As a story about accepting one's strengths and weaknesses and growing up (especially reevaluating one's relationships and friendships at that point), this is strong. There's also strong LGBTQ+ representation, and the main character is a character of color, so that inclusivity is awesome. I do wish the system of superpowers were stronger; there are a lot of plot holes about how Ellie got her powers, how another side (but important) character got the same powers, and how their powers manifest. The premise is intriguing, but it's not explained particularly well; it really took me out of the story. Overall, though, it's a heartwarming, uplifting read.

Ellie is a very engaging and charming protagonist. I was rooting for her to come into her own the entire time. Readers will find something to relate to in her friendship struggles.

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.

An adorable read filled with female power! Despite the book being geared for younger readers, it was still enjoyable to adults.

Ellie is navigating friendships and life at the beginning of 7th grade when something unexpected happens. This is a good choice for those who like to read fantasy and science fiction that mostly feels like realistic fiction with just a slight twist (or for realistic fiction fans who have to read fantasy or science fiction for a genre study). Great representation in the book - Ellie is Black, her best friend is Latinx, another friend has two moms, her teacher has a nonbinary partner.

Middle school/junior high is a lot. Lots of drama. Lots of issues. Lots of questions. Lots of insecurity. Lots of self-examination. Lots of cliques. Ellie Engle’s life has all of that. She’s a smart student and quiet, supportive friend who is happy to stay in the background. When she finds she has super powers after an earthquake strikes, Ellie is totally unprepared. Who would be? Follow along with Ellie as she navigates her newfound powers and learns what is most important. This book will be an easy sell in my middle school library.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Of what I read in this book, I really enjoyed it! Leah Johnson never misses! Unfortunately, the file formatting was so unbelievably messy that I couldn't finish it all the way. I'm really hoping to read this book properly once it comes out.

In the current environment we find ourselves in, where diversity in books went from being a positive, enlightened trait to now being treated as if it's dangerous and "indoctrinating", books like Ellie Engle Saves Herself are more important than ever. Ellie is a lot like many intermediate and middle school kids. Her life revolves around her immediate family, her closest friends, and her crush (who also happens to be her best friend). There are some characteristics that are unique to Ellie, though, such as being content to stay in the shadow of that friend, Abby, and letting her be the one to shine. Oh, and finding out she has the power to bring things to life after an earthquake awakens this magic in her. She tries to use this trait for good, but since she doesn't fully understand her powers, they backfire in some pretty major ways, affecting her friendship and her family.

The overall message of this book is acceptance of your strengths and weaknesses, and loving yourself even when you feel like others have turned their backs on you. It's also about trusting the adults in your life to lift you up and take care of the hard things that you were never supposed to shoulder. This is a lesson that Ellie has to learn because she has a tendency to want to fix things.

The only reason I didn't give this book a higher rating has to do with the earthquake and Ellie's powers. There has to be a willing suspension of disbelief for the reader to buy into events in the story, and I just felt like the earthquake was too convenient. It was never explained very well, and I couldn't seem to accept a correlation between it and Ellie's ability to resurrect or give life. Then when she discovers Mr. Walker's secret, I was even more confused trying to imagine this could happen to more than one person. I do wish there was more information given about how this earthquake caused these powers. Fleshing out that part of the story more might have helped me be more invested in the story.

Overall, it's a solid story about diversity and acceptance, though. Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion for the opportunity to read this egalley.

Ellie is the hero we’ve all been waiting for! I’m so glad that Leah Johnson has ventured into the middle grade realm! My students need her writing! I can’t Wilson to share this one with them!

I received an electronic ARC from Disney Publishing Worldwide through NetGalley.
Johnson offers a gentle look at middle school students who don't fit in. Ellie wants to be in the background and is content to let her only friend, Abby, shine. When an earthquake occurs on the first day of school, Ellie notices some strange things - she can now hear sounds from all over the house and then all over the school. She thinks it's just temporary from the loudness of the earthquake, but then she brings her dead betta fish back to life by touching it. Readers see how having a superpower actually affects a person and how social media can dramatically change lives. When she accidentally brings a frog back to life in the science lab, her secret is shared with the world by the seventh grade bully. She and her mom's lives change but they find their way back to each other by talking honestly for the first time since her dad left. By the end, Ellie has made major strides to learn how to control her gifts and has found friends who support her as she is. Middle grade readers will understand coping with middle school issues and connect with friend and bully issues.

I looove Ellie and I love the thorny friendship and romantic issues tackled here even more than I love the magic powers subplot. And I think the social media/TikTok plot will really resonate with tween readers. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a sequel!!

This was just precious. I will admit that going into this book, I didn't really know what it was about, but I listened to a reading by the author and fell in love. It was interesting to see a middle grade book addressing the power of influencers, but in a charming and hilarious way. HIGHLY recommend this!

“Ellie Engle Saves Herself” is a middle grade novel written by Leah Johnson.

I am honored to have received an eARC from Net Galley and Disney Hyperion.

“Ellie Engle Saves Herself” will be released on May 2, 2023.

I really enjoyed this story about Ellie, starting middle school, friendship, superhero powers, and family. I wondered how it was going to end from the moment I started the book and was not disappointed. I recommend this book starting at middle school.

Ellie is a 7th grade girl who has always been content to live in the shadow of her best friend. Before she can even get comfortable in junior high school, and earthquake hits her town and leaves her with super powers. Ellie discovers she has the ability to bring things back from the dead. Soon the powers cause a rift between Ellie and her best friend, and draws all kinds of unwanted attention to her within her community. Ellie has to learn to be her own person and learn to love herself exactly the way she is. This was a sweet story with some good messages for tween girls. I will say that it felt like the author was overcompensating when it came to representation. It seemed like there were token characters sprinkled throughout that were not important to the plot, but definitely felt like they were put there to make a statement. Besides that, this is a great middle grade read that is uplifting and magical!

