Enjoyed reading this novel after having a chance to meet the author on a zoom call. Having characters that reflect the students that will be reading books is always so important. Hoping many grab this one to read as being diagnosed can be the start of your new chapter. Thanks for the free copy NetGalley. All opinions are mine.

This was a great read. The storytelling is warm and immersive and Elliot is such a relatable, lovable character. He’s sensitive, shows his emotions, and really loves to cook. I loved his relationship with his mother and eventually with his stepmother. Elliot has been diagnosed with ADHD and sees a therapist to help him manage his emotions. I’m here for more stories that help us empathize with kids whose brains work differently. I felt a lot of compassion for him because he was really trying even though his dad didn’t seem to recognize that.

Elliot and Maribel made for a lovely unlikely friendship that blossomed beautifully. The two learn to work together even though Maribel is way more organized than Elliot. I loved that they harnessed both their strengths and creativity. With Maribel, we learn a lot about food allergies and intolerances and how we can be more accommodating of people’s circumstances. Finally, between Elliot’s guinea pigs and Elliot’s struggle to make and keep good friends, this story has plenty of cute, heartwarming moments!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

I finally got to read this book and I´m kicking myself for not getting to it sooner. This ist just such a heartwarming middle grade with a lot of insights into adhd, divorce/blended families, and just growing up in generall. I loved Elliott - he´s one of my new favorite MC in a middle grade book. Highly, HIGHLY recommend.

Honestly Elliott
By Gillian McDunn
New York: Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2022. Fiction. 263 pgs.

Of all the places in his life, Elliott feels most at home in the kitchen. Between his ADHD and his parent's divorce, Elliott often feels out of place and extra-disorganized. But when he's in the kitchen cooking, everything clicks into place for him. Which is good because since Elliott's best friend moved away, he's been feeling more lost than usual. A mysterious incident -- which he refuses to talk about -- has caused extra tension with his father and landed Elliot in therapy. Meanwhile at school, his lunchtime friend group blocks him from joining their group for a class project because of his ADHD and he ends up partnered with ultra-organized, ultra-popular Maribel Martinez. As they plan their project -- baking and selling gluten-free pies -- Elliott realizes he isn't the only one seeking out their true self.

This realistic fiction novel will appeal to readers with a passion for cooking or anyone looking for a slice of life story about a realistic and likeable kid. This book is especially well-paced and well-crafted with a satisfying ending that sees the main cast of characters all experience growth and character development. Elliott comes across as a sensitive character and his relationship with his father, though rocky at first, is inspiring as the two work on communicating with each other.

Oh Elliott! What a wonderfully sweet boy, just trying to make sense of the world while struggling with feelings and emotions like the rest of us. Also working through anger issues, due in part to a dad who portrays a bit of toxic masculinity. But Elliott makes an unlikely friend, gets closer to his step-mom, learns that not everyone is who they seem to be, and begins to work things out. I absolutely love this book.

Elliott will win your heart as Gillian McDunn provides a unique approach for a better understanding of how we're all different. This middle grade book offers insights on ADHD, Celiac disease, divorce, blended families and the typical challenges of growing up. An easy read that touches your heart.

A wonderful book full of humor and heart! Gillian McDunn has done it again—she's written a contemporary middle grade with a likable yet flawed main character, a fascinating bunch of supporting characters, and a compelling plot that's all about the things middle grade readers care about...friendship, family, and learning who you are.

Elliott has a hard time concentrating. He struggles with grades, classmates, and remembering things. With his ADHD, he feels like he doesn’t really fit in, at school or at his dad’s – except when he’s in the kitchen. Elliott loves to cook, to create in the kitchen. He’s saving up to go to cooking camp in the summer. His school project – group project – could be the way to raise the money he needs, but can he do it? Wonderful story with a variety of great characters! Friendship, family, cooking, and self-awareness.

Given the fairly mainstream nature of this book's intent, it has a road a head of it to distinguish itself. The plot is pretty predictable but the characters are interesting enough to keep us reading.

So many students will connect to this book! Elliott has a lot going on in his life. His dad and stepmom are expecting a new baby very soon, he has a major group project at school that is a huge part of his grade, and he is struggling to deal with his ADHD. There is an “incident” that gets explained as the book progresses that affects his relationship with his dad and causes tension. Despite Elliott’s problems, he is kind, creative, notices so much about others, is a great listener, and a talented chef. He uses his gifts to pair with one of the most popular girls in school, who has celiac disease, on a group project. Elliott feels so out of control unless he is in the kitchen, and he learns you sometimes you can’t just throw things together. The author has the right recipe with just the right amount of humor, a dash of sadness as you feel for Elliott, and a taste of inspiration. This book will help students develop empathy and will entertain them as well.

I enjoyed Elliott's story and look forward to adding it to our school library. Elliott is a relatable character and will be enjoyed by readers. Readers who also have ADHD will enjoy having a counterpart who understands how they move and fit in the world.

What a compelling story packed with authentic characters! I loved experiencing Elliott's journey from a kid struggling to share his emotions and speak his truth to one who fights for his friends and takes pride in his achievements. Middle grade fans who enjoy stories about cooking/baking, kids struggling with friendship and family, or characters with ADHD will love this book.

honestly elliott was a great insight into the tumultuous life of a sixth grader, including ADHD, divorced parents, a new step-sibling and making friends. elliott is such a lovely and relatable character -- especially when it comes to his ADHD and his emotions -- and a really fun narrator. each plot line is explored in enough depth for readers to understand without being too much to focus on, and they all work together really well. maribel is a great match for elliott in the story, with their celiac/ADHD comparisons, their "friend groups," and how they talk about their feelings. overall, a great read with some great avenues for kids to understand what they or their peers are going through.

Honestly Elliot is a sweet, heartwarming coming-of-age story featuring a protagonist with ADHD who just loves to cook! Readers will root for Elliot and his new friend Maribel as they learn to see their challenges as strengths. This book also features divorced parents and a boy finding his place as he anticipates a new step-sibling. Like many of Dunn's books, this one is a hug of a book and will keep you hooked from start to finish.

I honestly loved Honestly Elliott!

It took me out of the grumpy mood I was in when I sat down to read, and it completely absorbed me in the characters and their stories. There were so many tender and meaningful moments. The situations and the feelings of the characters were relatable. The cooking, baking, teamwork and supportive community were a pleasure to read about. I didn't want to stop reading, and when I got to the end I felt like the time spent in this book was oh-so-worthwhile. I'm not big on re-reading, but I would certainly read this one again. I will absolutely recommend it widely. I even plan to nominate it as a possible title for next year's Battle of the Books in my district.

What a treat! Elliott's life is a struggle as he learns to balance his ADHD, friendships, and growing family. He finds comfort in cooking, specifically, a Gordon Ramsey-ish chef who gives Elliott some not so great views on life. He's paired with Mirabel on a project to propose a small business, and he unlearns some toxic views and learns to open up.

This book made me tear up, and any book that makes me cry gets 5 stars, but it really deserves it for the insight into ADHD and life with Celiac's. Even showing that sometimes, parents make mistakes in their efforts to set their child up for a better life. It's an excellent reminder that sometimes we have big emotions and don't know how to release them in a healthy way, especially when you're neurodivergent. Mirabel and Elliott's friendship was such a joy to see develop and have Elliott use that confidence to other areas of his life.

*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

Sixth grade is a time of transition, but poor Elliott is having more changes going on in his life than he was prepared for. His best friend moved away, his father remarried and is pregnant, and he is struggling to keep up in school. These are pretty normal things for a 12-year-old to be going through, but Elliott also has pretty bad ADHD. Gillian McDunn does a great job of letting the reader see the world through Elliott's ADHD eyes, to understand the frustration of always forgetting things, not being neat enough, not being overly coordinated. But he also sees that his ADHD helps him do the thing he loves the most - cook. A class project pairs him up with super-smart, focused, popular Maribel. She happens to have Celiac and hates that people think she is faking it when Celiac really hampers her life. Through their project and friendship, Elliott grows into a stronger person. He also figures out how to have a better relationship with his father and perhaps with more people in general.

This was a GREAT book. I heard about it on a new book webinar and immediately went to download it. That was on a Friday. On Saturday it was done. As we are navigating the world of ADHD in my own home, a great deal of this book rang true and will help a world of kids feel seen and perhaps stop beating themselves up for not being exactly what everyone expects them to be. I haven't read any other books by Gillian McDunn, but I am definitely going to, and this will be going in my school library.

Great middle grades novel about finding your voice and place in your family. Elliott is having a hard time because of "The Incident", his stepmother's pregnancy, his ADHD, and the fact that his best (only?) friend will not be back in town for another year. Elliott's passion is cooking but his dad doesn't see that as a real life choice so the pressure is building there as well. Elliott is a bit of a mess but in that charming way that almost all middle schoolers are a mess - sure that they are the only one feeling messy. His voice feels totally authentic as a preteen - the drama, the insecurity, the uncontrollable emotions, the surety of how the world works and what's right and wrong - but he also presents some good insight into the workings of an ADHD brain. Loved the lessons he learned along the way, particularly about using recipes. Although I am skeptical, like many of the characters, I gotta say that now I want to try some Desperation Pie.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an e-ARC of this title.

This book does a great job highlighting how hard it can be to be a kid with ADHD. They struggle with friends, school, and family, and are very aware of the struggle. Elliott is charming, and his new friendship is an amazing one for him. Gillian McDunn does a great job writing true middle grade novels that are accessible to younger middle grade readers. This one will be another great addition to classroom libraries.