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Ella Unleashed
The Parent Trap meets Best in Show in this charming novel about a girl who must learn to make peace with the unpredictability of life.
Ella Cohen was skeptical when her mom started dating Krishnan just a few months after her parents’ divorce. But two years later, she really likes having her new stepfather around. When she decides to enter a junior dog show, Krishnan even lets her start handling his dog, Elvis. She’s determined to become an expert handler, even after her first show ends in disaster.
Unfortunately, some things are harder to control—like Ella’s dad, who has changed a lot since the divorce. He used to be laid back and fun, but now he hovers over her constantly, terrified she’s going to shatter into a million pieces if she so much as hints that everything in her life isn’t perfect. Ella is particularly upset that his animosity toward Krishnan keeps him from coming to watch her handle Elvis, especially when she wins a lottery spot in the National Dog Show in Philadelphia.
When Ella’s best friends suggest she find her dad a date to the dog show, it seems like the perfect solution. If her dad has a new girlfriend, surely he won’t mind so much that Ella’s mom has a new husband. So Ella decides to play matchmaker, going so far as to create a fake online dating profile in order to find her dad his one true love.
But it turns out people, much like dogs, aren’t always so easy to control, and Ella’s plan backfires at the worst possible moment. Can Ella manage to bring her divided life together in time for her moment in the spotlight?
Ella Cohen was skeptical when her mom started dating Krishnan just a few months after her parents’ divorce. But two years later, she really likes having her new stepfather around. When she decides to enter a junior dog show, Krishnan even lets her start handling his dog, Elvis. She’s determined to become an expert handler, even after her first show ends in disaster.
Unfortunately, some things are harder to control—like Ella’s dad, who has changed a lot since the divorce. He used to be laid back and fun, but now he hovers over her constantly, terrified she’s going to shatter into a million pieces if she so much as hints that everything in her life isn’t perfect. Ella is particularly upset that his animosity toward Krishnan keeps him from coming to watch her handle Elvis, especially when she wins a lottery spot in the National Dog Show in Philadelphia.
When Ella’s best friends suggest she find her dad a date to the dog show, it seems like the perfect solution. If her dad has a new girlfriend, surely he won’t mind so much that Ella’s mom has a new husband. So Ella decides to play matchmaker, going so far as to create a fake online dating profile in order to find her dad his one true love.
But it turns out people, much like dogs, aren’t always so easy to control, and Ella’s plan backfires at the worst possible moment. Can Ella manage to bring her divided life together in time for her moment in the spotlight?
224 pages, Paperback
Published September 24, 2019
3 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
Alison Cherry
12 books208 followersAlison grew up in Evanston, IL. She is a professional photographer and spent many years working as a lighting designer for theater, opera, and dance. Now she lives in Brooklyn and writes young adult novels full time. She is represented by the lovely and amazing Holly Root of Root Literary.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 22, 2018
The basic plot of Ella Unleashed is something my 4th and 5th grade library patrons would love-middle school girl embarks on a new dog-showing hobby and has nothing but hilarious disasters in her first few competitions, tries to adjust to divorced parents and a new stepdad, and attempts to maneuver her dad into potential girlfriend-finding scenarios. Sadly, I stopped reading at about page 90 for several reasons, one minor and one more significant: 1. Excessive use of the word “butt” in the first 6 pages is off putting because even though we all know that dogs sniff to familiarize themselves with fellow canines, there are other words or phrases that will get the action across to readers, and 2. Overly mature vocabulary used when describing what Elle and her friends found on the dating website in the section covering sexual orientation. There was definitely too much information for those in my targeted age group and I can easily imagine what sorts of questions would be coming up at their dinner tables and the subsequent phone calls and visits I would field. Thanks for the chance to preview and decide, Edelweiss.
August 2, 2018
This book is adorable, hilarious, and sneakily wise, full of shenanigans and feels. Can't wait to foist it on my daughters!
April 25, 2019
Ella Unleashed by Alison Cherry, 197 pages. Aladdin (Simon & Schuster), 2018. $18.
Language: G; Mature Content: G; Violence: G.
BUYING ADVISORY: EL – ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Ella loves competing in dog shows, but it’s not the same without her dad there to cheer her on.
She’s convinced he’s staying away to avoid her mom and stepdad. She figures a girlfriend is just what her dad needs. She puts on her matchmaker hat and creates an account on a dating website. Posing as her dad, she picks out a few likely candidates and arranges the dates. What follows is a hilarious adventure of less than perfect outcomes and one that just might work.
Anyone who is curious about what it takes to show dogs in competition will want to read this one. Ella makes many mistakes with her dog, but she is determined. By the 3rd show she has a nearly flawless performance, but what makes this book so entertaining is Ella’s determination to find her dad the perfect girlfriend. The jams she gets herself into while pursuing these dates is downright cute. There’s a lesson to be learned when all is said and done. Don’t make assumptions, because they’re probably wrong. Unfortunately, the cover makes this book look like it’s for younger kids. That assumption is incorrect. Definitely for upper elementary.
Valerie McEnroe, Media Specialist
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
Language: G; Mature Content: G; Violence: G.
BUYING ADVISORY: EL – ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Ella loves competing in dog shows, but it’s not the same without her dad there to cheer her on.
She’s convinced he’s staying away to avoid her mom and stepdad. She figures a girlfriend is just what her dad needs. She puts on her matchmaker hat and creates an account on a dating website. Posing as her dad, she picks out a few likely candidates and arranges the dates. What follows is a hilarious adventure of less than perfect outcomes and one that just might work.
Anyone who is curious about what it takes to show dogs in competition will want to read this one. Ella makes many mistakes with her dog, but she is determined. By the 3rd show she has a nearly flawless performance, but what makes this book so entertaining is Ella’s determination to find her dad the perfect girlfriend. The jams she gets herself into while pursuing these dates is downright cute. There’s a lesson to be learned when all is said and done. Don’t make assumptions, because they’re probably wrong. Unfortunately, the cover makes this book look like it’s for younger kids. That assumption is incorrect. Definitely for upper elementary.
Valerie McEnroe, Media Specialist
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
February 12, 2019
This is a cute book about a girl, a dog, and a dating website. Ella and her stepdad, Krishnan, have gotten along great ever since he taught her about dog showmanship. Although she loves competing with his dog Elvis, they haven't quite gotten in sync to win any competitions. Then there's her Italian cooking, Red Sox loving, non-dating dad. She figures he doesn't attend her shows because he doesn't want to see Krishnan and her mom together. That's when she and her friends hatch the perfect plan to get her dad to the next show. All she needs to do is find him a girlfriend.
Ella is determined, ingenious and funny. I love her crazy plans and the great lengths she'll go to bring some happiness into her dad's life. Unfortunately, their signals get crossed. Her dad was happy all long. As this book illustrates very well, a little communication goes a long way.
Ella is determined, ingenious and funny. I love her crazy plans and the great lengths she'll go to bring some happiness into her dad's life. Unfortunately, their signals get crossed. Her dad was happy all long. As this book illustrates very well, a little communication goes a long way.
June 16, 2023
I love that this book reveals that sometimes we make ourselves to be a certain person for someone we love, and when we fall back into our comfort zone, we find ourselves much more introverted, or extroverted, or finally taking on that new hobby… I just loved, loved, loved that realization about her dad. It was so realistic. And lots of this middle grade book is very adorable.
More upper middle grade than lower. :-)
More upper middle grade than lower. :-)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 21, 2018
I enjoy Alison Cherry’s books. They are quick, fun, and sweet. Diverse characters included in this one. 🍬
April 23, 2020
This was adorable! I want another book with these same characters!
June 5, 2023
Amazing but not my type
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews