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Ella Mental #1
Ella Mental and the Good Sense Guide
Fourteen-year-old Ella never leaves home without her Good Sense Guide, a book of her basic observations on how to survive life. So, when Pearl's boyfriend dumps her, Ella is the perfect person on hand to offer advice. But when Ella and her best friend, Toby, start quarrelling, Ella's Good Sense Guide fails her for the first time. She's been so busy looking out for everyone else that she hasn't realised what's been staring her in the face...
224 pages, Paperback
First published May 31, 2005
6 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
About the author
Amber Deckers
6 books5 followersAmber Decker grew up beside the ocean in South Africa. After leaving school she developed her passion for English and Drama by studying film and became "hell bent on becoming a film director". After discovering that she was better at writing stories, however, Amber studied journalism part-time while working for an advertising agency, and later joined Marie Claire magazine as a features and fashion writer and book reviewer.
Swapping the shores of the Africa for London, Amber was able to look with new eyes at the challenges and pressures facing today's youth - especially teens. In London she joined an independent film production company, with the idea of creating a television programme aimed at helping teens tackle the tricky issues with which they are faced.
When the television programme was shelved, Amber decided to put her research and ideas into a novel. Ella Mental and the Good Sense Guide is the story that followed.
After fourteen months living in Grenada in the West Indies, Amber and her husband, Craig, have returned to the UK and now live on a farm in Kent with the rescue animals they brought back from the West Indies: a Doberman called Blue and Calypso, their tabby cat.
Swapping the shores of the Africa for London, Amber was able to look with new eyes at the challenges and pressures facing today's youth - especially teens. In London she joined an independent film production company, with the idea of creating a television programme aimed at helping teens tackle the tricky issues with which they are faced.
When the television programme was shelved, Amber decided to put her research and ideas into a novel. Ella Mental and the Good Sense Guide is the story that followed.
After fourteen months living in Grenada in the West Indies, Amber and her husband, Craig, have returned to the UK and now live on a farm in Kent with the rescue animals they brought back from the West Indies: a Doberman called Blue and Calypso, their tabby cat.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 8, 2012
Reviewed by Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen for TeensReadToo.com
Meet Ella Watson, or, as her friends call her, Ella Mental.
Ella makes sure that she follows and lives by everything written in her Good Sense Guide, the one with all the quotes and rules, such as "Treat others as you would like them to treat you," or "just because you feel something now doesn't mean you will feel this way forever."
Ella's Good Sense Guide is what helps her think straight when she has to deal with her crazy parents, who just aren't able to let Ella have a little freedom, and her obnoxious twin sister, Anna, who seems to be getting into more trouble then usual -- and changing for the worse.
But can the guide help Ella resolve all of her problems with her friends, who are all facing challenges and becoming distant? Like Frannie, whose usual perky self is now down in the dumps, or Pearl, who keeps on choosing the wrong guy. But what worries Ella the most is how her relationship with her best friend, Toby, is beginning to fade away.
At first glance, ELLA MENTAL AND THE GOOD SENSE GUIDE may seem like any other teen novel filled with fluff and no substance, but as the story develops Amber Deckers takes the novel into a different direction than what was assumed. From bullying to racism to a secretly painful childhood, Ms. Deckers depicts issues that most teen novels ignore. ELLA MENTAL AND THE GOOD SENSE GUIDE is one of those stories that you will never forget.
Meet Ella Watson, or, as her friends call her, Ella Mental.
Ella makes sure that she follows and lives by everything written in her Good Sense Guide, the one with all the quotes and rules, such as "Treat others as you would like them to treat you," or "just because you feel something now doesn't mean you will feel this way forever."
Ella's Good Sense Guide is what helps her think straight when she has to deal with her crazy parents, who just aren't able to let Ella have a little freedom, and her obnoxious twin sister, Anna, who seems to be getting into more trouble then usual -- and changing for the worse.
But can the guide help Ella resolve all of her problems with her friends, who are all facing challenges and becoming distant? Like Frannie, whose usual perky self is now down in the dumps, or Pearl, who keeps on choosing the wrong guy. But what worries Ella the most is how her relationship with her best friend, Toby, is beginning to fade away.
