Here Today

Eleven-year-old Eleanor "Ellie" Dingman lives on Witch Tree Lane in 1960s Spectacle, New York, where she and her neighbors face routine social exclusion from their community. Together with her best friend Holly, Ellie navigates school life while dealing with bullying from a group of popular girls known as the Sparrows. Ellie's home life becomes complicated when her mother Doris, inspired by the death of President Kennedy, abandons the family to pursue a show business career in New York City. The responsibility of maintaining the household falls to Ellie, who must step up while her hardworking father struggles to balance his job with single parenthood. The story follows Ellie's journey as she discovers her inner strength and learns to confront the challenges in her life. Her experiences with her mother's absence, family obligations, and social difficulties at school force her to grow and adapt to her changing circumstances. Through Ellie's story, the novel explores themes of family dynamics, personal growth, and the impact of parental choices on children. The 1960s setting provides context for a narrative about finding one's voice during times of both personal and social change.

Readers note the authentic portrayal of grief and family dynamics as 12-year-old Ellie processes her grandmother's dementia. Many reviewers connect personally with the story, especially those who have experienced loved ones with memory loss. Liked: - Natural dialogue and realistic child characters - Balance of serious themes with lighter moments - Clear explanation of dementia for young readers - Strong emotional impact without being overwhelming Disliked: - Some found the pacing slow in the middle sections - Several readers wanted more resolution with secondary characters - A few felt the ending was too abrupt Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (45 ratings) Common reader comment: "This book helped my children understand their grandfather's condition." Notable criticism: "The subplot about Ellie's school friends feels underdeveloped compared to the main story."

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🌟 In the 1960s, Doris Day was one of Hollywood's biggest stars, known for her wholesome image and signature blonde hair - making her the perfect idol for Ellie's appearance-conscious mother 📚 Author Ann M. Martin is best known for creating "The Baby-Sitters Club" series, which has sold over 176 million copies worldwide 🏠 The 1960s suburban lifestyle depicted in the book was characterized by strict social hierarchies and conformity, making life particularly challenging for those who lived on the fringes of accepted society ✨ The term "invisible" used to describe Ellie's social status was a common experience for many middle school students during this era, as clique culture became increasingly prominent in American schools 🎭 The book's setting year coincides with significant social movements in American history, including the Civil Rights Movement and the beginning of Second-wave feminism, which began challenging traditional family roles