal on her birthday, it sets her on a path of self-discovery. At her middle school, Ellie navigates friendship challenges, her growing interest in astronomy, and her complex relationship with her parents. The journal's magic introduces new possibilities into her life, though not always in ways she expects. The novel follows Ellie as she learns to speak up for herself and discovers her own inner strength. Her journey intersects with questions about identity, family bonds, and what it means to be true to oneself. This middle-grade story explores themes of empowerment, authenticity, and the courage to embrace personal growth. Through Ellie's experiences, readers encounter a realistic portrayal of adolescent challenges blended with elements of magical realism.

Initial reader reviews of this 2024 middle grade novel highlight its portrayal of anxiety, friendship dynamics, and self-acceptance. Readers praise: - Authentic depiction of anxiety and panic attacks in a 12-year-old - Balanced mix of heavy topics with humor and fun - Strong supporting cast of quirky, well-developed characters - Realistic parent-child relationships Common criticisms: - Some find the pacing slow in the first third - Musical theater references may not connect with all readers - A few readers note the anxiety themes could be intense for sensitive children Early Ratings: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (112 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (21 ratings) Reader Quotes: "Finally, a book that shows what anxiety really feels like for kids" - Goodreads reviewer "Manages to be both deeply emotional and laugh-out-loud funny" - Amazon review "The theater camp setting felt authentic to anyone who's done youth theater" - Storygraph review

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🌟 This is author Leah Johnson's first middle-grade novel, though she previously wrote award-winning young adult books like "You Should See Me in a Crown" 🎭 The story features a theater-loving protagonist who must overcome stage fright, mirroring many real children's experiences with performance anxiety 🌈 Leah Johnson draws from her own experiences growing up as a queer Black girl in the Midwest to create authentic, relatable characters 🎪 The book explores themes of self-discovery and finding one's voice through both literal performance and metaphorical self-expression 📚 The novel's protagonist, Ellie, uses her love of classic literature (especially "Anne of Green Gables") as a way to process her emotions and understand her place in the world