At first glance, ELLA MENTAL AND THE GOOD SENSE GUIDE may seem like any other teen novel filled with fluff and no substance, but as the story develops Amber Deckers takes the novel into a different direction than what was assumed. From bullying to racism to a secretly painful childhood, Ms. Deckers depicts issues that most teen novels ignore. ELLA MENTAL AND THE GOOD SENSE GUIDE is one of those stories that you will never forget.
November 6, 2017
Say hello to Ella, or Ella Mental as she is called by her friends!
Ella is an average girl (especially if you put her next to her friends and their problems), she is a bit insecure (then again, that is goes for most teenagers), but I took an instant liking to her. She was sweet, friendly, kind, and I had a laugh at the things that popped in her mind (the nicknames she gave to people (like Glen who kept winking: Cyclops). But I was also cheering for her, to speak up a bit more, to put herself first over the rest (she also deserves a bit of recognition). Throughout the book she tries to help all her friends. From Tom-Tom to Toby. I also liked how she seemed a bit flighty at times, but you also knew she had a big brain and was truly smart. I loved that she loved to read.
There was also a bit of romance. Ella is falling head over heels in love with Toby, but a misunderstanding (which made me laugh) has them falling out. If only Toby knew what happened when he did that, but I guess that would have made the book lose one of its biggest plots.
So while she is still thinking about Toby, she meets Glen and tries to date him (which results in some hilarious scenes that had me rolling with laughter).
The romance was written really well, though of course I just wanted Toby and Ella to get together. These two are too adorable + I quite like childhood friends gone romance!
I also had a laugh at Pearl and her dramas. That girl clearly has no common sense in her mind. The things she gets into... dear heavens how did she even make it to her age.
I did think Ella and Anna's parents were a bit too much. Those rules especially were just weird for 15-year olds, it just felt like they were thinking the girls are 10 or so. Don't get me wrong, rules are needed, but is it necessary to also punish Ella? She hasn't even done a thing, it was her sister who did x and y. :|
I was a bit amazed that it took everyone (Toby/Ella/friends) to find out what was going on with Toby's parents. Really? They didn't think it was x? I knew from the start that it was that.
Also the blurb states that Ella will have to do without her guide/that her guide is of no help to her, and I thought this would mean that we barely would see this mysterious guide of hers, instead we see it all the time. Every time a problem arises the guide pops up. :P It was quite interesting to see all the quotes and things she had written in there.
There were also a TON of problems. I thought this book would just focus on Toby x Ella, but instead it focuses on abuse, parents who cheat, racism, bad decisions, boyfriends demanding their girls to change for them, and I could go on. At times it was just too much, and I even wondered aloud what would be next. What else the writer would think off. Don't get me wrong, it is OK if a book features real issues, but it is just too much when EACH AND EVERY character has a problem in life that varies from normal teenager stuff to racism.
I didn't like Frannie, not at all. When we first met her I did think she was a sweet girl, but she quickly turned dark, grumpy, and angry. Throughout the book we see her situation worsen, but instead of getting any hints or seeing anything happen with her, it takes until the end before we find out what is truly eating her. Something horrific, something terrible. But yeah, that didn't make me like her still, yes, I sympathised with her, I felt horrified for her, but after the whole book of her acting bleh... I just can't switch over instantly to like.
Bonus points to the fluffy cover! It was such a nice surprise when I spotted it at the second-hand department of one of my book stores and felt a very soft cover.
All in all, I really liked reading the book, there were a ton of things that I enjoyed, that had me laughing, that had me cheering, and I am definitely going to buy the next book in this series (well, provided I can find it somewhere it seems to be out of stock on Amazon).
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
Ella is an average girl (especially if you put her next to her friends and their problems), she is a bit insecure (then again, that is goes for most teenagers), but I took an instant liking to her. She was sweet, friendly, kind, and I had a laugh at the things that popped in her mind (the nicknames she gave to people (like Glen who kept winking: Cyclops). But I was also cheering for her, to speak up a bit more, to put herself first over the rest (she also deserves a bit of recognition). Throughout the book she tries to help all her friends. From Tom-Tom to Toby. I also liked how she seemed a bit flighty at times, but you also knew she had a big brain and was truly smart. I loved that she loved to read.
There was also a bit of romance. Ella is falling head over heels in love with Toby, but a misunderstanding (which made me laugh) has them falling out. If only Toby knew what happened when he did that, but I guess that would have made the book lose one of its biggest plots.
So while she is still thinking about Toby, she meets Glen and tries to date him (which results in some hilarious scenes that had me rolling with laughter).
The romance was written really well, though of course I just wanted Toby and Ella to get together. These two are too adorable + I quite like childhood friends gone romance!
I also had a laugh at Pearl and her dramas. That girl clearly has no common sense in her mind. The things she gets into... dear heavens how did she even make it to her age.
I did think Ella and Anna's parents were a bit too much. Those rules especially were just weird for 15-year olds, it just felt like they were thinking the girls are 10 or so. Don't get me wrong, rules are needed, but is it necessary to also punish Ella? She hasn't even done a thing, it was her sister who did x and y. :|
I was a bit amazed that it took everyone (Toby/Ella/friends) to find out what was going on with Toby's parents. Really? They didn't think it was x? I knew from the start that it was that.
Also the blurb states that Ella will have to do without her guide/that her guide is of no help to her, and I thought this would mean that we barely would see this mysterious guide of hers, instead we see it all the time. Every time a problem arises the guide pops up. :P It was quite interesting to see all the quotes and things she had written in there.
There were also a TON of problems. I thought this book would just focus on Toby x Ella, but instead it focuses on abuse, parents who cheat, racism, bad decisions, boyfriends demanding their girls to change for them, and I could go on. At times it was just too much, and I even wondered aloud what would be next. What else the writer would think off. Don't get me wrong, it is OK if a book features real issues, but it is just too much when EACH AND EVERY character has a problem in life that varies from normal teenager stuff to racism.
I didn't like Frannie, not at all. When we first met her I did think she was a sweet girl, but she quickly turned dark, grumpy, and angry. Throughout the book we see her situation worsen, but instead of getting any hints or seeing anything happen with her, it takes until the end before we find out what is truly eating her. Something horrific, something terrible. But yeah, that didn't make me like her still, yes, I sympathised with her, I felt horrified for her, but after the whole book of her acting bleh... I just can't switch over instantly to like.
Bonus points to the fluffy cover! It was such a nice surprise when I spotted it at the second-hand department of one of my book stores and felt a very soft cover.
All in all, I really liked reading the book, there were a ton of things that I enjoyed, that had me laughing, that had me cheering, and I am definitely going to buy the next book in this series (well, provided I can find it somewhere it seems to be out of stock on Amazon).
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
May 13, 2017
Good book.
December 6, 2014
Ella Mental lives off this list, the good sense guide, to survive life. It is filled on what to do and what not to do in life. Her good sense guide fails her for the first time when Toby, her best friend, dances with this girl called Becky and she dances with a guy named Glen, who is Pearl's cousin. They kind of separate and Ella feels Toby doesn't like her anymore and when Ella went to hangout at Toby's house they did something they will never forget, but Ella kind of ruined the special moment and now Toby doesn't think she likes him. "Ella Mental: And the Good Sense Guide" is about love, hard-times, and Hope.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 1, 2009
I actually didn't finish this one because there were just too many uncomfortable phrases for me. At first I liked it. Since it's a British author, and it is set in London, there were a few words I didn't know (although, I was proud of myself for knowing what it means to "whinge"). But then she just kept saying things that made me uncomfortable. So I stopped reading it.
April 17, 2009
Too random. I felt that she jumped too much and we were randomly thrust into the middle of very serious dramas without any warning or buildup. Just a bit too abrupt for me.
Other reviews on fabulousreads.blogspot.com
Other reviews on fabulousreads.blogspot.com
December 13, 2014
Really liked this book! Granted I did read it a few years, and only recalled it when I pulled out the book report that was compiled as part of school studies. At the time it was a simple and age appropriate book to enjoy.
Read
April 3, 2009Another "good read" as always only this time my mom found it for me!
June 21, 2011
So far this book is really good. Can't stop reading it!!!!
April 23, 2012
it was ok, but not that good
May 25, 2016
Have you ever wondered what a PSA in book form was like?
February 20, 2015
Absolutely loved reading this reminds me why I love to read.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews