Thoughts and Themes: I was so thrilled when I saw this book was coming out because it has an Autistic main character and a non-binary side character. I was so excited to sign up for the tour for this book and so happy that I was admitted onto the tour. This is a book that I winded up hugging when I was done with this book because of how much it made me feel seen.

I really liked how throughout this book Ellen is teaching others what it means to her to be Autistic and Isa is teaching others what it means for them to be non-binary. I liked how each of them breaks things down for each other, and how they both allow each other to have questions but are honest if the questions are too much.

Something else that I really enjoyed about this book is how Ellen is exploring who she is and how her teammates just allow for this exploration while Laurel seems to not be on board with these changes. I really loved how Ellen just freely said that she thought Meritzcell is cute without thinking what others would say but then we see how madison’s reaction changes how Ellen navigates these feelings.

There is so much that I could say about this book because of how much I really loved it and all the little pieces that make up this book. I liked that the book was about Ellen’s trip to Barcelona and we see how her being Autistic affects this trip but it isn’t completely centered on this part of who she is.

Characters: In this book, you get to meet several characters through their interactions with Ellen. You get to meet Ellen’s dad, her best friend, Laurel, and her teammates, Andy, Gibs, and Isa. You also get to briefly meet some of Laurel’s teammates and new friends, Madison and Sophie-Anne.

I really loved everyone on Ellen’s team and how they supported her throughout her time in Barcelona and how they just seemed to understand her. I was frustrated with Laurel throughout this book because it seemed that she didn’t really know Ellen or care about her since she had these new friends and Ellen didn’t really fit into that new life. I really enjoyed that Ellen’s teammates accepted her for who she is but still hold her accountable when she does something to hurt her teammates.

I really enjoyed Ellen’s relationship with her dad and how he is around but not really interfering in Ellen’s exploration of the city. I like that he treats her in the same manner that he treats the other students on the trip. I also really liked the conversations that they have about faith and how Ellen goes to her father to discuss what she did to potentially ruin her friendships.

Thanks to Netgalley and Little Brown Books for Young Readers for the ARC of this!

Very cute, perfect comp to Ivy Aberdeen, this was an easy read that just left me feeling good at the end. Introduces diverse characters in ways that felt natural and also explained them for people who might not know what certain terms mean, without coming off weird. I loved the friendships, especially Isa, and how Ellen stayed true to herself throughout the book. Highly recommend for middle grade readers, but also adults who missed out on having rep when they were young.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers! I highly appreciate the chance to review this book for an honest review, even if I didn't appreciate being called out on just about every page!

Like Ellen, I'm Jewish, a lesbian, awkward socially, and neurodivergent. She is autistic, I am ADHD and... very likely autistic. Also like Ellen, I'm currently in the process of questioning my gender! So you know, great time all around reading this book at this time. I wish I could have had this as a kid, but it's also very interesting having it at this time, and a ride I fully enjoyed. It absolutely wasn't personal, Ellen's far better at Spanish than I am.

Ellen's journey-- away from her friends, out of her comfort zone on multiple occasions-- was one that hit home in a multitude of ways. I don't get overwhelmed in the same circumstances as Ellen, but she's written with so much love, and the acceptance she receives from so many of her peers warm my hearts. Kids can be ignorant, but many of them aren't malicious, and Ellen Outside the Lines captures and plays with that.

This was a beautiful book, and I absolutely did tear up when reading this. Thank you!

Ellen on the Outside is a gentle story of Ellen's summer school trip to Spain and the growing pains of new and old friendships. Ellen is a neurodivergent preteen who strives on schedules and routines. When Ellen's father and the students get to Spain, all of Ellen's pre-planning goes out the window as the trip completely changes the usual schedule. Ellen's relationship with her best friend Lauren has been changing for the past several months. Ellen hopes that this trip will rekindle their friendship. Instead, Ellen is put on a team with a new student, Isa, whose pronouns are they/them.

The author realistically describes some of the drama that is so prevalent with preteens. But Ellen always has a strong support system to depend upon. This book does a wonderful job of navigating the Ellen's journey of recognizing that life does not always fit in nice little categories and that's a good thing.

I really loved this book and the look into someone who is on the spectrum. Ellen is going on a school trip with her best friend, but along the way there are some bumps in the road. We see Ellen face new challenges, new friendships, and even learn about puns!
This is a beautiful book and I loved watching Ellen grow and change.
I liked the look at LGBTQ characters also and the Jewish faith and being Kosher, which Ellen's family is.
Great middle grade read, that every library should have!

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC!

AJ Sass has done it again, creating empathic, real characters that young readers will relate to. I loved the Barcelona setting, the Spanish clues, and especially the exploration of identity that AJ is a master at presenting in a thoughtful and accessible way. Highly recommend.

I really loved this book! Ellen is such a loveable character and I really enjoyed the plot and the diversity. All of the characters were super diverse and fun and I loved how everyone discovered their identities. I totally recommend this book to you!

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 am certain my life has become brighter, now my path has crossed with ELLEN OUTSIDE THE LINES. It felt like a gentle hug, even when things became complicated and hard. It's affirmation in book form.

For starters, the representation is just ... unparalleled. Ellen herself is a Jewish, autistic 12yo who never gets crushes on boys and sometimes likes to use gender neutral pronouns. She's surrounded by kids and adults who constantly challenge binary views about what it means to be a girl, or a boy, or Jewish, or queer, but never in a way that felt forced or stilted. All these identities simply *were.* It's a story about learning and unlearning, wrapped up in a beautifully evocative Barcelona setting that made me VERY nostalgic for the Mediterranean trip I took with my school, once upon a time.

Being in middle school is complicated. Friendships change. Interests shift. But despite inevitable mistakes, tomorrow is for creating beautiful things, and I really, really hope A.J. Sass's book gets the attention it deserves upon release.

Another important entry in the canon of nonbinary middle-grade rep! Mr. Sass (Mx. Sass?) handles both Isa and Ellen with deft characterization and excellent development. No kid gloves in this book! Characters make mistakes and are held to standards of behavior, nobody is perfect, and as a whole this book has important messages about the many ways that we can be true to ourselves.

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