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Ellen Outside the Lines
A novel about a neurodivergent thirteen-year-old navigating changing friendships, a school trip, and expanding horizons.
Thirteen-year-old Ellen Katz feels most comfortable when her life is well planned out and people fit neatly into her predefined categories. She attends temple with Abba and Mom every Friday and Saturday. Ellen only gets crushes on girls, never boys, and she knows she can always rely on her best-and-only friend, Laurel, to help navigate social situations at their private Georgia middle school.
Laurel has always made Ellen feel like being autistic is no big deal. But lately, Laurel has started making more friends, and cancelling more weekend plans with Ellen than she keeps. A school trip to Barcelona seems like the perfect place for Ellen to get their friendship back on track. Except it doesn't.
Toss in a new nonbinary classmate whose identity has Ellen questioning her very binary way of seeing the world, homesickness, a scavenger hunt-style team project that takes the students through Barcelona to learn about Spanish culture and this trip is anything but what Ellen planned.
Making new friends and letting go of old ones is never easy, but Ellen might just find a comfortable new place for herself if she can learn to embrace the fact that life doesn't always stick to a planned itinerary.
Thirteen-year-old Ellen Katz feels most comfortable when her life is well planned out and people fit neatly into her predefined categories. She attends temple with Abba and Mom every Friday and Saturday. Ellen only gets crushes on girls, never boys, and she knows she can always rely on her best-and-only friend, Laurel, to help navigate social situations at their private Georgia middle school.
Laurel has always made Ellen feel like being autistic is no big deal. But lately, Laurel has started making more friends, and cancelling more weekend plans with Ellen than she keeps. A school trip to Barcelona seems like the perfect place for Ellen to get their friendship back on track. Except it doesn't.
Toss in a new nonbinary classmate whose identity has Ellen questioning her very binary way of seeing the world, homesickness, a scavenger hunt-style team project that takes the students through Barcelona to learn about Spanish culture and this trip is anything but what Ellen planned.
Making new friends and letting go of old ones is never easy, but Ellen might just find a comfortable new place for herself if she can learn to embrace the fact that life doesn't always stick to a planned itinerary.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published March 22, 2022
55 people are currently reading
4539 people want to read
About the author
A.J. Sass
8 books295 followersA. J. Sass (he/they) is an author whose narrative interests lie at the intersection of identity, neurodiversity, and allyship. He is the critically acclaimed author of the ALA Rainbow Book List Top 10 titles Ellen Outside the Lines, which was also a Sydney Taylor Honor Book, and Ana on the Edge, as well as the co-author of Camp QUILTBAG (with Nicole Melleby). All three books are Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selections.
A. J. is the author of the upcoming middle-grade book Just Shy of Ordinary (Little, Brown, 2024), and a contributor to the This Is Our Rainbow (Knopf Books for Young Readers), Allies (DK/Penguin Random House), and On All Other Nights (Abrams, 2024) anthologies. His debut picture book with illustrator Noa Kelner, Shabbat Is ..., also releases from Little, Brown in fall 2024.
When he’s not writing, A. J. figure skates and travels as much as possible. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his husband and two cats who act like dogs. Visit him online at sassinsf.com and follow him @matokah on Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram.
A. J. is the author of the upcoming middle-grade book Just Shy of Ordinary (Little, Brown, 2024), and a contributor to the This Is Our Rainbow (Knopf Books for Young Readers), Allies (DK/Penguin Random House), and On All Other Nights (Abrams, 2024) anthologies. His debut picture book with illustrator Noa Kelner, Shabbat Is ..., also releases from Little, Brown in fall 2024.
When he’s not writing, A. J. figure skates and travels as much as possible. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his husband and two cats who act like dogs. Visit him online at sassinsf.com and follow him @matokah on Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 285 reviews
March 22, 2022
I love queer rep. I love autism rep. And combined in a book? I cherish it! This middle grade is amazing. Astonishing. Awesome. Incredible. Mind-blowing. Okay, it’s clear, right? I loved this book. Correction, adored this book!
Ellen Outside the Lines is such a fresh breeze. From the moment I started reading until the very end, I never got bored. In contrast, even. This middle grade is so well written and has such fabulous rep that I simply flew through the pages.
I just sat on a chair, my mouth open in complete admiration, and swiped through the pages and chapters, wanting more, more, more. I loved Ellen and her friends so much. Isa, the new classmate, confident and badass, pronouns they/them. Andy, the athlete and such a cute cinnamon roll, pronouns he/him. Gibs, always sleeping and having ADHD, pronouns a dude (laughed so much about this), and Ellen, on the autism spectrum, pronouns she/her, but she also likes Isa’s. As Isa says, ‘No reason, you can’t use both.’
Did I already say I loved this book? Adored even? I did, didn’t I? I can’t put into words how much I treasure this gem. The discussions about skirts, labels, the way Ellen explained that she’s on the autism spectrum, just wow! Please put this book on your TBR, preorder it, read it, even when you usually don’t read middle grade. It’s worth it, I promise!
A.J. Sass, I had Ana on the Edge on my TBR for a long time but never read the book. So stupid to give preference to others. I should have known what I know now. That your writing is top-notch! Thank you so much for this brilliant, brilliant story! This story needs to be spread around the world now!
I received an ARC from Little Brown Books for Young Readers through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Ellen Outside the Lines is such a fresh breeze. From the moment I started reading until the very end, I never got bored. In contrast, even. This middle grade is so well written and has such fabulous rep that I simply flew through the pages.
I just sat on a chair, my mouth open in complete admiration, and swiped through the pages and chapters, wanting more, more, more. I loved Ellen and her friends so much. Isa, the new classmate, confident and badass, pronouns they/them. Andy, the athlete and such a cute cinnamon roll, pronouns he/him. Gibs, always sleeping and having ADHD, pronouns a dude (laughed so much about this), and Ellen, on the autism spectrum, pronouns she/her, but she also likes Isa’s. As Isa says, ‘No reason, you can’t use both.’
Did I already say I loved this book? Adored even? I did, didn’t I? I can’t put into words how much I treasure this gem. The discussions about skirts, labels, the way Ellen explained that she’s on the autism spectrum, just wow! Please put this book on your TBR, preorder it, read it, even when you usually don’t read middle grade. It’s worth it, I promise!
A.J. Sass, I had Ana on the Edge on my TBR for a long time but never read the book. So stupid to give preference to others. I should have known what I know now. That your writing is top-notch! Thank you so much for this brilliant, brilliant story! This story needs to be spread around the world now!
I received an ARC from Little Brown Books for Young Readers through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 7, 2023
After enjoying Ana on the Edge I was excited to dive into this novel and it did not disappoint. Ellen is a fantastic main character and the relationships she had with friends and family were meaningful and heartwarming. I particularly valued the experience of being inside Ellen's mind as she struggled to make sense of some challenging situations on her class trip to Barcelona. Her autism has never impacted her friendship with Laurel but on this trip it seems like her bestie wants to spread her wings and make some new friends. Ellen is left to work out where she fits with her new group as they go on a scavenger hunt around the city. It has some wonderful LGTQIA rep and also gently looks at gender identity. I thoroughly enjoyed this and recommend it for middle-grade/intermediate and NZY9 students.
November 17, 2024
4 stars. I loved this book so much, it was amazing. RTC!
Read #6 for Pride Month 2022.
Review written on 17th November, 2024.
DISCLAIMER-All opinions on books I’ve read and reviewed are my own, and are with no intention to offend anyone. If you feel offended by my reviews, let me know how I can fix it.
How I Rate-
1 star- Hardly liked anything/was disappointed
2 star- Had potential but did not deliver/was disappointed
3 stars- Was ok but could have been better/was average/Enjoyed a lot but something was missing
4 stars- Loved a lot but something was missing
5 stars- Loved it/new favourite
Read #6 for Pride Month 2022.
Review written on 17th November, 2024.
DISCLAIMER-All opinions on books I’ve read and reviewed are my own, and are with no intention to offend anyone. If you feel offended by my reviews, let me know how I can fix it.
How I Rate-
1 star- Hardly liked anything/was disappointed
2 star- Had potential but did not deliver/was disappointed
3 stars- Was ok but could have been better/was average/Enjoyed a lot but something was missing
4 stars- Loved a lot but something was missing
5 stars- Loved it/new favourite
January 21, 2022
I started sobbing when she had the talk with her dad because he thought he needed to give her space (I had the same talk with my dad at 12) and literally did not stop. This book is so painfully relatable and so well written. The young, confused autistic kid I used to be felt so seen as I read this. Can’t wait until the finished copy releases!
December 23, 2021
What a beautiful story! I love Ellen, she's such a brilliant character and I could really relate to her as an autistic person. I absolutely adored Isa and their confidence to be themselves. I wish there had been books like this when I was younger. I'm nonbinary and proud, but in new situations I stay in the closet until I can sus people out and figure out whether they're safe to come out to - but for Isa it seemed easy, they just told people their pronouns from the get go. Maybe I need to channel Isa when I meet new people. I enjoyed the different dynamics between all the different characters - with Ellen and her best friend Laurel, and each of their new friends. At times I almost felt like I was in Barcelona with the characters, and at other times I could almost feel the overload that Ellen felt. The characters are so well-rounded and the story was extremely engaging. I would love to read more books by A.J. Sass!
January 27, 2022
I was excited to snag an ARC of this book, as I enjoyed A.J. Sass' debut, ANA ON THE EDGE, and not only was ELLEN everything I hoped, it far surpassed my expectations.
It's not often a book so seamlessly incorporates multiple cultures and identities with such thoughtful treatment, but Sass has done it in such an engaging way that every line serves to further the heartfelt narrative. The thoughtful balance between external scavenger hunt intrigue and accessible internal tension pays off, making ELLEN a solid page-turner.
I especially appreciated how Ellen's journey in learning to pinpoint her own needs and courageously communicate them to the people in her life was explored with a beautiful balance of self-compassion and owning her responsibility to others. It's a rare study in empathetic exploration, nested in plenty of relatable middle school social angst and missteps to keep young readers hooked. All the stars!!
It's not often a book so seamlessly incorporates multiple cultures and identities with such thoughtful treatment, but Sass has done it in such an engaging way that every line serves to further the heartfelt narrative. The thoughtful balance between external scavenger hunt intrigue and accessible internal tension pays off, making ELLEN a solid page-turner.
I especially appreciated how Ellen's journey in learning to pinpoint her own needs and courageously communicate them to the people in her life was explored with a beautiful balance of self-compassion and owning her responsibility to others. It's a rare study in empathetic exploration, nested in plenty of relatable middle school social angst and missteps to keep young readers hooked. All the stars!!
May 14, 2023
Reread: ahhhh I love this book so much 😭 I seriously cannot express how happy I am that it exists
Original review:
I’ve always been a big fan of middle grade novels, and Ellen Outside the Lines captured everything I love about the genre. Ellen was such a wonderful protagonist and I greatly enjoyed watching their journey of self-discovery. While Ellen’s character might have been my favorite part of this book, there’s also so much to love here. The discussion of gender and sexuality, the meaning of friends and family, and the fun times had in Barcelona made for such an exciting read that was hard to put down.
Before going any further, I simply have to praise the autism representation in this book. Finding authentic and genuine autistic rep is so difficult, even in 2022, but Ellen’s story felt so personal and relatable. Something I completely loved was the way Ellen had to follow rules and couldn’t understand why others wouldn’t. She got very overwhelmed and confused when pressured to do otherwise. As someone who has always seen rules as hard lines to follow, rather than “simply suggestions” as my peers seemed to think, I could totally empathize with Ellen and their uncertainty and hesitation. Her need to keep things the same and consistent put them in some tricky situations, and my heart hurt for her, because I know how that feels. Ellen was torn between their loyalty and routines with Laurel, and their newfound comradery with Isa, Andy, and Gibbs. This put her into some uncomfortable situations where she had no idea what to do or how to proceed in fear of hurting either party. I know Ellen made some mistakes towards the end, but I could never truly be mad, because her heart was always in the right place. She didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings, and she desperately wanted to avoid conflict. This is something I deeply related to, so getting to see Ellen figure all of this out and contemplate the best course of action was so personal.
I also loved the addition of stimming! I feel like a lot of books with autistic characters don’t actually include much stimming, and if they do, they don’t actually refer to it as stimming. I guess I understand why, but it made me so happy when Ellen was describing their different types of stims. I also flap when I’m excited and rock when I’m nervous or uncomfortable, and reading some of these scenes had me wanting to flap along with them.
In addition to adoring Ellen as a protagonist, I also really enjoyed reading about her friendship with Andy, Gibbs, and Isa. This group helped Ellen to put certain things in perspective, helped her feel accepted, and let her know it’s okay to be themself. Before meeting Isa, Ellen had never really heard about non-binary people or any gender other than male or female, so they definitely went through a learning experience, one I think will be excellent for young readers to share and educate themselves with. Isa’s character was wonderful. They were so confident, so fully themself, and they wouldn’t take any disrespect from anyone. When someone did something wrong, Isa called them out on it. It was so great to see. Andy and Gibbs were also a wonderful addition to the team and really rounded out the group.
Another thing I can’t praise enough about Ellen Outside the Lines is the representation. Not even just the autism representation, but the gay representation, the non-binary representation, the ADHD representation, the Jewish representation, and the Catalan representation. There’s so much packed into this story, and all of it is explained in easy-to-understand terms for younger readers, but never does it feel forced or put into the story simply for educational purposes. All of it felt so natural, which is how representation should be. It was so good!
Honestly, I could go on and on about Ellen Outside the Lines. It brought me so much joy to read Ellen’s journey. I just wish I’d had a book like this when I was younger; however, I am so grateful that young readers today will get the change to experience it. I can’t recommend this book enough!
Thank you so much to TBR and Beyond Tours, NetGalley, and the publisher for providing me with an Advanced Copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Original review:
I’ve always been a big fan of middle grade novels, and Ellen Outside the Lines captured everything I love about the genre. Ellen was such a wonderful protagonist and I greatly enjoyed watching their journey of self-discovery. While Ellen’s character might have been my favorite part of this book, there’s also so much to love here. The discussion of gender and sexuality, the meaning of friends and family, and the fun times had in Barcelona made for such an exciting read that was hard to put down.
Before going any further, I simply have to praise the autism representation in this book. Finding authentic and genuine autistic rep is so difficult, even in 2022, but Ellen’s story felt so personal and relatable. Something I completely loved was the way Ellen had to follow rules and couldn’t understand why others wouldn’t. She got very overwhelmed and confused when pressured to do otherwise. As someone who has always seen rules as hard lines to follow, rather than “simply suggestions” as my peers seemed to think, I could totally empathize with Ellen and their uncertainty and hesitation. Her need to keep things the same and consistent put them in some tricky situations, and my heart hurt for her, because I know how that feels. Ellen was torn between their loyalty and routines with Laurel, and their newfound comradery with Isa, Andy, and Gibbs. This put her into some uncomfortable situations where she had no idea what to do or how to proceed in fear of hurting either party. I know Ellen made some mistakes towards the end, but I could never truly be mad, because her heart was always in the right place. She didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings, and she desperately wanted to avoid conflict. This is something I deeply related to, so getting to see Ellen figure all of this out and contemplate the best course of action was so personal.
I also loved the addition of stimming! I feel like a lot of books with autistic characters don’t actually include much stimming, and if they do, they don’t actually refer to it as stimming. I guess I understand why, but it made me so happy when Ellen was describing their different types of stims. I also flap when I’m excited and rock when I’m nervous or uncomfortable, and reading some of these scenes had me wanting to flap along with them.
In addition to adoring Ellen as a protagonist, I also really enjoyed reading about her friendship with Andy, Gibbs, and Isa. This group helped Ellen to put certain things in perspective, helped her feel accepted, and let her know it’s okay to be themself. Before meeting Isa, Ellen had never really heard about non-binary people or any gender other than male or female, so they definitely went through a learning experience, one I think will be excellent for young readers to share and educate themselves with. Isa’s character was wonderful. They were so confident, so fully themself, and they wouldn’t take any disrespect from anyone. When someone did something wrong, Isa called them out on it. It was so great to see. Andy and Gibbs were also a wonderful addition to the team and really rounded out the group.
Another thing I can’t praise enough about Ellen Outside the Lines is the representation. Not even just the autism representation, but the gay representation, the non-binary representation, the ADHD representation, the Jewish representation, and the Catalan representation. There’s so much packed into this story, and all of it is explained in easy-to-understand terms for younger readers, but never does it feel forced or put into the story simply for educational purposes. All of it felt so natural, which is how representation should be. It was so good!
Honestly, I could go on and on about Ellen Outside the Lines. It brought me so much joy to read Ellen’s journey. I just wish I’d had a book like this when I was younger; however, I am so grateful that young readers today will get the change to experience it. I can’t recommend this book enough!
Thank you so much to TBR and Beyond Tours, NetGalley, and the publisher for providing me with an Advanced Copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
June 30, 2022
At this point me saying "I wish I had this when I was younger" is pretty much a trope for when I review queer MG and/or MG with autistic leads but man...I wish I had this when I was younger. Ellen was an endearing character who I related to from the start (I too have trouble when I get stuff done before or after schedule and I have time starting stuff if I have plans for later) and her storyline of growing apart from her best friend as she realized her best friend had interests and friends she couldn't connect to felt so real to me because I experienced that with one of my closest friends. It also dealt with how Ellen felt alienated from other girls due to both their autism and the fact that they may not be fully a girl, which...yeah, felt that, Ellen. Ellen and her parents are Jewish and I loved the way that was woven into the story, especially when they video-called Ellen's mom for Shabbat. I always love seeing characters who have a strong connection to their religion because I personally do not and wish mine was better. There's also a conversation about the differences in the way that Ellen and their dad practice Judaism versus Ellen and their mom and it was so good! And the autism rep? Phenomenal. Possibly the best I've ever read? It's either this or Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen!, although Ellen was more relatable to me personally. It's really the little details, you know? I also like to keep things in lists (mostly in my head), have issues sleeping (especially when I have to share a room with someone), had an IEP (not that it helped much. thanks US school system) and while I love to travel (The Frogs reference) I also struggle with being in an unfamiliar location with a shaky plan.
The setting was incredibly well-rounded to the point where I felt like I was in Barcelona with Ellen (and now want to travel there) and the scavenger hunt and how it played out was also very good. And the other characters? Honestly Abba was the standout, we love supportive parents in books, but I loved Isa, Andy, and Gibbs as well.
Oddly enough, I had to travel almost an hour to get this book because every Barnes and Noble by me was sold out or delayed, something I was only permitted to do because I had built my inner schedule around going and so had an emotional overload about it.
The setting was incredibly well-rounded to the point where I felt like I was in Barcelona with Ellen (and now want to travel there) and the scavenger hunt and how it played out was also very good. And the other characters? Honestly Abba was the standout, we love supportive parents in books, but I loved Isa, Andy, and Gibbs as well.
Oddly enough, I had to travel almost an hour to get this book because every Barnes and Noble by me was sold out or delayed, something I was only permitted to do because I had built my inner schedule around going and so had an emotional overload about it.
February 26, 2023
Content warnings: misgendering, outing.
Rep: autistic queer Jewish main character with questioning gender (uses she/they pronouns), cis white achillean side character, side non-binary character who is also Latine.
This book has just settled itself into my heart and is staying there forever.
I loved this from start to finish.
This book is so well written. Ellen is beautifully written. She's autistic, and queer (doesn't like boys at all), and when they meet Isa - a new student who happens to be non-binary, her world expands a little more.
When they realise that they can use two sets of pronouns, Ellen realises that's what feels right for her, and this made my heart so happy. I love that this is in a middle grade novel - that it is normal. Which is is. It should be normalised. Because discovery doesn't just start or happen when you hit 16 (or older).
Ellen was outside of her comfort zone for this entire book, and I adored the way they handled everything. I love that her friends and family knew how to help when she was overstimulated and they were able to self soothe too. It's just all so !! I'm just really happy this book exists.
I talk about books at these places: Instagram / Twitter / TikTok / Blog
Rep: autistic queer Jewish main character with questioning gender (uses she/they pronouns), cis white achillean side character, side non-binary character who is also Latine.
This book has just settled itself into my heart and is staying there forever.
I loved this from start to finish.
This book is so well written. Ellen is beautifully written. She's autistic, and queer (doesn't like boys at all), and when they meet Isa - a new student who happens to be non-binary, her world expands a little more.
When they realise that they can use two sets of pronouns, Ellen realises that's what feels right for her, and this made my heart so happy. I love that this is in a middle grade novel - that it is normal. Which is is. It should be normalised. Because discovery doesn't just start or happen when you hit 16 (or older).
Ellen was outside of her comfort zone for this entire book, and I adored the way they handled everything. I love that her friends and family knew how to help when she was overstimulated and they were able to self soothe too. It's just all so !! I'm just really happy this book exists.
I talk about books at these places: Instagram / Twitter / TikTok / Blog
April 9, 2022
Hear more of my thoughts on Youtube!
Ellen is about to go on a trip to Barcelona with her Spanish class. Her best friend Laurel will be there too, which Ellen is very happy about because they've been growing apart lately and she really wants to make things right.
Once they arrive in Barcelona, however, the kids find out they won't be attending normal classes like it had happened last year (which sends all Ellen's schedules and laid out plans up in the air), but Señor L has something else in mind: a scavenger hunt, where each clue will lead the teams (yes, teams) to a landmark or famous touristic place of the city.
As if that wasn't already enough, Ellen and Laurel end up being part of different teams, which puts Ellen in many uncomfortable, socially tough to navigate yet often positively surprising situations that make her second guess her friendships, her identity and how to express what she wants.
My God, this book. It should be on every middle grade school's reading list.
That take shoud be enough, but let's dig deeper.
Ellen is Jewish and autistic and each of those parts of her identity was explored and portrayed so well; they aren't checked-off items on her character's personality list, they're quintessential elements of her being and they influence both her mentality and her behaviour.
And she isn't some perfect heroine, your typical protagonist who always does what's right. She makes mistakes - and some pretty bad ones, at that - and she hurts people and it takes time for her to reflect and try to make up for all of it and figure out how to be her best self while actually being herself and not some toned down, fake but more socially acceptable version of it.
Her team was the best and I loved all of them. I loved Andy's enthusiasm and kindness, Gibs' uhm boyshness accompanied by the a good loyal heart and Isa's confidence and quiet yet loud presence.
I literally teared up at how welcoming and accepting they were, how they genuinely asked questions about Isa's pronouns and consequently each added their own pronouns next to their names in the group chat; how they created a safe space for Isa and Ellen to be themselves, how they supported each other, whether it was a serious moment or when teasing and joking around.
And that is because (and I will never get tired of repeating it, scream it at the top of my lungs if necessary): kids can understand and accept anything. Death, racism, diversity, lgbt+ couples... ANYTHING, as long as they are treated with respect and kindness and they are showed and told everything in a clear, unembarrassed and mature way. Adults and their thick close-minded heads are the problem.
Anyways. I loved the representation, I loved the writing style, I loved how funny and adventurous the book was without lacking deeper moments. There was a scene where Ellen was in La Rambla with her teammates and she was so overwhelemed by the noises, lights, colors, crowd of people (due to her SPD, aka Sensory Processing Disorder) she couldn't move, couldn't speak, and that scene touched my heartstrings, it was so powerful it felt like my senses were in overload.
The descriptions and colors of Barcelona made me ache to go back to the city and explore its life and streets and explosive vitality!
If you can't tell, I loved every single page of this! <3
One of the best reads of this year, this book will stay in my mind and in my heart for a looong time!
Ellen is about to go on a trip to Barcelona with her Spanish class. Her best friend Laurel will be there too, which Ellen is very happy about because they've been growing apart lately and she really wants to make things right.
Once they arrive in Barcelona, however, the kids find out they won't be attending normal classes like it had happened last year (which sends all Ellen's schedules and laid out plans up in the air), but Señor L has something else in mind: a scavenger hunt, where each clue will lead the teams (yes, teams) to a landmark or famous touristic place of the city.
As if that wasn't already enough, Ellen and Laurel end up being part of different teams, which puts Ellen in many uncomfortable, socially tough to navigate yet often positively surprising situations that make her second guess her friendships, her identity and how to express what she wants.
My God, this book. It should be on every middle grade school's reading list.
That take shoud be enough, but let's dig deeper.
Ellen is Jewish and autistic and each of those parts of her identity was explored and portrayed so well; they aren't checked-off items on her character's personality list, they're quintessential elements of her being and they influence both her mentality and her behaviour.
And she isn't some perfect heroine, your typical protagonist who always does what's right. She makes mistakes - and some pretty bad ones, at that - and she hurts people and it takes time for her to reflect and try to make up for all of it and figure out how to be her best self while actually being herself and not some toned down, fake but more socially acceptable version of it.
Her team was the best and I loved all of them. I loved Andy's enthusiasm and kindness, Gibs' uhm boyshness accompanied by the a good loyal heart and Isa's confidence and quiet yet loud presence.
I literally teared up at how welcoming and accepting they were, how they genuinely asked questions about Isa's pronouns and consequently each added their own pronouns next to their names in the group chat; how they created a safe space for Isa and Ellen to be themselves, how they supported each other, whether it was a serious moment or when teasing and joking around.
And that is because (and I will never get tired of repeating it, scream it at the top of my lungs if necessary): kids can understand and accept anything. Death, racism, diversity, lgbt+ couples... ANYTHING, as long as they are treated with respect and kindness and they are showed and told everything in a clear, unembarrassed and mature way. Adults and their thick close-minded heads are the problem.
Anyways. I loved the representation, I loved the writing style, I loved how funny and adventurous the book was without lacking deeper moments. There was a scene where Ellen was in La Rambla with her teammates and she was so overwhelemed by the noises, lights, colors, crowd of people (due to her SPD, aka Sensory Processing Disorder) she couldn't move, couldn't speak, and that scene touched my heartstrings, it was so powerful it felt like my senses were in overload.
The descriptions and colors of Barcelona made me ache to go back to the city and explore its life and streets and explosive vitality!
If you can't tell, I loved every single page of this! <3
One of the best reads of this year, this book will stay in my mind and in my heart for a looong time!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 27, 2023
Trigger Warnings: Lying, outing, misgendering
Representation: Jewish, Autism, Mexican, They/them pronouns, ADHD, Gay, vegetarian, Questioning, Latine
Ellen Outside the Lines is a middle grade, queer story about thirteen-year-old Ellen Katz. Ellen feels most comfortable when her life is well planned out and people fit neatly into her predefined categories. She attends temple with Abba and Mom every Friday and Saturday. Ellen only gets crushes on girls, never boys, and she knows she can always rely on her best-and-only friend, Laurel, to help navigate social situations at their private Georgia middle school. Laurel has always made Ellen feel like being autistic is no big deal. But lately, Laurel has started making more friends, and cancelling more weekend plans with Ellen than she keeps. A school trip to Barcelona seems like the perfect place for Ellen to get their friendship back on track.
Except it doesn’t. Toss in a new nonbinary classmate whose identity has Ellen questioning her very binary way of seeing the world, homesickness, a scavenger hunt-style team project that takes the students through Barcelona to learn about Spanish culture and this trip is anything but what Ellen planned.
Making new friends and letting go of old ones is never easy, but Ellen might just find a comfortable new place for herself if she can learn to embrace the fact that life doesn’t always stick to a planned itinerary.
Another awesome queer book from this author! This book has some great rep! We’ve got various members of the LGBTQ+ community plus neurodivergent representation as well!
Representation: Jewish, Autism, Mexican, They/them pronouns, ADHD, Gay, vegetarian, Questioning, Latine
Ellen Outside the Lines is a middle grade, queer story about thirteen-year-old Ellen Katz. Ellen feels most comfortable when her life is well planned out and people fit neatly into her predefined categories. She attends temple with Abba and Mom every Friday and Saturday. Ellen only gets crushes on girls, never boys, and she knows she can always rely on her best-and-only friend, Laurel, to help navigate social situations at their private Georgia middle school. Laurel has always made Ellen feel like being autistic is no big deal. But lately, Laurel has started making more friends, and cancelling more weekend plans with Ellen than she keeps. A school trip to Barcelona seems like the perfect place for Ellen to get their friendship back on track.
Except it doesn’t. Toss in a new nonbinary classmate whose identity has Ellen questioning her very binary way of seeing the world, homesickness, a scavenger hunt-style team project that takes the students through Barcelona to learn about Spanish culture and this trip is anything but what Ellen planned.
Making new friends and letting go of old ones is never easy, but Ellen might just find a comfortable new place for herself if she can learn to embrace the fact that life doesn’t always stick to a planned itinerary.
Another awesome queer book from this author! This book has some great rep! We’ve got various members of the LGBTQ+ community plus neurodivergent representation as well!
August 18, 2023
This was such a sweet middle grade book about Ellen, an autistic thirteen year old, learning more about crushes, gender identity, sexuality, friendship, and how to stick up for yourself.
February 28, 2023
There is something so healing about queer neurodivergent middle grade books for me. There were so many moments during the story that I wanted to cry because everything was just so simple for these kids. Like for example just Ellen being autistic is widely accepted from her peers. Of course there is a couple instances where it isn't, but for the most part they're there for her. There's one particular scene where her friends help her through a panic attack that I had to pause the book for a minute because I was so overwhelmed by how wholesome it was. There's another scene where queer identities are disclosed and the kids just accept it and move on. There's very little to no pushback and it's just a thing. It is part of what makes this book so exceptional but also part of why I'm really excited for this next generation to grow up.
Anyway, moving on beyond my overemotional traumatized adult millennial feelings, this book is super great. It takes place on a school trip and Ellen ends up not paired with her friend but instead paired with a new non-binary kid in a group of four. Her Dad is one of the chaperones and they're just really trying to figure out how to understand some new dynamics outside of binary thinking. Ellen is Jewish and autistic and queer and she is just doing her best to be a middle schooler. Trying to navigate new friendships and old friendships and new spaces and sensory situations and new identities. I loved this book so much. That wasn't a surprise since I also loved Ana on the Edge and Camp Quiltbag, but I'm so happy to have another absolutely stellar middle grade to recommend.
I do want to mention that in the audiobook there are instances where Ellen has sensory overload that the narrator/production team chose to make it a full experience. What I mean by that is that they layered lots of sounds over one another and as an autistic person listening to the audiobook it was overwhelming. It kind of rips you out of the story which is not a pleasant thing to have happen. I do wish a little bit more care would have been taken in considering neurodivergent readers / listeners when producing the audiobook.
Anyway, moving on beyond my overemotional traumatized adult millennial feelings, this book is super great. It takes place on a school trip and Ellen ends up not paired with her friend but instead paired with a new non-binary kid in a group of four. Her Dad is one of the chaperones and they're just really trying to figure out how to understand some new dynamics outside of binary thinking. Ellen is Jewish and autistic and queer and she is just doing her best to be a middle schooler. Trying to navigate new friendships and old friendships and new spaces and sensory situations and new identities. I loved this book so much. That wasn't a surprise since I also loved Ana on the Edge and Camp Quiltbag, but I'm so happy to have another absolutely stellar middle grade to recommend.
I do want to mention that in the audiobook there are instances where Ellen has sensory overload that the narrator/production team chose to make it a full experience. What I mean by that is that they layered lots of sounds over one another and as an autistic person listening to the audiobook it was overwhelming. It kind of rips you out of the story which is not a pleasant thing to have happen. I do wish a little bit more care would have been taken in considering neurodivergent readers / listeners when producing the audiobook.
December 31, 2023
I really wanted to like this book more than I did. The premise had such promise, and the descriptions of autism were pretty accurate.
But.
It seemed like every minority possible was thrown into the book, and thrown in just to check off boxes for brownie points. There was little character growth or change.
There was never really any ramifications from any of the actions that Ellen did that hurt her friends. There was no growth - sure, she was no local co dependent on Laurel but now she is on the rest of her team.
She lied to her friends. Everything was fine. She, a fellow gay person, outed someone. And the whole way that played out and was handled was beyond icky.
Isa was every nonbinary trope as well, which was frustrating as there was promise but then there wasn’t.
It just wasn’t all that great.
But.
It seemed like every minority possible was thrown into the book, and thrown in just to check off boxes for brownie points. There was little character growth or change.
There was never really any ramifications from any of the actions that Ellen did that hurt her friends. There was no growth - sure, she was no local co dependent on Laurel but now she is on the rest of her team.
She lied to her friends. Everything was fine. She, a fellow gay person, outed someone. And the whole way that played out and was handled was beyond icky.
Isa was every nonbinary trope as well, which was frustrating as there was promise but then there wasn’t.
It just wasn’t all that great.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2022
4.5/5
CW: misgendering and outing (both challenged)
This was one of my most anticipated reads for the year and it did not disappoint, clearly as I devoured this book in less than twenty-four hours. After reading Ana on the Edge two years ago, I knew A.J. Sass was going to be an insta-buy author for me, and Ellen Outside the Lines just solidified my thoughts.
I'm honestly so glad young readers are getting to have books like Ana on the Edge and Ellen Outside the Lines out in the world for them to read. They are both truly safe spaces to learn about people who aren't inside the lines of society in a way that gently explains but doesn't overdo it and take the reader out of the story. They are a great starting point for conversations.
Anyway, getting back to Ellen. This book was like a warm hug of understanding. I loved watching Ellen grow as a person while finding her place between two worlds where at first, she didn't feel like she fit either. Ellen learning that best friends grow apart as interests change was hard to watch, but watching her find her own footing with new friends who accept her as she is was so nice. I loved how easily Isa and Gibs and Andrew took her into their group and while they didn't always understand, they made a great effort to try. I'm also loving this new trend of having characters ask other characters who are in distress if it's okay to touch them. It's such an important thing for people to learn and to have it in books aimed for younger readers is amazing. (I also read it in Lakelore this year and it made me so happy then too)
I also loved the fact that this is the second book in a row that I've read that has another language intermixed with the rest of the story and doesn't immediately give a direct translation, but gives context clues with how the rest of the world reacts. I personally love it and in this book we get Spanish, Hebrew, and Catalan and I think that's just amazing.
There was one thing I really enjoyed about the audiobook, and that was when Ellen was having a sensory overload, the audiobook layered the lines together to show how it felt with all the noises going at once. It was such a great touch. After looking through the physical copy I have, I did see that there was formatting to make it look more chaotic, but having those lines read over one another just elevates that feeling that much more and I would highly recommend the audiobook!
CW: misgendering and outing (both challenged)
This was one of my most anticipated reads for the year and it did not disappoint, clearly as I devoured this book in less than twenty-four hours. After reading Ana on the Edge two years ago, I knew A.J. Sass was going to be an insta-buy author for me, and Ellen Outside the Lines just solidified my thoughts.
I'm honestly so glad young readers are getting to have books like Ana on the Edge and Ellen Outside the Lines out in the world for them to read. They are both truly safe spaces to learn about people who aren't inside the lines of society in a way that gently explains but doesn't overdo it and take the reader out of the story. They are a great starting point for conversations.
Anyway, getting back to Ellen. This book was like a warm hug of understanding. I loved watching Ellen grow as a person while finding her place between two worlds where at first, she didn't feel like she fit either. Ellen learning that best friends grow apart as interests change was hard to watch, but watching her find her own footing with new friends who accept her as she is was so nice. I loved how easily Isa and Gibs and Andrew took her into their group and while they didn't always understand, they made a great effort to try. I'm also loving this new trend of having characters ask other characters who are in distress if it's okay to touch them. It's such an important thing for people to learn and to have it in books aimed for younger readers is amazing. (I also read it in Lakelore this year and it made me so happy then too)
I also loved the fact that this is the second book in a row that I've read that has another language intermixed with the rest of the story and doesn't immediately give a direct translation, but gives context clues with how the rest of the world reacts. I personally love it and in this book we get Spanish, Hebrew, and Catalan and I think that's just amazing.
There was one thing I really enjoyed about the audiobook, and that was when Ellen was having a sensory overload, the audiobook layered the lines together to show how it felt with all the noises going at once. It was such a great touch. After looking through the physical copy I have, I did see that there was formatting to make it look more chaotic, but having those lines read over one another just elevates that feeling that much more and I would highly recommend the audiobook!
April 13, 2022
*Overdrive app *
Narration: 4 stars 🌟
Story/characters: 4 stars 🌟
----
Brain 🧠 is worn out from personal life stuff so I'm just gonna say I loved this story and didn't want to leave any of it's characters behind. It charmed me fairly quickly and I had so much fun:).
Narration: 4 stars 🌟
Story/characters: 4 stars 🌟
----
Brain 🧠 is worn out from personal life stuff so I'm just gonna say I loved this story and didn't want to leave any of it's characters behind. It charmed me fairly quickly and I had so much fun:).
September 10, 2021
I absolutely wish I had this book as a kiddo.
March 23, 2023
4.75/5
I was going to give this 4.5 and round down, but I have not been able to stop thinking about it since I finished it this morning. As such, I figured I should give it a little bit higher of a rating (and it probably deserves that much).
Before I ramble about what I loved about this book, I am going to list the two things that I really didn't like about this book. And then I'll go into the other stuff.
1) The outing storyline- I hate all kinds of outing storylines. I know why it was used in this instance and like for character development and Ellen more deeply understanding meaning with words but I still hated it. I cannot stand them. Especially when I'm trying to read something mostly positive, it just hurts my heart a little bit. I know it happens to people in real life- I just don't think it was necessary. And also I don't think I like how it portrays Ellen as a character.
2) The ages of the characters- I just read the description and it said 13. I just cannot see them as 13. They felt like they were in high school rather than middle school. They were not written for me like middle schoolers. And what was more frustrating was that even if they were written as middle schoolers and I am just wrong on that- I felt like there was very little establishment of character age in the beginning of the book, which I would've liked having been included.
In terms of things I liked:
Isa my beloved- you are wonderful. They were my everything. I loved them as a character. I wish I had someone like them as a friend growing up (and sometimes now). Someone who like truly understands your brain despite them having a different one is something that I wish I had more regular access to (although shout out to my two friends who have supported me individually through meltdowns before- you know who you are and if you read this I love and appreciate you very much so). Friendship is fucking hard. And having a friend who is able to help you through something and understand you and interpret the world for you is something that I think most autistic people need. (My brain is immediately going to Angela Montenegro and Temperance Brennan from Bones because my therapist tends to use this as a comparison point for me because I love Bones but we are going to move on). But regardless of the friendship point- Isa was a kickass character. I love seeing someone who like is confident in their identity and won't let anyone shake them. It was great- I loved it.
The overstimulation representation was everything for me. I felt it. I could fully understand what Ellen was going to (well I've never been to Spain so I can't understand that specifically but I have been in large crowded shopping places before so I can understand on that level). It is fully me and my noise canceling headphones against the world sometimes. Also I really liked the laundry analogy that was provided for overstimulation. It was something that made it understandable for the average individual who has maybe never experienced that before- it was appreciated.
Mr. Katz was beloved. I love good father figures. Give me more good father figures in media. I loved him. He was so sweet. Such a good guy. I also loved how he communicated with Ellen and wanted to know what she wanted rather than just assuming for her.
Andy was such a good character. I also love that like you're getting to know him just like Ellen does. That's an element of the story that I really appreciated. I think it was neat seeing how all of the characters moved along and connected. Idk I just liked learning all of the little elements of the characters at the same pace as Ellen- it was great.
Anyway- this book is really something special to me. Mostly for the neurodivergence representation. In a couple months, we'll know if I can be like "yes this is character is just like child me" but it felt incredibly relatable to both child and current me. I loved them dearly. I think that it was a really cool read. And I appreciate my one friend for getting me a copy for Christmas thank you <3
I was going to give this 4.5 and round down, but I have not been able to stop thinking about it since I finished it this morning. As such, I figured I should give it a little bit higher of a rating (and it probably deserves that much).
Before I ramble about what I loved about this book, I am going to list the two things that I really didn't like about this book. And then I'll go into the other stuff.
1) The outing storyline- I hate all kinds of outing storylines. I know why it was used in this instance and like for character development and Ellen more deeply understanding meaning with words but I still hated it. I cannot stand them. Especially when I'm trying to read something mostly positive, it just hurts my heart a little bit. I know it happens to people in real life- I just don't think it was necessary. And also I don't think I like how it portrays Ellen as a character.
2) The ages of the characters- I just read the description and it said 13. I just cannot see them as 13. They felt like they were in high school rather than middle school. They were not written for me like middle schoolers. And what was more frustrating was that even if they were written as middle schoolers and I am just wrong on that- I felt like there was very little establishment of character age in the beginning of the book, which I would've liked having been included.
In terms of things I liked:
Isa my beloved- you are wonderful. They were my everything. I loved them as a character. I wish I had someone like them as a friend growing up (and sometimes now). Someone who like truly understands your brain despite them having a different one is something that I wish I had more regular access to (although shout out to my two friends who have supported me individually through meltdowns before- you know who you are and if you read this I love and appreciate you very much so). Friendship is fucking hard. And having a friend who is able to help you through something and understand you and interpret the world for you is something that I think most autistic people need. (My brain is immediately going to Angela Montenegro and Temperance Brennan from Bones because my therapist tends to use this as a comparison point for me because I love Bones but we are going to move on). But regardless of the friendship point- Isa was a kickass character. I love seeing someone who like is confident in their identity and won't let anyone shake them. It was great- I loved it.
The overstimulation representation was everything for me. I felt it. I could fully understand what Ellen was going to (well I've never been to Spain so I can't understand that specifically but I have been in large crowded shopping places before so I can understand on that level). It is fully me and my noise canceling headphones against the world sometimes. Also I really liked the laundry analogy that was provided for overstimulation. It was something that made it understandable for the average individual who has maybe never experienced that before- it was appreciated.
Mr. Katz was beloved. I love good father figures. Give me more good father figures in media. I loved him. He was so sweet. Such a good guy. I also loved how he communicated with Ellen and wanted to know what she wanted rather than just assuming for her.
Andy was such a good character. I also love that like you're getting to know him just like Ellen does. That's an element of the story that I really appreciated. I think it was neat seeing how all of the characters moved along and connected. Idk I just liked learning all of the little elements of the characters at the same pace as Ellen- it was great.
Anyway- this book is really something special to me. Mostly for the neurodivergence representation. In a couple months, we'll know if I can be like "yes this is character is just like child me" but it felt incredibly relatable to both child and current me. I loved them dearly. I think that it was a really cool read. And I appreciate my one friend for getting me a copy for Christmas thank you <3
read-audiobooks
June 14, 2022This book was pretty much perfect. Autistic joy + queer pride + Jewish heritage + traveling abroad + evolving friendships.
Ellen is on a school trip to Barcelona with her Spanish class. I loved that the students had the freedom to pick their destinations around Barcelona while they tried to solve clues for their scavenger hunt. They weren’t so buckled down with a strict itinerary and it seemed like such an amazing travel experience.
Ellen is rooming with their best friend Laurel, and hoping that they will have fun again like old times. They get separated into different groups for the scavenger hunt but this gives Ellen a chance to make new friends. Laurel’s new friends weren’t the most accepting of Ellen, and I could see how Laurel was struggling to fit in with the cool girls and be there for her best friend at the same time.
Ellen has only had crushes on other girls, and now they are learning about other queer identities, genders, and pronouns thanks to their new friends. Isa is the new incoming student and identifies as nonbinary; Andy is an athlete and gay; Gibs has ADHD, is always sleeping, and identifies as a dude. I loved this group so much.
Lastly, I loved the autistic and Jewish representation. I loved hearing about Ellen’s stimming, flapping, lists in their dot diary, all of it. The overload Ellen often felt was so well done in the audiobook. And I loved that her and her father spoke Hebrew words to each other and discussed how everyone can have different relationships with Judaism. Her parents were so supportive and gave her the space she needed.
Content warnings: misgendering, forced outing, emotional manipulation
Ellen is on a school trip to Barcelona with her Spanish class. I loved that the students had the freedom to pick their destinations around Barcelona while they tried to solve clues for their scavenger hunt. They weren’t so buckled down with a strict itinerary and it seemed like such an amazing travel experience.
Ellen is rooming with their best friend Laurel, and hoping that they will have fun again like old times. They get separated into different groups for the scavenger hunt but this gives Ellen a chance to make new friends. Laurel’s new friends weren’t the most accepting of Ellen, and I could see how Laurel was struggling to fit in with the cool girls and be there for her best friend at the same time.
Ellen has only had crushes on other girls, and now they are learning about other queer identities, genders, and pronouns thanks to their new friends. Isa is the new incoming student and identifies as nonbinary; Andy is an athlete and gay; Gibs has ADHD, is always sleeping, and identifies as a dude. I loved this group so much.
Lastly, I loved the autistic and Jewish representation. I loved hearing about Ellen’s stimming, flapping, lists in their dot diary, all of it. The overload Ellen often felt was so well done in the audiobook. And I loved that her and her father spoke Hebrew words to each other and discussed how everyone can have different relationships with Judaism. Her parents were so supportive and gave her the space she needed.
Content warnings: misgendering, forced outing, emotional manipulation
April 29, 2023
4.5 stars! I really loved this one. And I really loved this quote, “Stimming feels as natural as breathing, but it still gets me weird looks.”
June 3, 2023
this made my little queer neurodivergent heart so full
April 5, 2024
ellen is so me, i felt so transported back to middle school
March 10, 2025
This book very accurately portrays trying to travel while being neurodivergent and questioning your identity. Meaning it is incredibly stressful and I did not enjoy reading it
October 6, 2023
What a delightful story for the middle-grade age group about coming out, finding yourself, and friendship. Themes include religious diversity, LGBTQIA+, friendship, autism.
April 21, 2022
CWs:
Some experiences of ableism; descriptions of overstimulation and autistic burnout; brief exploration of outing
April 2, 2022
Ellen Outside The Lines follows Ellen Katz on a two week school trip to Barcelona. Ellen, who is Autistic, thinks this trip will be the perfect chance to spend more time with her best friend Laurel, who has been distant this summer with a busy schedule.
Ellen, with a lot of help from friends and family, learns a lot about different identities and in turn about her own. This was a great read and A. J. Sass managed to juggle multiple plot threads very well. Through Ellen's eyes, he gives readers a sense of Barcelona, plus an introduction to gender identity and religion.
A great read and very suitable for its intended middle-grade audience. Readers get to see autism from an internal perspective and understand some of the trials and joys that can come with being neurodiverse
Thanks so much to Netgalley and Little Brown for providing an ARC!
Ellen, with a lot of help from friends and family, learns a lot about different identities and in turn about her own. This was a great read and A. J. Sass managed to juggle multiple plot threads very well. Through Ellen's eyes, he gives readers a sense of Barcelona, plus an introduction to gender identity and religion.
A great read and very suitable for its intended middle-grade audience. Readers get to see autism from an internal perspective and understand some of the trials and joys that can come with being neurodiverse
Thanks so much to Netgalley and Little Brown for providing an ARC!
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March 28, 2022Characters
One of my favorite things in this book was the characters. All the characters had interesting backstories, and they all had personalities that I wanted to read more about. My favorite character was Ellen, not because she was the main character in the story, but because she went on a journey. Ellen’s growth over the novel was absolutely amazing, and I loved reading about how much she grew over the course of the story. I loved the supporting cast.They were all very well crafted characters, and they all supported Ellen on her journey to find herself. In the end, there was an understanding between all of the characters, and that was fantastic.
Plot
Most of the story took place in Spain, and I just loved seeing Spain from the eyes of Ellen and her friends. The scavenger hunt was an interesting plot element and one that kept me guessing, wondering how it was going to end in the story. Another major element of the plot was the journey that Ellen found herself, and I loved seeing how much the story helped Ellen find herself. Friendships come and go, especially in Middle-School, and this was an authentic story about friends, old and new, coming together, which I loved.
Writing
The writing of this novel was excellent, and I loved how the writing worked to tell the story. The lighter tone was welcome during the more light-hearted and fun scenes, where the group was bonding, and getting to know each other. This was a story that also had some heavy scenes and the writing during the heavy scenes in the story and the more honest scenes set the tone for the rest of the story.
Friendship
Friendship plays a big role in Ellen Outside the lines, and I loved the friend group. Laurel was Ellen’s best friend but as a friendship goes, Laurel started hanging out with two other girls, without Ellen, and Ellen misses the way it used to be. Ellen’s team was made up of Isa, Gibs, and Andy, and as a team, they all worked very well together. The end of the novel was sweet because both friend groups talked, and they came up with a plan where they could all hang out together. Ellen also learned that she could make other friends over the course of the story.
Enjoyment/ Recommend for
I loved this story so much. I believe that anyone who enjoys Middle-Grade Contemporary, LGBTQ+ stories, and stories about friendship, would enjoy this novel.
One of my favorite things in this book was the characters. All the characters had interesting backstories, and they all had personalities that I wanted to read more about. My favorite character was Ellen, not because she was the main character in the story, but because she went on a journey. Ellen’s growth over the novel was absolutely amazing, and I loved reading about how much she grew over the course of the story. I loved the supporting cast.They were all very well crafted characters, and they all supported Ellen on her journey to find herself. In the end, there was an understanding between all of the characters, and that was fantastic.
Plot
Most of the story took place in Spain, and I just loved seeing Spain from the eyes of Ellen and her friends. The scavenger hunt was an interesting plot element and one that kept me guessing, wondering how it was going to end in the story. Another major element of the plot was the journey that Ellen found herself, and I loved seeing how much the story helped Ellen find herself. Friendships come and go, especially in Middle-School, and this was an authentic story about friends, old and new, coming together, which I loved.
Writing
The writing of this novel was excellent, and I loved how the writing worked to tell the story. The lighter tone was welcome during the more light-hearted and fun scenes, where the group was bonding, and getting to know each other. This was a story that also had some heavy scenes and the writing during the heavy scenes in the story and the more honest scenes set the tone for the rest of the story.
Friendship
Friendship plays a big role in Ellen Outside the lines, and I loved the friend group. Laurel was Ellen’s best friend but as a friendship goes, Laurel started hanging out with two other girls, without Ellen, and Ellen misses the way it used to be. Ellen’s team was made up of Isa, Gibs, and Andy, and as a team, they all worked very well together. The end of the novel was sweet because both friend groups talked, and they came up with a plan where they could all hang out together. Ellen also learned that she could make other friends over the course of the story.
Enjoyment/ Recommend for
I loved this story so much. I believe that anyone who enjoys Middle-Grade Contemporary, LGBTQ+ stories, and stories about friendship, would enjoy this novel.
January 31, 2023
This book is beautiful and so important. As someone in my early 30s who is finally uncovering and embracing my neurodivergence and its intersectionality with my queerness and gender exploration, and also being friends with so many neurodivergent, queer folks, this book feels like a love letter to our individual and collective inner children. I am grateful for Ellen being true to herself and learning that the people who love them will change over time as she becomes more comfortable being their unique self. I thought the lessons around being messy and complex were so thoughtful and inspired lessons of being present and thankful for who and what is in your life, even as that changes and flows over time. The exploration of friendship in this book is really thoughtful and demonstrated how you can still love friends you grow apart from, while welcoming new loving friendships into your life, which I think is beautiful to norm for middle grade (and YA) audiences. I'm excited to read more of A.J. Sass's work and am thankful for the autism and queer representation this book centered.
December 14, 2022
This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Ellen Outside the Lines gives us insight into the mind of a neurodivergent middle-grader who is stretching her wings and reaching past her perceived boundaries for the first time. Ellen is autistic. She likes routines and rules and her comfort zone, which includes her best friend Laurel. So, when she takes a trip to Barcelona and the chaperones throw a whole lot of “new” into the mix, including putting her in a group that doesn’t include her best friend, Ellen is thrown. She isn’t sure if she can navigate the situation, and she doesn’t know how to approach these kids who don’t truly know or understand her. One thing I loved about this book is that it showed both sides of the coin: both Ellen learning and growing and finding ways to navigate the world and her friends (new and old) learning and growing and discovering how they can support her. Add to that Ellen’s new nonbinary friend who challenges her structured view of gender, and you have a compelling story. This book will expand kids’ view of the world and help them find compassion and understanding for those who are different (and it also gives neurodiverse kids a positive view of themselves). Definitely recommend!
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley for review. No compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
Ellen Outside the Lines gives us insight into the mind of a neurodivergent middle-grader who is stretching her wings and reaching past her perceived boundaries for the first time. Ellen is autistic. She likes routines and rules and her comfort zone, which includes her best friend Laurel. So, when she takes a trip to Barcelona and the chaperones throw a whole lot of “new” into the mix, including putting her in a group that doesn’t include her best friend, Ellen is thrown. She isn’t sure if she can navigate the situation, and she doesn’t know how to approach these kids who don’t truly know or understand her. One thing I loved about this book is that it showed both sides of the coin: both Ellen learning and growing and finding ways to navigate the world and her friends (new and old) learning and growing and discovering how they can support her. Add to that Ellen’s new nonbinary friend who challenges her structured view of gender, and you have a compelling story. This book will expand kids’ view of the world and help them find compassion and understanding for those who are different (and it also gives neurodiverse kids a positive view of themselves). Definitely recommend!
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley for review. No compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
December 8, 2023
This is such a gem of a book. I knew from the first chapter that it's something special. The fact that middle grade books like this makes me so happy. So much of Ellen's story resonated with me, and I'm sure that will be true for many other readers as well.
I really love scavenger hunts and puzzles in books, and this was no exception. The scavenger hunt isn't particularly elaborate, but I really enjoyed seeing how the characters worked together to solve the clues, and it was so cool to travel through Barcelona with them.
My main complaint, and the thing that brought it down to four stars for me, is that I really tend to dislike plotlines where conflict stems from people lying. You can just see the blowup coming miles in advance, and it hangs over the rest of the book like a dark cloud. However, this is something that's been a serious dealbreaker for me in the past, so the fact that I still really enjoyed this is another point in its favor.
CW: outing of a queer character
I recieved an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really love scavenger hunts and puzzles in books, and this was no exception. The scavenger hunt isn't particularly elaborate, but I really enjoyed seeing how the characters worked together to solve the clues, and it was so cool to travel through Barcelona with them.
My main complaint, and the thing that brought it down to four stars for me, is that I really tend to dislike plotlines where conflict stems from people lying. You can just see the blowup coming miles in advance, and it hangs over the rest of the book like a dark cloud. However, this is something that's been a serious dealbreaker for me in the past, so the fact that I still really enjoyed this is another point in its favor.
CW: outing of a queer character
I recieved an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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