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Ellie, Engineer #2
The Next Level
After Ellie's first elevator build goes terribly wrong, her parents decide her "punishment" is to assist an elderly neighbor, Mrs. Curran, around the house. Ellie and her friends Kit and Toby are really only supposed to help with little things, but Ellie can't turn down the opportunity to use her engineering skills here and there where she sees a need--because that's what engineers do! It's no fun, though, when Mrs. Curran always gives Toby the credit for all the ingenious projects, and acts like Kit and Ellie were just helping him. . . . Can Ellie come up with another great build to elevate Mrs. Curran's ideas about this girl engineer?
With Ellie's designs and sketches throughout, and her fun guide to simple machines in the back, the continuation of this delightful series will leave young readers laughing and inspired to create.
With Ellie's designs and sketches throughout, and her fun guide to simple machines in the back, the continuation of this delightful series will leave young readers laughing and inspired to create.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published November 6, 2018
12 people are currently reading
99 people want to read
About the author
Jackson Pearce
30 books2,613 followersI am not very active on Goodreads-- this is largely a placeholder account! Therefore, I do not read Goodreads mail. If you want to get in touch with me, please go here: CONTACT ME!
Jackson Pearce currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with a slightly cross-eyed cat and a lot of secondhand furniture. She recently graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in English and a minor in Philosophy and currently works for a software company even though she auditioned for the circus (she juggled and twirled fire batons, but they still didn’t want her). Other jobs she’s had include obituaries writer, biker bar waitress, and receptionist.
Jackson began writing when she got angry that the school librarian couldn’t tell her of a book that contained a smart girl, horses, baby animals, and magic. Her solution was to write the book herself when she was twelve. Her parents thought it was cute at first, but have grown steadily more concerned for her ever since.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
August 31, 2020
I like how in the book Ellie said that anyone can do anything, girl or boy.
May 13, 2024
Great! This series encourages kids (especially girls) to become engineers.
May 1, 2021
Reviewed by Lucy, age 8, 5/1/21 (first book review as an 8 year old!)
Who is this book about?
Ellie the Engineer. It doesn’t say how old she is, but she looks 8 to 10 in the picture. Ellie likes to engineer, which means she builds a lot of things. Her friends are Kit and Toby, and they both help. Kit is a girl and Toby is a boy.
When is this book set: It does not say, but I think it’s like right now.
Where is this book set: Ellie’s house and an old person’s house, and her friends’ houses. I don’t know what city and state. That doesn’t seem to be important.
They were trying to build an elevator that would lift people. They tried it with 24 jars of bread-and-butter pickles, because that was roughly the weight of a person. Instead they ended up spilling 24 jars of special order pickles. That attracted bugs. Her punishment was to help Mrs. Curran for a week. Kit was helping her too. (Why would you special order pickles?)
So Ellie thought she was going to use her engineering to help. Instead she ended up stuffing envelopes with dolls because Mrs. Curran was a doll painter. When they were done, they told Mrs. Curran they were done and went away.
When they were done, Ellie built a water slide, but that got Toby in trouble for taking the soap without asking. So he also had to help Mrs. Curran.
Next time they went Toby came too, and they were helping Mrs. Curran get doll painting supplies upstairs. So they built a dolly to help move the boxes to the stairs. Mrs. Curran thought the dolly was entirely built by Toby because she didn’t really believe that girls could be engineers.
The did other things and Mrs. Curran sprained her ankle. But they ended up building an elevator for her doll supplies. It was better than the other one, because the other one had only one string and it would tip. This one had two pulleys and four strings, one attached to each side. And they tested it with a pillow, not 24 jars of bread-and-butter pickles!
I liked this book because it was about how she got in trouble and how she fixed it. Not how she got in trouble and how she whined about it! I also built a cardboard dollhouse last night and this morning. We are also building a wooden dollhouse. So this book is fun.
Who is this book about?
Ellie the Engineer. It doesn’t say how old she is, but she looks 8 to 10 in the picture. Ellie likes to engineer, which means she builds a lot of things. Her friends are Kit and Toby, and they both help. Kit is a girl and Toby is a boy.
When is this book set: It does not say, but I think it’s like right now.
Where is this book set: Ellie’s house and an old person’s house, and her friends’ houses. I don’t know what city and state. That doesn’t seem to be important.
They were trying to build an elevator that would lift people. They tried it with 24 jars of bread-and-butter pickles, because that was roughly the weight of a person. Instead they ended up spilling 24 jars of special order pickles. That attracted bugs. Her punishment was to help Mrs. Curran for a week. Kit was helping her too. (Why would you special order pickles?)
So Ellie thought she was going to use her engineering to help. Instead she ended up stuffing envelopes with dolls because Mrs. Curran was a doll painter. When they were done, they told Mrs. Curran they were done and went away.
When they were done, Ellie built a water slide, but that got Toby in trouble for taking the soap without asking. So he also had to help Mrs. Curran.
Next time they went Toby came too, and they were helping Mrs. Curran get doll painting supplies upstairs. So they built a dolly to help move the boxes to the stairs. Mrs. Curran thought the dolly was entirely built by Toby because she didn’t really believe that girls could be engineers.
The did other things and Mrs. Curran sprained her ankle. But they ended up building an elevator for her doll supplies. It was better than the other one, because the other one had only one string and it would tip. This one had two pulleys and four strings, one attached to each side. And they tested it with a pillow, not 24 jars of bread-and-butter pickles!
I liked this book because it was about how she got in trouble and how she fixed it. Not how she got in trouble and how she whined about it! I also built a cardboard dollhouse last night and this morning. We are also building a wooden dollhouse. So this book is fun.
February 22, 2019
Ellie and her friends are back in their second middle grade novel about engineering. In this installment she learns how making assumptions about people based on their age or gender can hurt when her latest project (an elevator) goes wrong and the punishment is to help the older woman who lives in her neighborhood. Ellie thinks that just because she is older, Mrs. Curran should be what she calls “grandmotherly” by baking cookies and taking it easy and Mrs. Curran overlooks Ellie as the engineer for her friend Toby just because he is a boy. Will Ellie and her second attempt at the elevator win Mrs. Curran over and make her see that anyone can be an engineer?
Jackson Pearce has created a believable, modern young heroine that middle grade readers can relate to in her series about Ellie. When things go wrong with her inventing Ellie doesn’t use that as an excuse to give up, she just sees that as part of the process and it is pretty cool to see her apply that to her personal relationships like that of Mrs. Curran’s inability to initially see that Ellie is in charge and not Toby. Fans of her first Ellie story will welcome this new one, but this story can also stand alone as it its own self-contained story. Tuesday Morning once again provides pen and ink illustrations that complement the story and show Ellie’s inventions as if we are viewing them drawn by her in an invention diary. Since Ellie’s elevator uses pulleys, Pearce provides an extra section about Simple Machines as if Ellie is telling the reader about them at the end.
I would recommend this book for purchase by any school or public library.
This book was provided by the publisher to SWON Libraries for professional review.
Jackson Pearce has created a believable, modern young heroine that middle grade readers can relate to in her series about Ellie. When things go wrong with her inventing Ellie doesn’t use that as an excuse to give up, she just sees that as part of the process and it is pretty cool to see her apply that to her personal relationships like that of Mrs. Curran’s inability to initially see that Ellie is in charge and not Toby. Fans of her first Ellie story will welcome this new one, but this story can also stand alone as it its own self-contained story. Tuesday Morning once again provides pen and ink illustrations that complement the story and show Ellie’s inventions as if we are viewing them drawn by her in an invention diary. Since Ellie’s elevator uses pulleys, Pearce provides an extra section about Simple Machines as if Ellie is telling the reader about them at the end.
I would recommend this book for purchase by any school or public library.
This book was provided by the publisher to SWON Libraries for professional review.
November 6, 2018
This sequel to Ellie Engineer finds our budding builder in fine form. With the help of her friends Kit and Toby, and is trying to build an elevator. In a safety run, to add weight, they use pickles Kit's mother has special ordered for an event, and the elevator topples, the pickles go crashing, glass breaks, they are ruined, and Ellie needs to be punished (not because her build didn't work but because they took someone else's stuff without asking.) Her punishment is that for a week she has to help an older neighbor around her house.
Ellie isn't that bummed because she assumes she's been asked to help Mrs. Curran due to her engineering skills. She envisions fixing things, making improvements, and maybe even inventing something to make Mrs. Curran's life better. But when she shows up (with Kit and Toby in tow), not only are her building skills not wanted, but when she does find some small things to fix, Mrs. Curran assumes that Toby is the handyman (emphasis on the MAN.) Over the course of the week, Ellie does eventually convince her that girls can be builders and engineers too, she is able to build something, and she does help out Mrs. Curran, although not in the way she expects. But before she can get to that point, she has to show a lot of patience and persuasion, two skills Ellie could use some practice in.
My favorite middle grade engineer works her magic on an older neighbor who opens Ellie's eyes to sexism and assumptions that cut both ways.
Ellie isn't that bummed because she assumes she's been asked to help Mrs. Curran due to her engineering skills. She envisions fixing things, making improvements, and maybe even inventing something to make Mrs. Curran's life better. But when she shows up (with Kit and Toby in tow), not only are her building skills not wanted, but when she does find some small things to fix, Mrs. Curran assumes that Toby is the handyman (emphasis on the MAN.) Over the course of the week, Ellie does eventually convince her that girls can be builders and engineers too, she is able to build something, and she does help out Mrs. Curran, although not in the way she expects. But before she can get to that point, she has to show a lot of patience and persuasion, two skills Ellie could use some practice in.
My favorite middle grade engineer works her magic on an older neighbor who opens Ellie's eyes to sexism and assumptions that cut both ways.
July 19, 2023
I adore this series and this book added a nice twist as Ellie and her friends help a neighbor with some work as punishment for choices they made while building an elevator for their play house/workshop. The neighbor is older and stubbornly believes boys build things and girls play with dolls. She gives a doll to Ellie and her friend Kit, but an ant farm to their friend, Toby. Ellie makes it her goal to not only show this neighbor that girls can be engineers, but that anyone can be an engineer, even elderly people.
I love having these books in my library to remind students that they will find their way to what they excel at, but only if they try new things. Ellie has a parent that is an engineer, but her friends don't and they love to be her assistants.
I love having these books in my library to remind students that they will find their way to what they excel at, but only if they try new things. Ellie has a parent that is an engineer, but her friends don't and they love to be her assistants.
November 3, 2018
Read an e-arc on Netgalley and some illustrations did not view properly.
Ellie is an engineer. She designs an elevator that she and her friend Toby and Kit try out, and break 40 jars of expensive pickles in the process. Since an engineer should always try to help people, Ellie's punishment is that she will need to help elderly Mrs. Curran. Mrs. Curran thinks Toby is the mastermind with the tools, so Ellie decides to show Mrs. Curran how much fun tools are, and that anyone can be an engineer.
Ellie has spunk, and keeps trying even after fails.
Ellie is an engineer. She designs an elevator that she and her friend Toby and Kit try out, and break 40 jars of expensive pickles in the process. Since an engineer should always try to help people, Ellie's punishment is that she will need to help elderly Mrs. Curran. Mrs. Curran thinks Toby is the mastermind with the tools, so Ellie decides to show Mrs. Curran how much fun tools are, and that anyone can be an engineer.
Ellie has spunk, and keeps trying even after fails.
March 16, 2019
A worthy second title in this series about a third grade girl who claims engineering as her central identity. Friendships established in the intro title continue on in this story, allowing for additional misunderstandings and tensions to develop. Honesty again plays a role, and Ellie's unlimited confidence in her abilities ramp up the tension. "Ramp" was intentionally used to focus on the various word play and technical labeling of simple machines that are so effortlessly woven throughout the stories in this series.
Stay tuned for more titles in this series coming soon.
Stay tuned for more titles in this series coming soon.
June 27, 2023
Read with my 7 year old. I love this series and she does too. They have such positive take aways tucked in them and a bunch of science lessons woven throughout the stories. This one explores that toys and hobbies are for everyone. Not just boys or girls (or kids and grownups). It also explores simple machines and how they work in a fun and entertaining way.
January 24, 2021
And the second one is just as good as the first one. Good lesson from the main character about learning to be patient with others and yourself, asking others before borrowing, and about persistence, resilience, courage and more.
December 23, 2018
This book made me cry a little bit because I Sure Do Wish I Could Have Read This As A Kid (it combines crafting and engineering in a way i would have Loved)
March 31, 2019
this book really inspired me to build and I really love it! (M- almost 8)
September 10, 2020
I really love these books.
December 1, 2020
Mixed feelings about this as a whole
September 8, 2021
Enjoyable read with some laugh out loud moments as well as very thoughtful ones. Great addition to this series!
December 25, 2022
6YO: I liked it because I want to be an engineer someday.
February 15, 2024
Not so small human and I loved this book :) She wants to be an engineer when she grows up :)
March 25, 2023
elevators
We liked this book because Ellie and her friends were able to show Mrs. Curran that anyone can be an engineer. I have two girls who read this with me and they liked that girls can be engineers and can do more than they could in olden days.
I would not have used pickles on my first try with an elevator, but at least it was outside so glass and pickle juice was only outside as well. They all learned from their mistakes so that was good to show every one that they can still learn from mistakes and create something better next time.
We liked this book because Ellie and her friends were able to show Mrs. Curran that anyone can be an engineer. I have two girls who read this with me and they liked that girls can be engineers and can do more than they could in olden days.
I would not have used pickles on my first try with an elevator, but at least it was outside so glass and pickle juice was only outside as well. They all learned from their mistakes so that was good to show every one that they can still learn from mistakes and create something better next time.
December 11, 2018
Great message: engineering is for everyone. The story shows how Ellie solves some problems, not least of which is how to get her elderly neighbor to recognize that girls can engineer solutions just like boys. I think kids will enjoy these books but I would like to see more fun and more bouncing of ideas between Ellie and her two friends.
October 18, 2018
Ellie Engineer faces new challenges in t the next book in the series. While Ellie continues to build and construct, she is learning how to deal with preconceived notions of some of her neighbors about who should use tools and who can be an engineer. As she changed her approach and perspective she sees that during views aren't always bad and aren't always permanent. I love Ellie and her friends and hope Pearce keeps telling her stories.
December 14, 2018
Ellie Engineer: The Next Level is the second book in the series by Jackson Pearce. While the first book explains the friendship and skills of the three main characters of the book, I think newcomers to the series will be able to catch up quickly.
After Ellie's first elevator build goes terribly wrong, her parents decide her "punishment" is to assist an elderly neighbor, Mrs. Curran, around the house. Ellie and her friends Kit and Toby are really only supposed to help with little things, but Ellie can't turn down the opportunity to use her engineering skills here and there where she sees a need--because that's what engineers do! It's no fun, though, when Mrs. Curran always gives Toby the credit for all the ingenious projects, and acts like Kit and Ellie were just helping him. Can Ellie come up with another great build to elevate Mrs. Curran's ideas about this girl engineer?
The Next Level is just as much fun as the first book of the series, and continues to look at stereotypes and assumptions. I like that Ellie's family supports her interest in engineering and make the effort to support her and teach her to be safe. I find the friendship between three very different kids to be fantastic, and think it shows young readers that differences are good, and help us find new ideas and solutions. Having Mrs. Curran be very different from expected but still thinking that others will fit in the expected roles was very realistic, since too often I find this is true in the real world as well. None of us want to fit in the expected mold, but still expect others too to a certain degree. I loved the problem solving and honesty in the story. As a parent I also love that the relationships between the kids and their parents include actual conversation and support- which is not all that common in children's literature. As an added bonus I love the information about simple machines included at the end of the book. I look forward to this series continuing for a long run.
The Next Level is a great read, and I love that it encourages looking past appearances, trying new things, and following your passions.
After Ellie's first elevator build goes terribly wrong, her parents decide her "punishment" is to assist an elderly neighbor, Mrs. Curran, around the house. Ellie and her friends Kit and Toby are really only supposed to help with little things, but Ellie can't turn down the opportunity to use her engineering skills here and there where she sees a need--because that's what engineers do! It's no fun, though, when Mrs. Curran always gives Toby the credit for all the ingenious projects, and acts like Kit and Ellie were just helping him. Can Ellie come up with another great build to elevate Mrs. Curran's ideas about this girl engineer?
The Next Level is just as much fun as the first book of the series, and continues to look at stereotypes and assumptions. I like that Ellie's family supports her interest in engineering and make the effort to support her and teach her to be safe. I find the friendship between three very different kids to be fantastic, and think it shows young readers that differences are good, and help us find new ideas and solutions. Having Mrs. Curran be very different from expected but still thinking that others will fit in the expected roles was very realistic, since too often I find this is true in the real world as well. None of us want to fit in the expected mold, but still expect others too to a certain degree. I loved the problem solving and honesty in the story. As a parent I also love that the relationships between the kids and their parents include actual conversation and support- which is not all that common in children's literature. As an added bonus I love the information about simple machines included at the end of the book. I look forward to this series continuing for a long run.
The Next Level is a great read, and I love that it encourages looking past appearances, trying new things, and following your passions.
December 27, 2018
*I received an e copy of this book for an honest review for NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.*
This book is a really great book that shows that anyone can be an engineer. I like how Ellie shows that girls and boys can be engineers AND how she is determined to change some of the perceptions of how can be engineers. At the end of the book it also describes some of the vocabulary used in the book (ex: pulley, wheel and axle, wedge, incline plane, etc.). This is a fun and interesting book that I think would be great to read to lower elementary school students!
This book is a really great book that shows that anyone can be an engineer. I like how Ellie shows that girls and boys can be engineers AND how she is determined to change some of the perceptions of how can be engineers. At the end of the book it also describes some of the vocabulary used in the book (ex: pulley, wheel and axle, wedge, incline plane, etc.). This is a fun and interesting book that I think would be great to read to lower elementary school students!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews