Inventing Elliot

by Graham Gardner

When Elliot Sutton arrives at Holminster High, he is determined not to stand out. He simply can’t let himself become a target like he was at his last school. He’s going to invent a whole new Elliot. The new Elliot is tough, impenetrable. The new Elliot shows no fear.

Enter the Guardians, a group of upperclassmen who secretly rule over Holminster with a quiet and anonymous terror. Obsessed with George Orwell’s book 1984, they desire power for the sake of power. And strangely enough, they also want Elliot. Not to terrorize . . . but to become one of them.

Gripping in its psychological understanding, this unflinching novel takes you deep into the mind of a boy who is coming to understand the nature of absolute power and its inevitable casualties, and also finding a bit of his own strength along the way.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, School, Realistic Fiction, Read For School, Teen, Romance

192 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

GRAHAM GARDNER is an academic researcher and author, specializing in social and political geography, at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. Prior to this he has had many jobs, including shop assistant, civil servant, research officer, waiter, and factory worker. He is also a keen musician, playing rock and classical piano. He is the second eldest of ten children, and was born and brought up in Worcestershire. He divides his time between his flat in Aberystwyth and his parents' house in the Malvern Hills.

Reviews

[Zahlia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this for school and I honestly think it's the literary equivalent of eating over boiled brussel sprouts only because your parents made you.

We have Elliot, who's only character traits are his love of reading and wanting to 'mask' who he is. Over this torturously extended book, we are expected to suspend our disbelief long enough to watch him join a high school dictatorship...

Nope. This is not a joke.

This book is short, but feels as though it could be half as long because of how poorly written it is. Gardner's writing style is clunky and awkward, trying to be emotive but only leaving the reader bored and uninterested. The themes are so blatantly stated; everything is spelled out. The language and phrasing choices worded the novel like an instruction manual as opposed to a narrative.

The premise is... somewhat interesting, I guess. Trying to make a new start at high school due to horrible events occurring previously. I can get behind it. But the execution is awful, not only because of the aforementioned writing, but the horribly slow pacing, the badly developed characters.

The characters... my god have you ever seen more one dimensional characters in one book? Elliot, as I said before, likes books and doesn't think people will like him. Gee, with your charming personality, it's a wonder! The side character I've forgotten the name of is hated by everyone (again with the suspending disbelief) and likes photography. Richard and his cronies (who are replaceable with a pile of stones) like power. Yup. These seventeen-year-olds like power and hurting people and being evil dictators.

Louise. Oh, dear god, Louise. The love interest. She likes books, Elliot, and no one else in the school. She has no friends! Because nothing is better than a female character that only reads classic literature and believes everybody but the MC to be beneath her.

To clarify, I see what Gardner was attempting to do, and that's completely respectful. Inventing Elliot is meant to expose how cruel high school can be and the pigeon-hole expectations society has for people, and finding corruption where you least expect it. We are supposed to follow an ordinary boy with a traumatic past, watch him almost fall into a trap, then recover and make the right decisions because he's learnt to acknowledge he is who he is, and cannot change that. But he doesn't make it.

Unfortunately, Inventing Elliot can be retold as a 'Terrible Writing Advice' video for characters, themes, and plot in contemporary literature. But hey, if you're thinking of becoming a writer, this serves as a wonderful self-esteem booster!

[Margot Land · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lost more braincells than I gained with this book

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” ― Edmund Burke

Elliot, a kid that WAS the victim of bullying moves to a new school for a fresh start. But the PTSD associated by his earlier problems is constantly aggravated by the even more insidious bullying in his new school. This time he's managed to avoid being the target of the bullies and is even invited to become one of the perpetrators. Does he have the courage to suffer the fate he fears awaits those who turn the bullies down?

Bullying is an important topic and it deserves thinking about but for most of its length this book is as bleak as they come.

In what feels like a cross between Lord of the Flies and The Chocolate War, I'd say that this is an important read but certainly not an enjoyable one. It's the literary equivalent of spinach. You may know that it's good for you but you still probably won't enjoy the experience of consuming it.

[Natalia Średnicka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elliot is schizophrenic.

[Andrew Coats · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sometimes you have to read a middle grade novel from a little free library to clear your mental palette.

[Aleksander Prifti · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible experience reading this book when I was in high school. This is a compelling young adult novel that delves into the complexities of identity and the pressures of fitting in. The story follows Elliot Sutton, a teenager who transfers to a new school after being bullied at his previous one. Determined to reinvent himself, Elliot adopts a strategy of blending in and avoiding attention. However, his plans are disrupted when he catches the interest of the Guardians, a secret society that controls the school through intimidation and fear. Gardner expertly captures the tension and inner turmoil Elliot experiences as he navigates this dangerous social landscape, exploring themes of conformity, power, and self-discovery.

Gardner's writing is both gripping and thought-provoking, making "Inventing Elliot" a poignant exploration of the lengths to which individuals will go to protect themselves and gain acceptance. The novel's realistic portrayal of bullying and its psychological impact is particularly impactful, providing a stark reminder of the challenges many young people face. Elliot's journey is both heartbreaking and inspiring as he grapples with his true identity and the ethical dilemmas posed by his involvement with the Guardians. Overall, "Inventing Elliot" is a powerful narrative that resonates with readers, offering a nuanced look at the struggles of adolescence and the quest for personal integrity.

[Janey! · Rating 1 out of 5]

i would rather never pick up a book again than read this one more time

[Erlinda Pysqyli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great book. I think this book should be read by anyone, parents and teenagers so they could understand all the negative consequences bullying can cause in people's lives. Usually, we think that adolescents experience bullying only in school without thinking about what is happening inside their houses and forgetting that parents are the first ones that bully their children at home by saying things like "You don't know anything, You are so annoying, You are a weirdo or calling them different names. In this book, Eliot is a 14-year-old boy who wanted to start a new life, in a new city, in a new school but his past follows him. He is trapped in it and even though he invented many identities, (just to fit in that kind of society) and tried to be as cold as he could, he still struggles to hide what he thinks and feels. He does almost anything to survive in that new life and not be a victim again, but it feels impossible. He can't talk to anyone and express how he feels but he just tries any option to make it through until suddenly he finds himself cooperating with the Guardians who control and terrorize Holminster students. They selected him as a candidate to be trained for their group. This book could be uncomfortable for some people because of the descriptions of the events but it is a worthy read.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elliot Sutton is a victim of violent bullying at his school, until he is beaten so badly his mother moves them to the other side of the city. He is enrolled in Holminster High for a new start as a freshman, and his goal is not to be noticed. He doesn't want to stand out for any reason. He almost succeeds by reinventing himself as someone who doesn't react and doesn't care. However, he does befriend (privately) one of the victims, Ben, who shares Elliot's love of swimming and whose passion is film photography. Elliot also starts to like Louise, who shares his interest in reading and is passionate about ideas. At the same time, Elliot is noticed by the Guardians, the group in charge of organizing "punishments" and selecting punishers and victims, and he is recruited to be one of them (they are juniors). He feels he has no choice but to go along, and he is stresssed by the need to wear so many different Elliot masks that he's not sure who the real Elliot is any longer. With problems at home (a useless almost non-existent father, and a long-suffering over-worked mother) Elliot doesn't feel he can find any support there - and even if he could, doesn't believe it would help. However, his mother surprises him, helping Elliot to make a difficult decision. This is not an enjoyable book. It reminds me of Lord of the flies and The Chocolate War, books with a dark view of a natural desire for violence and power. It is, however, a good book, and many middle school students have liked it.

[Larissa van den Bulk · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an interesting book!

[elliott · Rating 1 out of 5]

just adding this book from school and literally one of the most triggering books i've ever read

[Aurora Dimitre · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is basically just The Chocolate War except for if Jerry had just like, done whatever the Vigils had said immediately and just desired to be one of them rather than done his whole disturb the universe thing.

Not saying that this was bad, because it was definitely an enjoyable, quick (emphasis on the quick , I started and finished it in roughly forty-five minutes) read, but it just was... well, it was a Chocolate War book, but not in a Brutal Youth kind of way, in a, "what the hell, this is literally the chocolate war you're describing obie's notebooks right now UM." They switched out "Vigils" for "Guardians" and "assignments" for "punishments", but dear God is this The Chocolate War.

[Katzenkindliest · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eindringliches Buch über Mobbing an der Schule, über Gewalt, Opfer und Täter. Und über Mut.

[Clair · Rating 4 out of 5]

For some this book will be an uncomfortable read. Elliot was the target of brutal bullying in school. He hid this from his parents and teachers but takes the opportunity to reinvent himself when he moves to a different school. Acting and looking differently Elliot manages not to stand out. In fact he adopts such a cool persona that he is approached by "The Guardians". He soon finds himself in the awkward position of becoming a Guardian and having to orchestrate the bullying. Refusal would almost certainly make him a target once more. Will Elliot ever be able to just be himself ...

[MBF · Rating 3 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this book. It was really different from the books I've had to read at school and it was nice to switch it up.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is rare in that it is a YA book that overtly describes an ethical dilemma for a young boy. 13 Year old Elliot was bullied at his former school; his father has had a breakdown after being, significantly, assaulted by a gang of youths, and he is about to start at a new school. The reader can hardly blame or question his resolve to be a small target - to be unnoticed and to affect indifference and so make the most of his new start. Elliot even goes so far as to disguise his poverty by purchasing a brand new school uniform instead of starting school in a secondhand one, and thus be marked out. He uses his years of saved job money to get a new haircut and tip his hair in order to look like a winner. He can't disguise his slight, diminutive frame, but Elliot is no fool - he has almost unconsciously filed away some acute observations about both bullies and victims, and is able to overcome his physical disadvantage to considerable success. He knows he has to stand out just enough to be noticed and in just the right way - he is lousy at the boyish sports, but he's a good swimmer, so he is able to deflect the displeasure of his compulsory fieldsport teammates (who fortunately have already established a luckless teammate as their victim) with this token.

He is unable to jettison an unwelcome identification with the victims he occasionally cannot avoid witnessing being beaten, and is desperate not to be present at fights, lest his sympathies mark him out, and he cannot escape the nightmares of his old situation which haunt him. But Elliot manages to stay safe - and on the safe side of the predominant group -not that he can ever manage to truly believe that things won't deteriorate on the turn of a pin - and he is probably right, for the sympathy of bullies is as unpredictable as the movements of a snake.

Despite everything, though, Elliot can't avoid his compassion causing him to secretly befriend a victim at one stage, and once he has taken this risk, he realises the boy - Ben, is a non conformist and an interesting and thoughtful companion. But Elliot's paranoia about the possibilities of those in the know - the Guardians - finding out tortures him and taints the trust between them, pruning the edges of his friendship with Ben into an unnatural thing.
As time goes on, Elliot begins, incredibly, to be seen as a potential member of the Guardians, who are the rulers of the school; who decide the victims and their oppressors and who orchestrate the timing of these 'shows' for the masses. His future as an emotionally numbed angry young man seems assured, until an English teacher, his mother and a beautiful girl all try to awaken his emotions, and he begins to crumble and find his soul.

References to Orwell's 1984 weave their way through the novel: The chief Guardian loves it for its lessons on the manifestations of power and ideas for mental torture and manipulation, Elliot's love interest loves its hero for his ability to find freedom in refusing to conform in the brief moments before his destruction. Elliot has to chose whether to pass his initiation into the Guardians by selecting a boy to be victimised, or turn the troupe in to the headmaster.

[Star · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first began reading this book I really didn't like it. I knew it was about bullying so that part wasn't a surprise but I really didn't like how the author portrayed teachers as blind and uncaring when it comes to kids being physically abused in school. I gave it a week and picked it back up. Teachers are never written in a better light (well one teacher kind of is) but the story evolves beyond that.
Elliot finds himself in an untenable position when he is invited to be one of The Guardians, the group of boys who run the school (think Lord of the Flies). The reader is inside Elliot's mind as he wrestles with new friendship, a new girl, his father's depression, his mother's sacrifice, and his turmoil as he decides what kind of a person he is going to be.

[Braxton Schieler · Rating 1 out of 5]

I get it. I really do get it. I get the point of the story and how Gardner was trying to make a complex point about the inter-person and how we all put on different masks. But honestly? The IDEA is mediocre at best, but the execution is pretty terrible. It is so heavily laden with the thoughts of the narrator that the plot takes a back seat. To an extent, thought should be a part of this story, but it is so much the ONLY point of the author, that he could have summed his whole story up in a three-page essay about human nature, and not needed to tell a crappy story. This was my first book by Gardner, and it will absolutely be my last. The end doesn't even resolve in an interesting way. So disappointing.

[Amy Gay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very well written and is relevant to both lives of teens and lives of adults. It takes realistic ideas from 1984 and also helps show why people are the way they are as they age. It causes me the question of can people really change--or, more importantly, will their society allow them to change?

[nat! · Rating 4 out of 5]

pretty simple concept with a really likeable and relatable main character; I thought the ending suited the book nicely. I did notice that Gardner seemed to have the same issue that Orwell did in 1984 where female characters only exist as a means for the main character's end instead of existing for their own sake

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gripping story of bullying from a 13 year old boy's point of view. I was wondering what he was going to do the whole time. Book captured that sense of isolation and hopelessness. Ending a bit weak but an interesting read.

[Hannah Huff · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book was interesting, however I thought it was a little slow.

[Richie Partington · Rating 5 out of 5]

14 March 2004 INVENTING ELLIOT by Graham Gardner, Dial Books, March 2004, ISBN 0-8037-2964-2

"And so I wrestle with the angel
To see who'll reap the seeds I sow
Am I the driver or the driven
Will I be damned to be forgiven
Is there anybody here but me who needs to know"
--Grateful Dead, "Victim or the Crime"

"Survival wasn't that difficult. It simply meant cutting off all the pieces of you that didn't fit. After a while, your new identity became second nature, as if you'd always been like you were now.
"The difficult part was managing and keeping apart all the different people you had to become."

INVENTING ELLIOT is a smart psychological YA thriller set in a private high school in which Elliot, a scarred victim of bullying at his previous schools, is given the chance to start over in a place where nobody knows him, and then finds that his careful efforts at creating himself a new image lead to his being adopted into the heart of the students' secret power structure where he is offered the opportunity to mete out the kind of arbitrary, sadistic punishment to vulnerable classmates that he himself had been subjected to in his previous life. Elliot's constant fear is that any reluctance to play the game will lead to his once again becoming a victim himself.

"I'm the king in fighting competition
and the other pieces
are there for my art and my tactics now.
All my games are won before they're played for
I have planned that no opposition can stage a fight
I'll play the game and never ever lose."
--Gentle Giant, "Playing the Game"

As most of us can imagine, being in his position means that Elliot will merely be trading one living hell for another. Elliot's deep fears, artfully hidden behind his newly minted veneer, are infectious. I was thoroughly on edge as I followed Elliot page by page.

"When I'm in the shower
I'm afraid to wash my hair
'Cause I might open my eyes
And find someone standing there"
--Rockwell, "Somebody's Watching Me"

Not having read 1984 since well back on the other side of that year, I was intrigued by the prominent role that Orwell's book plays in this story, with two schoolmates presenting their radically contrasting impressions of the book to Elliot. Through those contrasting visions put forth by his characters, the author provides additional fuel for Elliot's internal struggle, as well as tools for the reader to begin considering why the dynamics of bullying exist in schools and possibly why people in the larger society forever crap on each other as if it's an inherent part of being human.

INVENTING ELLIOT asks more questions than it answers. This exceptionally well-crafted tale will grab readers in its ever-tightening snare and leave them wrestling with their own beliefs about power and how it is used.

Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com

[Chanelle S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cold rain is falling hard on Elliot’s body as he wakes up. He opens his eyes, which is hard to do for some reason. As his brain starts to take in his surroundings, he realizes he’s lying on a floor, a shower floor, and it’s not rain beating down on him but water from a cold shower. He watches the water flow across the floor, but it’s not clear water, it’s pink. He struggles to sit up, but he can’t. He hurts all over, and he can barely breathe. As his mind clears, he realizes that the water is pink because it is mingling with his own blood as it rushes toward the floor drain. He sinks back down into oblivion.

That was the last time Elliot was beaten up at his old school; after that, they moved and he transferred here to a new school. And the first day of school is approaching. He’ll be the new kid, mid-year, and more than anything, Elliot wants to be invisible there. He needs to avoid being spotted by the bullies—he knows there will be some, even if he doesn’t know their names yet. He can’t live like that again, like at his old school. Here is a chance to reinvent himself, to be a new Elliot. And so he does invent a new self: a brand new uniform instead of hand-me-downs like at his old school, a new haircut in the latest style; he practices walking and standing up straight. He can’t let it happen to him again. But the bullies still find him, this time with a whole new game plan.

(REVIEW: Great book, but get ready for some violence as Elliot describes the punishments he and others take as victims of bullies. It’s necessary that this information is here, though, because it needs to be established that Elliot MUST NOT let that happen again at any cost. This is what leads to the crisis where he must decide whether to defend his friend or keep up his façade for his own safety. This is a very meaty, thought-provoking book that would be great for class discussion. One drawback is its British English—“games kit” for “gym suit,” and other similar unfamiliar terms pop up periodically. Reader feels compassion for Elliot because of his family situation and wants Elliot to protect himself but also to do the right thing. Best for sophisticated 7th and up.)

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely outstanding book. There are many parallels to WWII (Nazism and the Holocaust, specifically) and to 1984 (mentioned in the book). Elliot decides that he will not endure the abuse he endured at his last school, not even if he has to destroy his "real self." He tells himself it doesn't matter: "I'm already dead."
His father has been literally beaten and it has left a lasting effect on his psyche; one is unsure if he is "depressed" as Elliot's mother says or if something more substantial has been destroyed. Elliott's mother is overworked and chronically anxious.
Elliot tells himself "as long as it's not me;" it makes him cold and hard...but his "real" self won't die, no matter how Elliot suppresses him. He is a reader, a lover of literature and it's his interest in one girl that gives him another, very different analysis of 1984 than the one the "Guardians" supply. The Guardians are the recipients of long-held, hidden power in the school; they supply "punishments" to those who "deserve" it...and the Guardians are very interested in Elliot's cool, detached exterior..and his ability to fit in when necessary.
It is a very realistic read. His mother's difficulties do not ease and his father does not improve, but Elliot makes a startling and courageous choice ...but the moment the boy goes to do what he believes to be right, the story ends...

[Claire Kane · Rating 1 out of 5]

I HATED this book. I had to read this in middle school for an assignment, and I really struggled to get through it. It takes a lot of hard work to write a book where basically every single character is unlikable and nothing good ever happens. Even when Elliot gets a girlfriend, the author ruins it by writing an uncomfortable groping scene. This book does not have a satisfying ending, in fact the entire book is wholly unsatisfying. I will never recommend Inventing Elliot to anyone, because I wouldn’t even subject my worst enemy to this dumpster fire. If I could rate this negative stars, I would. Overall, it’s a “WOMP WOMP” from me. 👎👎👎

[Tuba · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Survival wasn't that difficult. It simply meant cutting off all the bits of you that didn't fit."

Marvellous short read in bringing about emotion, fear and anxiety through the experiences of Elliot, a ninth-grader who was a victim of bullying at his old school. With a chance to change himself, he was led to adorn several masks.

"Sometimes other people can help you with your battles. But if they can't... fighting can be the hardest thing on earth."

Although aimed at a younger audience, this read professes very deep ideas and food for thought, something that even adults can relate to.

[ST · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought this was a great YA read. Elliot, deeply traumatised at the hands at school bullies, moves to a new school where he has the chance to start anew. In the desperation to create a "new Elliot" to avoid the same fate as before he is determined to not stand out. But he has been noticed, by the "Guardians" at his new school. A secretive power force, the Guardians determine which kids should be punished / bullied. But they aren't after bullying Elliot. They want him to become one of them.
A powerful important insight, very true to life ( sadly), and should be widely read.

[feliks · Rating 3 out of 5]

read this for the first time in middle school and its stuck with me since then.

revisited yesterday for the first time in a while—its not perfect but points for nostalgia and making me feel less alone when i was 11/12.

i reread this lots after we did it in lessons because i liked it so much and i got my own copy so i could read it at home too. going through it yesterday i still recognised the sentences that i’d read over and over.

it doesn’t have much appeal for me now. but since im older i could just read the actual 1984 instead. cheers graham x

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elliot blir mobbad och slagen på sin skola så hans familj flyttar för att börja om på en ny plats. På den nya skolan bestämmer han sig för att hitta på en ny karaktär till sig själv, en person som är så cool att ingen vill bråka med honom. Han gör sin nya påhittade person så bra att han the Guardians, en mystisk grupp som kontrollerar hela skolan genom att manipulera andra att utföra hemska saker mot dem de tycker förtjänar det. Snart blir han inbjuden i gruppen och går med på att delta i det hemska dom gör, bättre det händer någon annan än honom tänker han hela tiden. Tills den dagen han förstår att han måste ändra sitt beteende och så upp för sig själv och det han tror på. Men vågar han göra det och hur ska han gå till väga?
En känsloladdad bok där man får följa Elliots djupa tankar och funderingar för att passa in i ett samhälle som samtidigt äter upp honom inifrån. Den berör och är svår att släppa efter att man läst klart den. Den är ganska kort, men det ryms väldigt mycket i boken och den är bra skriven med bra karaktärer som man på olika sätt känner för. Genom hela boken hoppas jag att det ska gå bra för Elliot och att han ska hitta sin egna väg i livet. Slutet känns som ett djupt avslappnande andetag för att frigöra den lilla oro jag haft liggande i bakhuvudet under hela läsningen. Jag kan andas ut och tänka bra gjort Elliot.