HONESTLY ELLIOTT, by Gillian McDunn, Bloomsbury Children’s Books, March 1, 2022, Hardcover, $16.99 (ages 8-12)
Gillian McDunn’s new middle-grade novel, Honestly Elliott, follows a kid he navigates family, friendship and his ever-present ADHD.
Elliott has been struggling since his closest friend moved away, and he’s not too sure where he fits into his own family, especially since his newly remarried dad and stepmom are expecting a baby. His grades aren’t too great, he’s always forgetting things, and he doesn’t really like sports. All together, the result is someone the complete opposite of his dad — a fact they’re both very aware of. Elliott’s only solace is cooking, where he can control the outcome, testing exciting recipes and watching his favorite cooking shows.
When he’s paired with the super smart and popular Maribel for a school-wide project, Elliott worries they won’t see eye to eye. But Maribel is also looking for a new way to show others her true self and this project could be the chance they’ve both been waiting for. Sometimes the least likely friends help you see a new side to things . . . and sometimes you have to make a few mistakes before you figure out what’s right. —Synopsis provided by Bloomsbury Children’s Books
Honestly Elliott reads like visiting an old friend, and that all comes down to Gillian McDunn’s warm and inviting prose. The author of Caterpillar Summer, The Queen Bee and Me, and These Unlucky Stars has a true sense of her audience and what they need/want to hear.
At the center of the book is Elliott, a bright, but easily distracted, kid who struggles with just about everything he faces — friends, school, sports, even his own family. The one place where he feels in control is in the kitchen.
So many readers will relate to Elliott. He’s earnest and kind and he tends to get sidetracked. He desperately wants to please the ones he loves, but he also wants to be himself. He’s the kind of kid you’d want your kid to be friends with, warts and all.
Honestly Elliott has so many things going for it. Kids who do have ADHD will find themselves represented and kids who don’t will gain a better understanding of their peers who do. Beyond that, though, readers will relate to the universal themes of belonging, social expectations and self-acceptance. It’s a book that should appeal to a wide cross section of readers.
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