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Where Ella Went
Not yet published
Expected 14 Apr 26A clever, funny multimedia mystery from author Laurie Morrison, about soccer teammates trying to solve the disappearance of their beloved team captain—and facing a few secrets of their own
Why did Ella leave?
Eighth Graders Sadie and Pug don’t have anything in common except for their love of soccer and their loyalty to Ella, the overachieving team captain. So when Ella doesn’t show up for the most important game of the season and her parents pull her out of school, Sadie and Pug are determined to find out what happened, even though they don’t usually get along. There’s no way Ella abandoned the team!
But as Sadie and Pug dig deeper, they begin to realize that Ella’s life wasn’t as perfect as it seemed. And maybe Sadie and Pug have a few secrets that need to come to light, too. Maybe all their classmates do…
Told in recordings, letters, texts, journal entries, and emails, Where Ella Went is a funny and absorbing slice-of-life mystery about friendship, teamwork, and the pressures of being in middle school. If Sadie and Pug keep searching for answers, they risk sabotaging the end of their soccer season. But can they ever move on if they don’t learn the truth? And what if Ella needs them even more than they need her?
Why did Ella leave?
Eighth Graders Sadie and Pug don’t have anything in common except for their love of soccer and their loyalty to Ella, the overachieving team captain. So when Ella doesn’t show up for the most important game of the season and her parents pull her out of school, Sadie and Pug are determined to find out what happened, even though they don’t usually get along. There’s no way Ella abandoned the team!
But as Sadie and Pug dig deeper, they begin to realize that Ella’s life wasn’t as perfect as it seemed. And maybe Sadie and Pug have a few secrets that need to come to light, too. Maybe all their classmates do…
Told in recordings, letters, texts, journal entries, and emails, Where Ella Went is a funny and absorbing slice-of-life mystery about friendship, teamwork, and the pressures of being in middle school. If Sadie and Pug keep searching for answers, they risk sabotaging the end of their soccer season. But can they ever move on if they don’t learn the truth? And what if Ella needs them even more than they need her?
304 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication April 14, 2026
83 people want to read
About the author
Laurie Morrison
10 books113 followersLaurie Morrison is the coauthor of Every Shiny Thing and the author of Up for Air, Saint Ivy, Coming Up Short, Keeping Pace, and Where Ella Went (coming April 14, 2026). Laurie’s books have received starred reviews and been chosen as Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selections and finalists for state award lists. She holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, and she lives with her family in Philadelphia, PA, where she teaches middle school language arts. You can visit her website at lauriemorrisonwrites.com
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 9, 2025
I received a free copy of, Where Ella Went, by Laurie Morrison, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Ella is in eighth grade and is captain of her schools soccer team, when she suddenly disappears. Pug and Sadie are classmates and teammates of Ella, and want to find her. I forgot about all the big feels from elementary school. This book had so many emotions throughout it. It was a really good and engaging read.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
In this epistolatory novels that utilizes text messages, e mails, podcast transcript and other nontraditional formats, we meet Pug (Alice) and Sadie, who have put together this documentation of their investigation of why their 8th grade soccer team captain, Ella, left school. The school has told the students that Ella is okay, and asked for privacy for the family; Pug has texted Ella's phone and gotten in trouble with the school director, Dr. Kimball. Pug, who has ADHD and impulse control issues, isn't happy that Sadie, who has just moved to town, was such good friends with Ella, and not happy that Sadie immediately made the soccer team and displaced her on the field. Sadie, whose father makes film documentaries and whose mother has not been in the picture due to alcohol addiction issues, is struggling with the move from Philadelphia to a New Jersey suburb, but is enjoying staying with her grandmother, grandfather, and young cousin Violet. Pug's twin brother, Henry, is in 9th grade, since he is academically advanced, and he struggles with anxiety, especially about getting onto the high school newspaper. There are several boys in the 8th grade class who are jerks, and Pug has an especial problem with Brayden, who has said mean things about Ella. There are several instances where Pug makes poor decisions and has to go through her school's restorative justice program, writing essays about how she has broken the school's code of conduct. Sadie and Pug team up to figure out why Ella left so suddenly; she even left her soccer jersey on Sadie's porch with a note, right before a critical game. There's plenty of relationship and friend drama, some family issues, and an incident on the soccer field during one of Ella's club team games that all come to light. Information about other characters' lives also plays into the plot. Sadie and Pug team up, and with the help of Henry and Ella's friend Sloane, finally figure out why their friend moved away without telling them much. There is some reconciliation, and while the end isn't ideal, everyone is able to move on from this critical event.
Strengths: Morrison writes excellent upper middle grade novels which often involve sports. The epistolatory format is a bit of a departure for her, but readers who enjoy Greenwald's TMI books will find this interesting. There is a TON of soccer and tween drama, which are always popular topics. The inclusion of some crushes and the nervousness surrounding them was perfect. I adored the active role that Pug's parents had in her life, and how they handled her struggles, but have to agree with Pug that having to attend the "Neurospicy Lunch Bunch" would not be my idea of a good time! It is a really horrible name. It makes sense that students would try to create a "true crime" podcast about their friend; it has the same name as the book. It was especially fun when the transcript of the kids' recording is interspersed with Pug fighting with her father about doing her homework! There are several twists in the plot that I don't want to spoil.
Weaknesses: This was on the long side, and I personally struggled to connect with the characters because of the changes in format and viewpoints. The director's long e mails will amuse adults, but tweens might not get them. In my school, teachers would never assign students to send an email to them with an introduction (including "hopes and dreams"), since all emails are public record and can be requested by the press. We would use Schoology, a format like Blackboard, but another reviewer said that in her high school, students checking email is required.
What I really think: I was hoping that this would be a darker mystery like Summy's 2015 The Disappearance of Emily H. or Weatherly's 2004 Missing Abby, but Ella's move wasn't the result of anything all that horrible. This will be a hit with readers who enjoyed Sloan and Wolitzer's 2019To Night Owl from Dogfish or the classic 1998 Martin and Danziger's P.S. Longer Letter Later.
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
In this epistolatory novels that utilizes text messages, e mails, podcast transcript and other nontraditional formats, we meet Pug (Alice) and Sadie, who have put together this documentation of their investigation of why their 8th grade soccer team captain, Ella, left school. The school has told the students that Ella is okay, and asked for privacy for the family; Pug has texted Ella's phone and gotten in trouble with the school director, Dr. Kimball. Pug, who has ADHD and impulse control issues, isn't happy that Sadie, who has just moved to town, was such good friends with Ella, and not happy that Sadie immediately made the soccer team and displaced her on the field. Sadie, whose father makes film documentaries and whose mother has not been in the picture due to alcohol addiction issues, is struggling with the move from Philadelphia to a New Jersey suburb, but is enjoying staying with her grandmother, grandfather, and young cousin Violet. Pug's twin brother, Henry, is in 9th grade, since he is academically advanced, and he struggles with anxiety, especially about getting onto the high school newspaper. There are several boys in the 8th grade class who are jerks, and Pug has an especial problem with Brayden, who has said mean things about Ella. There are several instances where Pug makes poor decisions and has to go through her school's restorative justice program, writing essays about how she has broken the school's code of conduct. Sadie and Pug team up to figure out why Ella left so suddenly; she even left her soccer jersey on Sadie's porch with a note, right before a critical game. There's plenty of relationship and friend drama, some family issues, and an incident on the soccer field during one of Ella's club team games that all come to light. Information about other characters' lives also plays into the plot. Sadie and Pug team up, and with the help of Henry and Ella's friend Sloane, finally figure out why their friend moved away without telling them much. There is some reconciliation, and while the end isn't ideal, everyone is able to move on from this critical event.
Strengths: Morrison writes excellent upper middle grade novels which often involve sports. The epistolatory format is a bit of a departure for her, but readers who enjoy Greenwald's TMI books will find this interesting. There is a TON of soccer and tween drama, which are always popular topics. The inclusion of some crushes and the nervousness surrounding them was perfect. I adored the active role that Pug's parents had in her life, and how they handled her struggles, but have to agree with Pug that having to attend the "Neurospicy Lunch Bunch" would not be my idea of a good time! It is a really horrible name. It makes sense that students would try to create a "true crime" podcast about their friend; it has the same name as the book. It was especially fun when the transcript of the kids' recording is interspersed with Pug fighting with her father about doing her homework! There are several twists in the plot that I don't want to spoil.
Weaknesses: This was on the long side, and I personally struggled to connect with the characters because of the changes in format and viewpoints. The director's long e mails will amuse adults, but tweens might not get them. In my school, teachers would never assign students to send an email to them with an introduction (including "hopes and dreams"), since all emails are public record and can be requested by the press. We would use Schoology, a format like Blackboard, but another reviewer said that in her high school, students checking email is required.
What I really think: I was hoping that this would be a darker mystery like Summy's 2015 The Disappearance of Emily H. or Weatherly's 2004 Missing Abby, but Ella's move wasn't the result of anything all that horrible. This will be a hit with readers who enjoyed Sloan and Wolitzer's 2019To Night Owl from Dogfish or the classic 1998 Martin and Danziger's P.S. Longer Letter Later.
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Right before the most important soccer game of the season, star-player Ella disappears in a cloud of mystery. Her team was not forewarned, instead they showed up prepared to play the game of their lives to this point, only to discover Ella is gone and all the adults are refusing to tell the rest of the team and Ella's friends why. The kids are certain Ella would never abandon their team like this and begin to investigate.
Another great story that I hope to see on future state reading award nominee lists. There is a lot to this book for middle grade readers (and adults with kids!) This book is about a young girl who is simply too busy and as too high of expectations placed on her and is trying to reach the bard of perfection that has been set. I loved the format of the book - this story is told in texts, podcast transcriptions, and journal entries. Great realistic fiction to library collections.
Another great story that I hope to see on future state reading award nominee lists. There is a lot to this book for middle grade readers (and adults with kids!) This book is about a young girl who is simply too busy and as too high of expectations placed on her and is trying to reach the bard of perfection that has been set. I loved the format of the book - this story is told in texts, podcast transcriptions, and journal entries. Great realistic fiction to library collections.
October 12, 2025
I can't think of anything that would've sent me down the rabbit hole in middle school quite like a classmate and friend leaving out of nowhere and going incommunicado--with no reasonable explanation from all of the adults. That's the situation Pug and Sadie find themselves in when their well-liked teammate and classmate Ella suddenly doesn't show up for an important soccer game. Combine that premise with a story told across multiple formats -- text messages, emails, podcast recordings, etc. -- and you have the kind of compelling story that will keep a middle schooler off TikTok for the afternoon -- or this distractible grownup off Instagram! Laurie Morrison is at the top of her game with this appealing and riveting upper MG novel.
November 6, 2025
I absolutely love this newest book by Laurie Morrison. She is just a superstar and combining a moving coming of age story with humor. I loved Pug's spunkiness and determination, Sadie's sensitivity and poems, which really helped to distinguish their voices and the fact that they become friends thrown together by Ella's disappearance. I also think the theme of shame is well-explored from multiple angles, from the kids but also from the adults. I also felt like I knew and understood many of the secondary characters, particularly Sloane and Brayden. I can't wait for kids to read this--I think they will just devour it!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Laurie Morrison is a can't-miss author for my middle school classes -- Keeping Pace is her latest to be passed around by my students. Where Ella Went is every bit as good, but the multimedia format (and soccer theme) will pull in some of my more reluctant readers. Ella herself will also let every middle school perfectionist feel seen -- and hopefully they will be encouraged by the lengths Ella's friends went to out of concern for their friend. Laurie Morrison clearly knows middle schoolers -- I am so glad my students have her books!
Thanks to NetGalley and Amulet Books for the advance digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley and Amulet Books for the advance digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
An intriguing, funny, and moving story told in epistolary format about 8th grade soccer players trying to figure out why their charismatic and perfect team captain disappeared at the beginning of the school year. The girls deal with family drama, competitiveness, jealousy, and other stressors while navigating a difficult soccer season without their star leader and new friendships and crushes. Highly recommended.
November 5, 2025
I didn't really enjoy this one. The multimedia format was interesting at first but quickly became grating. Far too much time was spent exploring various unnecessary side plots that didn't really go anywhere. A lot of information could have been cut out to make the story neater and more concise. The big reveal about Ella was underwhelming and I just didn't feel convinced by any of it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What a fantastic book! I thoroughly enjoyed this story! I loved how the different formats for storytelling let each characters have unique ways of expressing themselves, and the (small) romance was perfect for upper middle grade. A disappearing friend would've driven me crazy, and I was as invested as finding what happened to Ella as Pug. Highly recommend!
January 8, 2026
Laurie Morrison (Coming Up Short, Up For Air, Saint Ivy, Keeping Pace) tackles drama among members of a middle school soccer team and the drama that unfolds among friends, family and school friends when one of them disappears without a word to anyone in this title.
Ella is the top offensive player on her school’s soccer team and her club team, was elected student council president, is a straight-A student and as team captain, always seems to know just what to say or what cookies to bake to keep her school teammates psyched up for the next game. But on the day her team will face their greatest rivals, “Everything Ella,” so-dubbed by a classmate who is not her biggest fan, she doesn’t show up and no one knows where she is, why she left and her parents and the school principal have insisted that no one pursue the mystery or try to contact her. So, of course, several set out to do both those things.
Told in text messages, emails, podcast transcripts and more, key players record their thoughts about the missing 8th grader and detail the ways they attempt to figure out the ways, whys and wheres of her disappearance. Middle grade readers are sure to love the humor of the stuffy principal’s emails about their school’s social contract and how it applies to Ella and her passive aggressive attempts to get more people to read them, will attempt to determine what would make such a successful classmate to disappear and wonder about a whole lot of other encounters and relationships that bubble up among Ella’s peers. Soccer fans, especially, will enjoy accounts of games, notes about coaching personalities and training mishaps. Some, like myself, may find that the search for answers gets a little bogged down in the minutiae at times, but overall, this is the kind of teen drama that will keep 5th-8th grade girls enthralled.
Solid choice for libraries serving grades 5-8 with zero profanity, no sexual content outside one kiss, and only a small amount of violence that is integral to the plot. Positive messages about supporting one another, respecting boundaries, and allowing each other to make mistakes without letting them define who they are. Representation: various family configurations including two moms, traditional two parent, divorced and separated; diverse in race, academic and athletic prowess; one character has ADHD and there is a Neurospicy lunch bunch group w/a guidance counselor.
Thanks for the eARC, Edelweiss.
Ella is the top offensive player on her school’s soccer team and her club team, was elected student council president, is a straight-A student and as team captain, always seems to know just what to say or what cookies to bake to keep her school teammates psyched up for the next game. But on the day her team will face their greatest rivals, “Everything Ella,” so-dubbed by a classmate who is not her biggest fan, she doesn’t show up and no one knows where she is, why she left and her parents and the school principal have insisted that no one pursue the mystery or try to contact her. So, of course, several set out to do both those things.
Told in text messages, emails, podcast transcripts and more, key players record their thoughts about the missing 8th grader and detail the ways they attempt to figure out the ways, whys and wheres of her disappearance. Middle grade readers are sure to love the humor of the stuffy principal’s emails about their school’s social contract and how it applies to Ella and her passive aggressive attempts to get more people to read them, will attempt to determine what would make such a successful classmate to disappear and wonder about a whole lot of other encounters and relationships that bubble up among Ella’s peers. Soccer fans, especially, will enjoy accounts of games, notes about coaching personalities and training mishaps. Some, like myself, may find that the search for answers gets a little bogged down in the minutiae at times, but overall, this is the kind of teen drama that will keep 5th-8th grade girls enthralled.
Solid choice for libraries serving grades 5-8 with zero profanity, no sexual content outside one kiss, and only a small amount of violence that is integral to the plot. Positive messages about supporting one another, respecting boundaries, and allowing each other to make mistakes without letting them define who they are. Representation: various family configurations including two moms, traditional two parent, divorced and separated; diverse in race, academic and athletic prowess; one character has ADHD and there is a Neurospicy lunch bunch group w/a guidance counselor.
Thanks for the eARC, Edelweiss.
January 6, 2026
A forthcoming epistolary mystery, WHERE ELLA WENT covers a lot of issues, including neurodivergence, with a compelling fast pace and an unexpected ending that I found very satisfying. Highly recommended!
November 13, 2025
I finished this riveting epistolary mystery in a single sitting. Imagine if Judy Blume wrote Only Murders In the Building. Told through journal entries, podcast transcripts, texts, and narrative prose, WHERE ELLA WENT is not only the story of a star soccer player’s disappearance, but also a complex, funny, and empathetic study in teen friendships, forgiveness, and mental health issues. Middle school readers won’t be able to put it down.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews