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Ellie Engle Saves Herself
Now in paperback!
From award-winning YA author Leah Johnson comes her magical middle grade a laugh-until-you-cry, cry-until-you-laugh story about an ordinary girl whose life is turned upside down by some extraordinary powers.
Ellie Engle doesn’t stand out. Not at home, where she's alone with her pet fish since her dad moved away and her mom has to work around the clock . Not at the bakery, where she helps out old Mr. Walker on the weekends. And definitely not at school, where her best friend Abby—the coolest, boldest, most talented girl in the world—drags Ellie along on her never-ending quest to “make her mark.” To someone else, a life in the shadows might seem boring, or lonely. But not to Ellie. As long as she has Abby by her side and a comic book in her hand, she’s quite content.
Too bad life didn’t bother checking in with Ellie. Because when a freak earthquake hits her small town, Ellie wakes up with fantastical powers that allow her to bring anything back to life with just her touch. And when a video of her using her powers suddenly goes viral, Ellie’s life goes somewhere she never imagined—or straight into the spotlight.
Surviving middle school is hard enough. Surviving middle school when paparazzi are camped out on your front lawn and an international pop singer wants you to use your powers on live tv and you might be in love with your best friend but she doesn’t know it? Absolutely impossible.
From award-winning YA author Leah Johnson comes her magical middle grade a laugh-until-you-cry, cry-until-you-laugh story about an ordinary girl whose life is turned upside down by some extraordinary powers.
Ellie Engle doesn’t stand out. Not at home, where she's alone with her pet fish since her dad moved away and her mom has to work around the clock . Not at the bakery, where she helps out old Mr. Walker on the weekends. And definitely not at school, where her best friend Abby—the coolest, boldest, most talented girl in the world—drags Ellie along on her never-ending quest to “make her mark.” To someone else, a life in the shadows might seem boring, or lonely. But not to Ellie. As long as she has Abby by her side and a comic book in her hand, she’s quite content.
Too bad life didn’t bother checking in with Ellie. Because when a freak earthquake hits her small town, Ellie wakes up with fantastical powers that allow her to bring anything back to life with just her touch. And when a video of her using her powers suddenly goes viral, Ellie’s life goes somewhere she never imagined—or straight into the spotlight.
Surviving middle school is hard enough. Surviving middle school when paparazzi are camped out on your front lawn and an international pop singer wants you to use your powers on live tv and you might be in love with your best friend but she doesn’t know it? Absolutely impossible.
288 pages, Paperback
First published May 2, 2023
68 people are currently reading
2217 people want to read
About the author
Leah Johnson
9 books1,560 followersLeah Johnson (she/her) is an eternal midwesterner and author of award-winning books for children and young adults. Her bestselling debut YA novel, You Should See Me in a Crown, was a Stonewall Honor Book, the inaugural Reese's Book Club YA pick, and in 2021, named by TIME as one of the 100 Best Young Adult Books of All Time. She is also the author of the critically acclaimed middle grade novel, Ellie Engle Saves Herself, and the editor of the USA Today bestselling anthology, Black Girl Power. When she’s not writing, you can find her at Loudmouth Books, her Indianapolis-based independent bookstore that specializes in highlighting the work of marginalized authors and uplifting banned or challenged books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 232 reviews
August 25, 2022
I have it on good authority that this book is very good. And also heartwarming. And pretty funny. I think you may like it. But, that's just what I heard *puts hood up and disappears into the night*
July 1, 2023
Adorable sapphic middle grade book with spontaneous “pushing daisies”-like magic and friendship (how it grows, changes, and what true friends are)
June 10, 2023
5 stars. This was a warm hug in a book. Just absolutely precious. Ellie is the most adorable and nerdy little bean and I loved her to bits and pieces. She’s nerdy and really into comics and superheroes. She and her best friend Abby (who she also has a crush on) are going into junior high and are growing apart. Especially when Ellie develops superpowers to bring life to dead things. This was such a great coming of age story and it had the perfect balance of light heartedness, humor, and emotions. It’s well written and well paced and it left me smiling by the end. I’m so glad that there is going to be a book about Bree and I cannot wait for it to come out. If you’re into middle grade I cannot recommend this enough. It’s a good time from beginning to end.
May 22, 2023
This is super cute inside and out. It's a contemporary superhero story, but it's also so much more, and I absolutely loved it.
Want to read
June 16, 2022will I finally get the queer pushing daisies story of my dreams
May 23, 2023
Of the two gay necromancer middle grade novels I've read in the past week, this was the superior one.
February 25, 2024
"I might not be cut out to be the kind of superhero Wonder Woman is, who runs directly into danger with a shield and a uniform and near-limitless strength. But I can be a different kind of hero. A quieter kin. The Ellie Engle kind."
TW: abandonment, animal death, bullying, death, fatphobia, grief, homophobia.
Super cute, heartwarming middle grade.
Used this as a bit of a palette cleanser and it was perfect for the job. I loved Ellie and her little world. The story struggled with the shorter page count, resulting in a bit of the plot being more rushed than I would have liked but that didn't detract from the cuteness.
All in all, a cheesy but lovable book.
TW: abandonment, animal death, bullying, death, fatphobia, grief, homophobia.
Super cute, heartwarming middle grade.
Used this as a bit of a palette cleanser and it was perfect for the job. I loved Ellie and her little world. The story struggled with the shorter page count, resulting in a bit of the plot being more rushed than I would have liked but that didn't detract from the cuteness.
All in all, a cheesy but lovable book.
March 22, 2024
Picture this: In a world where books are being banned faster than you can say "plot twist" and the LGBTQ community is being made to feel as welcome as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs, along comes a book that's like a breath of fresh air – or maybe more like a burst of rainbow-colored confetti!
Meet Ellie, our fabulous protagonist – a young, queer black girl who's more at home in the shadows than under the spotlight. She's perfectly content being the sidekick to her best friend, who's on a mission to be the next big somebody. But guess what? Life has other plans, and before you can say "superpowers," Ellie finds herself smack dab in the middle of the spotlight with powers she never knew she had!
As Ellie navigates her newfound fame, she's also juggling unexpected visits from her idol, who turns out to be a bit more demanding than a diva on a sugar rush. But fear not! Along the way, Ellie learns some valuable life lessons, makes some adorable friendships, and serves up enough sass to power a small city.
So, if you're in need of a pick-me-up read that's equal parts heartwarming and hilarious, look no further! This book is like a rollercoaster ride through a theme park of feels – fast, fun, and totally worth the price of admission. Buckle up, buttercup, because Ellie's ready to take you on the adventure of a lifetime!
P.S. I want a sequel.
Meet Ellie, our fabulous protagonist – a young, queer black girl who's more at home in the shadows than under the spotlight. She's perfectly content being the sidekick to her best friend, who's on a mission to be the next big somebody. But guess what? Life has other plans, and before you can say "superpowers," Ellie finds herself smack dab in the middle of the spotlight with powers she never knew she had!
As Ellie navigates her newfound fame, she's also juggling unexpected visits from her idol, who turns out to be a bit more demanding than a diva on a sugar rush. But fear not! Along the way, Ellie learns some valuable life lessons, makes some adorable friendships, and serves up enough sass to power a small city.
So, if you're in need of a pick-me-up read that's equal parts heartwarming and hilarious, look no further! This book is like a rollercoaster ride through a theme park of feels – fast, fun, and totally worth the price of admission. Buckle up, buttercup, because Ellie's ready to take you on the adventure of a lifetime!
P.S. I want a sequel.
April 1, 2024
If I had a nickel for every book I've read that has a middle grade queer main character who's magical with a resurrected goldfish I'd have two nickels. Which isn't a lot but it's weird that it happened twice. 😂
Anyway, this is definitely my favorite of Leah Johnson's books. It's by far the most successful for me and really managed to pack an emotional punch in a fun storyline.
Ellie is just trying to figure out how to tell her best friend that she might have feelings for her when a freak earthquake hits and all of a sudden Ellie can bring things back to life. She tries to figure out how to live with this and what on earth to do with her new magical abilities well also navigating friendships and new crushes and the kind of horror that middle school can be. Overall this was super cute and I really liked it.
If you're curious about the other middle grade book with a resurrected goldfish and a magical queer main character it's called Matteo and it is a Pinocchio retelling.
Anyway, this is definitely my favorite of Leah Johnson's books. It's by far the most successful for me and really managed to pack an emotional punch in a fun storyline.
Ellie is just trying to figure out how to tell her best friend that she might have feelings for her when a freak earthquake hits and all of a sudden Ellie can bring things back to life. She tries to figure out how to live with this and what on earth to do with her new magical abilities well also navigating friendships and new crushes and the kind of horror that middle school can be. Overall this was super cute and I really liked it.
If you're curious about the other middle grade book with a resurrected goldfish and a magical queer main character it's called Matteo and it is a Pinocchio retelling.
April 28, 2023
Got an arc from ABA
So I try to rate mg books based on how much I would’ve loved it when I was the target age and oh man I would’ve been obsessed with this as a kid. The main character is such an adorable little comic book nerd and oh I feel that. There’s a picture of me as a tiny child reading a fantastic four comic in my car seat so I can say with complete certainty Ellie is the kind of character I would’ve wanted to be best friends with at that age.
I was also a kid when pushing daisies was on the air and this would’ve combined all my favorite things into one.
The ending felt a little abrupt and I woukdve liked more from that, but it makes me wonder if there will be more books in the future with Ellie and her friends, and if there are I’ll read them all
So I try to rate mg books based on how much I would’ve loved it when I was the target age and oh man I would’ve been obsessed with this as a kid. The main character is such an adorable little comic book nerd and oh I feel that. There’s a picture of me as a tiny child reading a fantastic four comic in my car seat so I can say with complete certainty Ellie is the kind of character I would’ve wanted to be best friends with at that age.
I was also a kid when pushing daisies was on the air and this would’ve combined all my favorite things into one.
The ending felt a little abrupt and I woukdve liked more from that, but it makes me wonder if there will be more books in the future with Ellie and her friends, and if there are I’ll read them all
June 11, 2023
Rep: Black lesbian mc with anxiety, Latina side character, bi side character, sapphic side character, nonbinary side character
June 21, 2023
At first glance, Ellie Engle Saves Herself is a classic superhero origin story, and with villains, humour and superpowers, it has everything you could want from a superhero story. But at its heart it’s the story of a Black, queer comic loving twelve-year-old who is anything but the unremarkable girl she believes herself to be. It’s about an uncertain young girl who learns that it’s okay to be your own superhero. It’s a story of friendship, family, self acceptance and looking out for yourself. Ellie Engle Saves Herself is a fun, heartwarming, exciting and magical read starring a protagonist readers will both see parts of themselves in and root for from the first page until the last. This is a story I can’t wait for young readers to get their hands on and, as a bookseller, it’s one I know I will be heartily recommending again and again.
October 23, 2022
Ellie Engle Saves Herself is PRECIOUS. Equal parts heart-warming and funny, Ellie will win over any reader with her big heart and endless superhero references. It was an honor to be with her as she navigated feeling different, grieving/remembering a loved one, and growing into and out of friendships, all while masking the hugest secret: she has a superpower! Ellie has a special place in my heart and I can’t wait to share her story with all the preteen girls I know who will Love this book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2023
Ellie Engle Saves Herself is more of a coming of age story with a dash of magic than an actually magical story. Based on the synopsis, I expected it to be the core of the book, but it's about 40% give or take. The viral video that is supposed to be so significant doesn't even happen until halfway into the book.
I loved Ellie's character arc about learning how to deal with change and navigate complex interpersonal relationships. Change is hard at any age, but lacking the life experience to build coping skills, find a way to improve the situation, or even reach out for comfort makes it particularly difficult when you're young. The most important part of the book is - like the title implies - Ellie saving herself. What that looks like is messy and evolving, but the point is that Ellie doesn't let her fear of the unknown or failure stop her from trying.
The second half of the book is all about how Ellie's powers affect her life now that everyone knows, however, I felt like that aspect was not as well written. It took way too long for her to be discovered, and when she is, it blows over relatively quickly because an incident causes people to believe she's merely a fraud. Her powers were a part of Ellie discovering the power she had all along - ie confidence and security in who she is - but I would have appreciated if they were more relevant to the plot not just character dynamics. I'm going to get into spoiler territory here, so be warned.
For example, Ellie keeps saying that she wants to find a way to help her mother with her powers as her mom works 2 jobs to support the family now that her father has abandoned them and Ellie's beloved grandfather is deceased. All this amounts to until 60% into the book is helping some dying rutabagas grow so that she can bring a bag of them home for dinner one night. They're hurting for money in a general sense, but there are never any food scarcity issues, so while helpful, it's not particularly special. When her big opportunity comes, it's essentially forced on her as Willa Moon - a famous actress - pops up to ask her to revive her dog when Ellie goes viral.
If the viral video is going to be so late in the book, I think the story would have flowed better if Ellie secretly started reviving things for money around town to help the household. The first half would have been Ellie secretly reviving things as a makeshift superhero, and then the viral video is when she gets caught. Willa Moon approaches her with the offer and though Ellie has started to feel weird about it now - the viral video has now opened her up to a barrage of ethical considerations she's been ignoring - she agrees anyway to get the money. This change would tie together the plot thread about Ellie deciding what kind of superhero she wants now that she's been given this gift, makes her powers less of an afterthought in the first half, and would make her decree to help her mom less like narrative hot air.
When Willa Moon asks Ellie to revive her dog, they quickly find out that Ellie's powers are a give and take. By bringing one dog back to life, Willa Moon's other dog is automatically killed in its place. This slides neatly into my above idea as Ella's downfall would be her compromising her integrity for money as she would be ignoring signs that things were off with her powers and the Willa Moon revelation would bring this into stark relief on live tv.
The give and take aspect also doesn't remain firm, which undermines the entire message of sacrifice being an essential part of life. When Ellie brings back her first plant, her pet beta fish, and a dead frog prepped for dissection, there is no sacrifice made. Nothing dies in their stead, and there is no explanation as to why this is. So, the fact that Willa Moon's dogs have to trade their lives feels random.
Additionally, when everyone finds out about Ellie's powers, it's noted that the only people who stalk her are the news and a bunch of people who view her as either a liar or abomination. It makes absolutely no sense that nobody other than Willa Moon tries to ask her to revive someone. There would be desperate parents, doctors, lawyers, adults, children, whatever of all shapes, sizes, religions, backgrounds beating down her door for her power. No amount of accusations of fraudulence would deter them when she's literally (in their eyes) the only way to reclaim their loved one(s). Especially since literally all it takes is one person to catch her by surprise, touch a dead thing to her skin, and everyone would immediately know that it wasn't fraud.
It is impossible that she would be able to simply move on and people leave her alone because it's too easy to prove it's not a lie. People would be throwing dead stuff at her constantly or worse, begging her for assistance at every turn. She would have to move and change her name in order to get any peace.
The way Johnson has the reveal play out is absurdly unrealistic, to the point I could no longer even enjoy the story as it played out, I was so annoyed.
The supporting cast is underdeveloped. I recently saw that Breonna Boyd, a childhood acquaintance turned actual friend, has her own book, so that might explain why she doesn't get as much focus. However, I don't think that's any excuse not to develop her now to incentivize reading her original story. Sammy Sparks, Ellie's mother, and Ellie's surrogate grandfather, Mr. Walker do not appear enough either based on how important they supposedly are to Ellie. If a character is said to be a key part of a characters' life, then I expect to see plenty of interaction to justify it. Abby, Ellie's best friend turned short-term frenemy, is an example of how the character usage should be executed. She is present consistently throughout, Ellie thinks of her often, and she's directly tied to the events of the story.
On a positive note: I liked that Ellie coming out was not a focal point of the story. Coming to terms with being queer underscored her arc, however, coming out was never presented as a necessary component to her growth. Being comfortable in her skin was vastly more important than aspiring to some arbitrary standard of queerness. Coming out does not have to be the end all be all for queer stories, particularly because not everyone decides to come out for one reason or another.
A decent book marked by logical inconsistencies, poor pacing, and a (seemingly!) tacked on superhero gimmick. The book would have been a lot better as a straightforward coming of age story.
I loved Ellie's character arc about learning how to deal with change and navigate complex interpersonal relationships. Change is hard at any age, but lacking the life experience to build coping skills, find a way to improve the situation, or even reach out for comfort makes it particularly difficult when you're young. The most important part of the book is - like the title implies - Ellie saving herself. What that looks like is messy and evolving, but the point is that Ellie doesn't let her fear of the unknown or failure stop her from trying.
The second half of the book is all about how Ellie's powers affect her life now that everyone knows, however, I felt like that aspect was not as well written. It took way too long for her to be discovered, and when she is, it blows over relatively quickly because an incident causes people to believe she's merely a fraud. Her powers were a part of Ellie discovering the power she had all along - ie confidence and security in who she is - but I would have appreciated if they were more relevant to the plot not just character dynamics. I'm going to get into spoiler territory here, so be warned.
For example, Ellie keeps saying that she wants to find a way to help her mother with her powers as her mom works 2 jobs to support the family now that her father has abandoned them and Ellie's beloved grandfather is deceased. All this amounts to until 60% into the book is helping some dying rutabagas grow so that she can bring a bag of them home for dinner one night. They're hurting for money in a general sense, but there are never any food scarcity issues, so while helpful, it's not particularly special. When her big opportunity comes, it's essentially forced on her as Willa Moon - a famous actress - pops up to ask her to revive her dog when Ellie goes viral.
If the viral video is going to be so late in the book, I think the story would have flowed better if Ellie secretly started reviving things for money around town to help the household. The first half would have been Ellie secretly reviving things as a makeshift superhero, and then the viral video is when she gets caught. Willa Moon approaches her with the offer and though Ellie has started to feel weird about it now - the viral video has now opened her up to a barrage of ethical considerations she's been ignoring - she agrees anyway to get the money. This change would tie together the plot thread about Ellie deciding what kind of superhero she wants now that she's been given this gift, makes her powers less of an afterthought in the first half, and would make her decree to help her mom less like narrative hot air.
When Willa Moon asks Ellie to revive her dog, they quickly find out that Ellie's powers are a give and take. By bringing one dog back to life, Willa Moon's other dog is automatically killed in its place. This slides neatly into my above idea as Ella's downfall would be her compromising her integrity for money as she would be ignoring signs that things were off with her powers and the Willa Moon revelation would bring this into stark relief on live tv.
The give and take aspect also doesn't remain firm, which undermines the entire message of sacrifice being an essential part of life. When Ellie brings back her first plant, her pet beta fish, and a dead frog prepped for dissection, there is no sacrifice made. Nothing dies in their stead, and there is no explanation as to why this is. So, the fact that Willa Moon's dogs have to trade their lives feels random.
Additionally, when everyone finds out about Ellie's powers, it's noted that the only people who stalk her are the news and a bunch of people who view her as either a liar or abomination. It makes absolutely no sense that nobody other than Willa Moon tries to ask her to revive someone. There would be desperate parents, doctors, lawyers, adults, children, whatever of all shapes, sizes, religions, backgrounds beating down her door for her power. No amount of accusations of fraudulence would deter them when she's literally (in their eyes) the only way to reclaim their loved one(s). Especially since literally all it takes is one person to catch her by surprise, touch a dead thing to her skin, and everyone would immediately know that it wasn't fraud.
It is impossible that she would be able to simply move on and people leave her alone because it's too easy to prove it's not a lie. People would be throwing dead stuff at her constantly or worse, begging her for assistance at every turn. She would have to move and change her name in order to get any peace.
The way Johnson has the reveal play out is absurdly unrealistic, to the point I could no longer even enjoy the story as it played out, I was so annoyed.
The supporting cast is underdeveloped. I recently saw that Breonna Boyd, a childhood acquaintance turned actual friend, has her own book, so that might explain why she doesn't get as much focus. However, I don't think that's any excuse not to develop her now to incentivize reading her original story. Sammy Sparks, Ellie's mother, and Ellie's surrogate grandfather, Mr. Walker do not appear enough either based on how important they supposedly are to Ellie. If a character is said to be a key part of a characters' life, then I expect to see plenty of interaction to justify it. Abby, Ellie's best friend turned short-term frenemy, is an example of how the character usage should be executed. She is present consistently throughout, Ellie thinks of her often, and she's directly tied to the events of the story.
On a positive note: I liked that Ellie coming out was not a focal point of the story. Coming to terms with being queer underscored her arc, however, coming out was never presented as a necessary component to her growth. Being comfortable in her skin was vastly more important than aspiring to some arbitrary standard of queerness. Coming out does not have to be the end all be all for queer stories, particularly because not everyone decides to come out for one reason or another.
A decent book marked by logical inconsistencies, poor pacing, and a (seemingly!) tacked on superhero gimmick. The book would have been a lot better as a straightforward coming of age story.
April 24, 2023
I don’t avoid middle grade books but I also don’t actively try to find them. I have not been the demographic for middle grade for a very long time. But when they’re queer focused i have a higher chance of reading them because for me it’s healing my inner child with stories I didn’t grow up with. When I saw the synopsis for Ellie Engle Saves Herself I just knew I had to request a copy. I am very grateful I did.
This was a lovely story about growing up and learning how to be older but also about still being a kid. Change and responsibility are two very scary things and I loved how it was represented in this book. It was done really well. There were tougher themes shown in the story but it still stayed true to being meant for the younger population. It was never overwhelming and it was still impactful.
Ellie’s new friendships were the most wholesome development and I think that’s what I loved the most. She was able to learn being herself wasn’t a negative thing and she will find people that cherish aspects of her that others might not like. It was so beautiful.
My copy has so many highlights of moments that I’m gonna cherish for awhile. This will be one book I’ll always recommend.
This was a lovely story about growing up and learning how to be older but also about still being a kid. Change and responsibility are two very scary things and I loved how it was represented in this book. It was done really well. There were tougher themes shown in the story but it still stayed true to being meant for the younger population. It was never overwhelming and it was still impactful.
Ellie’s new friendships were the most wholesome development and I think that’s what I loved the most. She was able to learn being herself wasn’t a negative thing and she will find people that cherish aspects of her that others might not like. It was so beautiful.
My copy has so many highlights of moments that I’m gonna cherish for awhile. This will be one book I’ll always recommend.
January 5, 2023
Thank you to the publisher for an ARC to review!
What an amazingly fun and hilarious read! I don’t remember the last time a book made me laugh like that. I felt like I was 9 years old again reading a Marco edition of the Animorphs. (That’s a high compliment as I didn’t think there was a funnier character in the world than Marco when I was 9.) AND not only was this book charming…it actually taught a lesson. In a way that didn’t make you feel like you were being taught a lesson! And did I mention superpowers??? 7th grade me would have loved to get some superpowers. Johnson does a great job here of capturing that in-between middle school mentality (but ouch did you have to remind me of myself at that age? So much cringe!). Some parts are predictable but, then again, I’m an adult reading a middle grade novel. But even relying on tropes, Johnson has a story that shines with genuineness.
I wanted to give this book 5 stars but I felt like the storyline with Ellie’s dad kinda just didn’t go anywhere. I would have loved to have seen at least one scene where he shows up. Sometimes I wasn’t sure how much time was passing, which messed with my sense of pacing in the book.
But flaws aside, PLEASE READ THIS BOOK. Ack. So cute.
What an amazingly fun and hilarious read! I don’t remember the last time a book made me laugh like that. I felt like I was 9 years old again reading a Marco edition of the Animorphs. (That’s a high compliment as I didn’t think there was a funnier character in the world than Marco when I was 9.) AND not only was this book charming…it actually taught a lesson. In a way that didn’t make you feel like you were being taught a lesson! And did I mention superpowers??? 7th grade me would have loved to get some superpowers. Johnson does a great job here of capturing that in-between middle school mentality (but ouch did you have to remind me of myself at that age? So much cringe!). Some parts are predictable but, then again, I’m an adult reading a middle grade novel. But even relying on tropes, Johnson has a story that shines with genuineness.
I wanted to give this book 5 stars but I felt like the storyline with Ellie’s dad kinda just didn’t go anywhere. I would have loved to have seen at least one scene where he shows up. Sometimes I wasn’t sure how much time was passing, which messed with my sense of pacing in the book.
But flaws aside, PLEASE READ THIS BOOK. Ack. So cute.
July 1, 2023
Ellie has always preferred to stay out of the spotlight and avoid attention. This becomes difficult to maintain when she wakes up one morning to a freak earthquake, and afterwards discovers she has a superpower! That’s right, her touch makes dead things come back to life! Ellie’s not thrilled, but things go along ok until a certain dissection lesson at school turns disastrous. All eyes are suddenly upon her, and most are not looking at her favorably, including her best friend. No comic book that Ellie has ever read can show her how to handle this!
Memorable Quotes:
(Pg. 216)-“That’s the worst part about being different. The loneliness. It’s hard to think of yourself as the same as the person next to you when it seems like no one else is anything like you.”
Memorable Quotes:
(Pg. 216)-“That’s the worst part about being different. The loneliness. It’s hard to think of yourself as the same as the person next to you when it seems like no one else is anything like you.”
February 28, 2025
A middle grade book that was easy to follow a long but not so juvenile.
Despite the bright colors of the cover and the tone of our main character in the first 10%, there is a bit more to unpack with this one. Especially regarding grief, forgiveness, and love.
Its not a romance, but it was nice to see a younger main character so confident in parts of their identity at such a young age. The crushing is important to Ellie's growth throughout the novel and does not overstay it's welcome or make you feel awkward as an adult reading the story.
Perhaps a simpler YA read, but it does still have a bit of bite. Great for the younger readers in your life or anyone that doesn't mind a contemporary YA with some magic.
Despite the bright colors of the cover and the tone of our main character in the first 10%, there is a bit more to unpack with this one. Especially regarding grief, forgiveness, and love.
Its not a romance, but it was nice to see a younger main character so confident in parts of their identity at such a young age. The crushing is important to Ellie's growth throughout the novel and does not overstay it's welcome or make you feel awkward as an adult reading the story.
Perhaps a simpler YA read, but it does still have a bit of bite. Great for the younger readers in your life or anyone that doesn't mind a contemporary YA with some magic.
June 30, 2023
This was an interesting book in that the "plot," as it is, doesn't really kick in until you're way over halfway through. I liked the first part, with Ellie exploring her powers and whatnot, but nothing actually happens for a long, long time. Regardless, I'm a fan of Leah Johnson's writing and I like that Ellie got a power that has some inherent darkness rather than, like, the usual suspects of flying or super strength.
January 24, 2025
A cute story with amazing character Ellie who has anxiety and panic attacks. I found the story good and the representation well done. It’s also a heartwarming and filled with laughter and finding out being yourself.
July 2, 2023
content warnings: divorce, past death of a grandparent, earthquake, animal death, bullying.
rep: ellie is Black and lesbian.
this was all kinds of fun.
rep: ellie is Black and lesbian.
this was all kinds of fun.
May 5, 2024
Lovely and thoughtful, this story is about growing and changing and finding your way in a world that can feel awfully unfair and unkind. But the only way out is through! Loved it!!
February 10, 2023
Ellie is perfectly content staying home and reading comic books, although her best friend, Abby, is not. Ellie's life at home is pretty quiet since her Dad moved out and her mother works long hours, but she enjoys going to visit Abby's more bustling family. She's also missing her grandfather, who has recently passed away. When there is an earthquake right before school, everyone's day is a challenge, but Ellie feels especially strange. When she touches her goldfish, which she thinks has died, and it comes back to life, she has even more concerns. She runs some experiments on her own (she can't bring a rotisserie chicken back to life!), but can't really explain why she has this new ability. It's cool, but somewhat uncomfortable, sort of like the way she feels about Abby. Sure, it's her best friend, but she likes her as a little more than that. Abby is also the first one she tells about her powers, and they freak Abby out a bit. It's hard to juggle the magical abilities, and it becomes even more of a challenge when the media finds out about them. She tries to manage her own publicity by contacting the media herself, but when she brings a dog back to life, she learns a hard lesson about the give and take of the universe.
Strengths: I'm pretty sure that if you polled middle schoolers, 95% of them would want magical powers. The other 5% wouldn't look up from their phones long enough to opine. The idea that an earthquake could just cause someone to have the ability to bring the dead back to life is definitely innovative. Middle grade readers are also big fans of social media, and many of them want to be YouTube stars without fully understanding how unpleasant that kind of fame could be, so I liked that Ellie, even though she wasn't really searching for fame, had to deal with it in a realistic way. Her mother's struggles at providing for her are realistic, and something we should see more of in middle grade literature, and the bakery is a great place for Ellie to occasionally hang out, and Mr. Walker (the owner and Poppy's best friend) is a huge support.
Weaknesses: I wished that the magic had been something a little different. Anything with reanimating dead things has me envisioning zombie hordes, no matter how light and bright the cover is. I loved that she made plants grow, but bringing back living creatures always makes me a little uneasy.
What I really think: It's hard to find books where there is just one person who suddenly has magic; usually it's passed down throuh families, a developed trait that requires schooling, or a world where some portion of the population has magic. Readalikes might include Royce's Root Magic , Thayer's The Talent Thief, Kessler's Has Anyone Seen Jessica Jenkins (invisibility rather than magic) or Villanueva's Sugar and Spite, but Ellie's magic is a little unusual and will speak to readers who hope that they, too, will suddenly have powers one day.
Strengths: I'm pretty sure that if you polled middle schoolers, 95% of them would want magical powers. The other 5% wouldn't look up from their phones long enough to opine. The idea that an earthquake could just cause someone to have the ability to bring the dead back to life is definitely innovative. Middle grade readers are also big fans of social media, and many of them want to be YouTube stars without fully understanding how unpleasant that kind of fame could be, so I liked that Ellie, even though she wasn't really searching for fame, had to deal with it in a realistic way. Her mother's struggles at providing for her are realistic, and something we should see more of in middle grade literature, and the bakery is a great place for Ellie to occasionally hang out, and Mr. Walker (the owner and Poppy's best friend) is a huge support.
Weaknesses: I wished that the magic had been something a little different. Anything with reanimating dead things has me envisioning zombie hordes, no matter how light and bright the cover is. I loved that she made plants grow, but bringing back living creatures always makes me a little uneasy.
What I really think: It's hard to find books where there is just one person who suddenly has magic; usually it's passed down throuh families, a developed trait that requires schooling, or a world where some portion of the population has magic. Readalikes might include Royce's Root Magic , Thayer's The Talent Thief, Kessler's Has Anyone Seen Jessica Jenkins (invisibility rather than magic) or Villanueva's Sugar and Spite, but Ellie's magic is a little unusual and will speak to readers who hope that they, too, will suddenly have powers one day.
February 9, 2025
This was so heartwarming! Where’s the sequel? ✨💕
April 4, 2024
So cute!!
*Spoilers in my review*
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Ellie is a wonderful main character that felt like such a relatable and fun girl. It was almost annoying in the beginning with just how focused she was on her best friend instead of herself but that really lends itself to the development and lessons she learns along the way.
Such a great depiction of that hard place we find ourselves in middle school, yet hopeful about how we can see real growth in ourselves at that stage too.
Really loved what the author wrote in her note at the end of the book and I think it sums it up nicely.
“Ellie Engle Saves Herself is a book about a young, queer, Black girl who believes herself to be unspectacular—who has been convinced that she’s safest in the shadows. Ellie isn’t alone in this. This very moment, all over the country, queer and trans children, especially those of color, are being reminded with every book banned and every anti-LGBTQIA+ law passed that there are people out there who wish them small. Wish them invisible. My hope is that this story (in addition to providing the kind of laughter that makes you pee your pants are little) will serve as a declaration that no one can take away our right to exist without fear or shame. No one.
Ellie Engle Saves Herself is the sometimes-silly, always-joyous reminder that wonder, that MAGIC, aren’t things we outgrow—they’re in our very bones.
…….sometimes, no matter what the world says, our hero is the person looking back at us in the mirror.”
My heart is full and happy after reading this and reading the wonderful authors note and acknowledgments at the end of the book. Idk who else reads those but I always do and they are often just the perfect thing to end with.
As a fellow queer person who happens to work in a library, I really enjoy finding stories that my younger self really needed growing up and I hope I can help kids find that story for themselves.
*Spoilers in my review*
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Ellie is a wonderful main character that felt like such a relatable and fun girl. It was almost annoying in the beginning with just how focused she was on her best friend instead of herself but that really lends itself to the development and lessons she learns along the way.
Such a great depiction of that hard place we find ourselves in middle school, yet hopeful about how we can see real growth in ourselves at that stage too.
Really loved what the author wrote in her note at the end of the book and I think it sums it up nicely.
“Ellie Engle Saves Herself is a book about a young, queer, Black girl who believes herself to be unspectacular—who has been convinced that she’s safest in the shadows. Ellie isn’t alone in this. This very moment, all over the country, queer and trans children, especially those of color, are being reminded with every book banned and every anti-LGBTQIA+ law passed that there are people out there who wish them small. Wish them invisible. My hope is that this story (in addition to providing the kind of laughter that makes you pee your pants are little) will serve as a declaration that no one can take away our right to exist without fear or shame. No one.
Ellie Engle Saves Herself is the sometimes-silly, always-joyous reminder that wonder, that MAGIC, aren’t things we outgrow—they’re in our very bones.
…….sometimes, no matter what the world says, our hero is the person looking back at us in the mirror.”
My heart is full and happy after reading this and reading the wonderful authors note and acknowledgments at the end of the book. Idk who else reads those but I always do and they are often just the perfect thing to end with.
As a fellow queer person who happens to work in a library, I really enjoy finding stories that my younger self really needed growing up and I hope I can help kids find that story for themselves.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2023
Trigger Warnings: divorce, past death of a grandparent, earthquake, animal death
Representation: Sapphic
Ellie Engle Saves Herself! is a middle grade
Ellie Engle doesn’t stand out. Not at home, where she’s alone with her pet fish since her dad moved away and her mom has to work around the clock. Not at the bakery, where she helps out old Mr. Walker on the weekends. And definitely not at school, where her best friend, Abby—the coolest, boldest, most talented girl in the world—drags Ellie along on her never-ending quest to “make her mark.” To someone else, a life in the shadows might seem boring, or lonely. But not to Ellie. As long as she has Abby by her side and a comic book in her hand, she’s quite content.
Too bad life didn’t bother checking in with Ellie. Because when a freak earthquake hits her small town, Ellie wakes up with the power to bring anything back to life with just her touch. And when a video of her using her powers suddenly goes viral, Ellie’s life goes somewhere she never imagined—or wanted: straight into the spotlight.
Surviving middle school is hard enough. Surviving middle school when paparazzi are camped out on your front lawn and an international pop star wants you to use your powers on live TV and you might be in love with your best friend but she doesn’t know it?
Absolutely impossible.
I really need to stop reading middle grades. This book has an interesting story plot. The beginning and middle of the book feels like a different story from the ending. This makes the resolution feel very rushed. It might be due to the fact that I am not the demographic intended to read this story. Nevertheless it is a cute story and helps young readers learn important lessons.
Representation: Sapphic
Ellie Engle Saves Herself! is a middle grade
Ellie Engle doesn’t stand out. Not at home, where she’s alone with her pet fish since her dad moved away and her mom has to work around the clock. Not at the bakery, where she helps out old Mr. Walker on the weekends. And definitely not at school, where her best friend, Abby—the coolest, boldest, most talented girl in the world—drags Ellie along on her never-ending quest to “make her mark.” To someone else, a life in the shadows might seem boring, or lonely. But not to Ellie. As long as she has Abby by her side and a comic book in her hand, she’s quite content.
Too bad life didn’t bother checking in with Ellie. Because when a freak earthquake hits her small town, Ellie wakes up with the power to bring anything back to life with just her touch. And when a video of her using her powers suddenly goes viral, Ellie’s life goes somewhere she never imagined—or wanted: straight into the spotlight.
Surviving middle school is hard enough. Surviving middle school when paparazzi are camped out on your front lawn and an international pop star wants you to use your powers on live TV and you might be in love with your best friend but she doesn’t know it?
Absolutely impossible.
I really need to stop reading middle grades. This book has an interesting story plot. The beginning and middle of the book feels like a different story from the ending. This makes the resolution feel very rushed. It might be due to the fact that I am not the demographic intended to read this story. Nevertheless it is a cute story and helps young readers learn important lessons.
October 5, 2023
Nominated for 2023 Cybils, Middle Grade Spec-Fic
Johnson does a great job with first person in this book; it really centers Ellie's emotions and experience while letting the reader see things she might be missing (such as the insecurities of her best friend). Ellie is already dealing with the A LOT that is the transition to middle school, along with a strained home life where she and her mother haven't recovered financially or emotionally from the death of her maternal grandfather and the departure of her dad. So the sudden acquisition of super powers may push her over the edge.
I wasn't as confident with the media circus parts; maybe kids will just accept it as how those crazy internet celebrities operate? And the cost of the magic seemed rather variable -- if there was something around maybe there was a price to pay, but if there wasn't no problem? Like who died for the goldfish?
But the idea that Ellie is more responsible for herself and her own community than for saving the world or something really worked emotionally. Kids do have superpowers, and they use them to make themselves authentically themselves.
Johnson does a great job with first person in this book; it really centers Ellie's emotions and experience while letting the reader see things she might be missing (such as the insecurities of her best friend). Ellie is already dealing with the A LOT that is the transition to middle school, along with a strained home life where she and her mother haven't recovered financially or emotionally from the death of her maternal grandfather and the departure of her dad. So the sudden acquisition of super powers may push her over the edge.
I wasn't as confident with the media circus parts; maybe kids will just accept it as how those crazy internet celebrities operate? And the cost of the magic seemed rather variable -- if there was something around maybe there was a price to pay, but if there wasn't no problem? Like who died for the goldfish?
But the idea that Ellie is more responsible for herself and her own community than for saving the world or something really worked emotionally. Kids do have superpowers, and they use them to make themselves authentically themselves.
May 3, 2023
4/5⭐️
Thinking back to when I was in elementary school, I think I would have really enjoyed this book (I did now as an adult but at that age I think I would have really connected with it).
Ellie learns that being herself isn't at all a negative thing, and she will make the best friends being her true authentic self. Some LGBTQ+ topics but not the center of the story.
Ellie's dad leaves, and she has to learn to live without him as well as her grandpa who passes - this is all eerily so similar to my childhood except my dad left much sooner. Having my Papa pass when I was in high school was a huge loss as he was a father figure to me. Navigating life after death is difficult at any age, but I think more so when you're still growing up yourself.
A great, fast read. Middle graders would love!
Thinking back to when I was in elementary school, I think I would have really enjoyed this book (I did now as an adult but at that age I think I would have really connected with it).
Ellie learns that being herself isn't at all a negative thing, and she will make the best friends being her true authentic self. Some LGBTQ+ topics but not the center of the story.
Ellie's dad leaves, and she has to learn to live without him as well as her grandpa who passes - this is all eerily so similar to my childhood except my dad left much sooner. Having my Papa pass when I was in high school was a huge loss as he was a father figure to me. Navigating life after death is difficult at any age, but I think more so when you're still growing up yourself.
A great, fast read. Middle graders would love!
November 25, 2023
There’s something about the author’s writing which makes me feel at home. It’s read and wholesome; somehow feels like a warm, comforting hurt while reading the entire book.
I find the main character’s representation realistic and relatable. However, I hope the side characters need to be represented better and we need a better closer for them when the book ends.
It’s the writing that you have to go for when it comes to the author’s writing. The story will seem familiar if you read a lot of middle grade books. But just go for this one if you feel like you need a hug from a book.
I find the main character’s representation realistic and relatable. However, I hope the side characters need to be represented better and we need a better closer for them when the book ends.
It’s the writing that you have to go for when it comes to the author’s writing. The story will seem familiar if you read a lot of middle grade books. But just go for this one if you feel like you need a hug from a book.
February 24, 2024
I consider this to be one of the very best juvenile books I've ever read! Seriously! Ten stars!
I love the unexpected twists and I just hope a sequel is in the works! I want to know what happens next for Ellie Belly and those in her small circle of family and friends!! As well as her dealings with the rest of the world!!
What a beautiful book!! Thank you, Ms. Johnson!
I love the unexpected twists and I just hope a sequel is in the works! I want to know what happens next for Ellie Belly and those in her small circle of family and friends!! As well as her dealings with the rest of the world!!
What a beautiful book!! Thank you, Ms. Johnson!
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