Ellie is just a regular middle school aged student with a best friend Abby and a mom who works way too hard to provide for the two of them until an earthquake that shouldn’t happen in her town leaves her with super powers! Figuring out how to navigate those powers is a major plot line, but an equally important one revolves around Ellie’s struggle with her feelings of being different and to find friends who care for her whether she is super, likes girls instead of boys, is in advanced classes, or enjoys comic books. Themes of friendship, forgiveness and fitting in will resound with readers in grades 4-7 and the bit of super hero fantasy gives the book an extra zing. Main characters are Hispanic, Black and Caucasian and family configurations range from two parent heterosexual, to single parent, and two moms. Text is free of profanity, sexual content, and violence.

Middle school is a notorious time of change, but for Ellie Engle, the changes she faces are unlike any she ever expected. Growing up next door to her best friend Abby has been like having a second family–especially since her father moved out and her Poppy passed away, leaving Ellie and her mother working together to get by. But things are beginning to change in Ellie and Abby’s relationship as they pursue their separate passions and Ellie starts to realize the feelings she truly has for Abby. Then, when an unexpected earthquake rocks their small Indiana town, Ellie wakes up with inexplicable skills that separate her even more from the life she used to know.

This middle grade novel is a curious blend of superhero origin story and magic realism, focusing on a girl who already feels distanced from those around her. Characters from all over the spectrum color Ellie’s world, which helps her feel somewhat more comfortable with herself even though she is not prepared to reveal her true feelings to her best friend. Good storytelling and an intriguing premise keep readers engaged with this novel, and the overall design of the book makes it accessible even to more reluctant readers.

While this book includes several positive and notable elements, there are some pieces that do not flow as smoothly. Written in a colloquial style, there are many instances in which Ellie misuses “me” and “I,” which not only throws off the reader but also may confuse those who are not yet fully confident in correct English usage. Additionally, the superhero element draws readers in, but it does not blossom as it could as the story progresses.

Despite these elements, however, Ellie is a character with whom readers will quickly connect, and anyone who has survived middle school will recognize many of the challenges she faces. The story flows well overall, and Ellie’s personality jumps off the page. This is a unique and inclusive novel that is a good fit for middle grade readers with an interest in both superheroes and in the potential that comes from making the impossible a reality.

I love this MC! She is thoughtful and confident and a great role model for young readers. I think this does a good job of showing how to be mindful of yourself and others while also discussing the drawbacks of what happens if you don't find a balance between those two things.

After an earthquake hits her town, seventh grader Ellie wakes up with supersonic hearing and the ability to bring anything back to life. Ellie not only has to deal with her new powers but also with her growing feelings about her best friend Abby. This is a heartwarming story with many laugh-out-loud moments. When a video goes viral of Ellie bringing a frog back to life, Ellie struggles with her friendships and ultimately learns that it is important to know and be yourself. I received an ARC of this story by Leah Johnson from Netgalley. My opinions are my own.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ellie is a brilliant pre-teen who is facing struggles in life in this coming of age novel. Her dad left the family, her mother has to work a couple of jobs, and her best friend betrays her. Add to these heartbreaking issues, Ellie discovers she has a gift that also presents as a curse.

Well this is just adorable! I adored You Should See Me in a Crown, so I had this in my Baker & Taylor cart immediately. I actually had no idea what it was about, so the supernatural twist took me by complete surprise. (I guess it’s not so much a twist as…the premise)

Ellie Engle is utterly unremarkable, and she’s fine with that. She prefers to be in the shadow of her outgoing best friend Abby. But they’re about to start seventh grade, and junior high brings all sorts of growing pains. It’s bad enough that they’re starting new classes, dealing with new teachers, and forging new friendships (including one very inconvenient crush). But an earthquake the night before the first day of school seems to have given Ellie superpowers, and she is SO not prepared!

Ellie soon discovers she has the power to bring things back to life by touching them (she’s also got super hearing, but that’s sort of glossed over). She manages to bring back her pet Betta fish, and some plants in the school’s garden, but when a video of her resurrecting a frog during dissection goes viral, life gets much harder. In some ways, this is a very typical story about starting a new grade, growing pains, and outgrowing old friendships. The superhero angle puts an interesting spin on things – Ellie herself is also obsessed with comic books, and I’m certain there are SO many references that are going completely over my head.

I enjoyed this, but I can’t decide if I would have preferred a more straightforward approach. There’s just a lot happening. I get that we need some kind of catalyst for Ellie and Abby to have a friend breakup - Abby making the cheer squad isn’t quite enough, and Ellie’s viral frog moment turns her into the school freak show (a real “find out who your true friends are” moment). But I almost would have rather followed Ellie’s growing friendship with her new pals, and how she deals with her relationship with her mother (who is raising Ellie by herself since her father walked out - something else that’s sort of just glossed over). The superhero part felt almost beside the point.

But I did love this quote:
People think they want to believe in superheroes. That’s why the Avengers movies make a zillion dollars apiece and why they've had, like, seven hundred different versions of Superman over the past fifty years. Because losing yourself in the fantasy of the all-good and all-powerful is reassuring. But they don’t want superheroes. Not in real life. They want cardboard cutouts.

And to Johnson’s credit, she’s making Ellie more than just a cardboard cutout. She’s human and she makes all kinds of mistakes. But she also has Johnson’s trademark wit - which is really what I loved the most about this book. The line “Every boy in the seventh grade looks like a toe” had me rolling.