A fun twist on the superhero genre starring a comic book obsessed queer kid who wakes up one day with the ability to bring things back to life. Though she tries to keep it secret, eventually news gets out much to the dismay of her best friend (and crush) Abby who wants her to hide her powers. Now that the world knows, Ellie is forced to adjust to life in the spotlight. This is a coming of age story you might not see coming. It's a lot of fun.

“Ellie Engle Saves Herself” by Leah Johnson is an empowering and heartwarming coming-of-age novel that stole my heart! Johnson’s portrayal of Ellie’s journey to self-discovery is beautifully written and deeply relatable. The book tackles important themes such as identity, family, and love, with incredible sensitivity and authenticity.

Ellie is a fiercely strong and resilient protagonist, and her growth throughout the story is truly inspiring. I loved how Johnson portrayed her as a complex and multi-dimensional character, making her feel like a real person with real struggles. The book also celebrates friendship and the power of finding your tribe, which left me with a warm and uplifting feeling.

The story’s inclusivity and representation are commendable, adding depth and richness to the narrative. Johnson’s writing is delightful, witty, and heartfelt, making it impossible to put the book down. “Ellie Engle Saves Herself” is a captivating read that leaves you feeling empowered and hopeful, reminding us all that we have the strength within ourselves to overcome life’s challenges. I highly recommend this wonderful novel to anyone seeking a powerful and touching story.

A solid read exploring the person we become when unexpected changes are thrust upon us. It has standard middle grade elements - the friend changing in different directions, shifting interests, the pressure to fit in, finding your people - with the addition of supernatural abilities. I like that the powers have rules and consequences. None of this is especially mind-blowing but the characters are dynamic and the interactions are realistic so it's a solid read.

An absolutely lovely story! Ellie's super-journey is so fun and full of relateable content, like crushing on your BFF, dealing with bullies, finding the right shape for friendship, and accidentally reviving your dead pet fish. I loved it to bits!

This was a delightful start to Johnson’s middle grade writing! What a fun, warm, silly, but intriguing look at being different and finding people who want you for exactly how you are. I really liked the commentary on how superheroes or people with powers are treated in an otherwise non-magical society. There was a beautiful intersection of different parts of peoples’ identities while keeping the story overall light and age appropriate. The narration on the audiobook was excellent

I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher.
Ellie is a likable character who uses her abilities responsibly. The influence from comic books can be seen throughout and made things interesting. It did at moments feel like a typical coming-of-age story though.

Thank you to #Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review of this advanced audiobook. I enjoyed Ellie, the main character, and was rooting for her. I enjoyed the narrator and will seek out other books by the author/narrator but I was a little bored. I felt the pacing was just a little to slow for my interest and had to keep pushing through to get finished. Glad I branched out though!

This story is a wonderful story of a girl who is struggling with growing up and where she fits into the larger world. When her world is turned upside down by the gain of powers and the loss of a friend, Ellie learns about opening herself up to find people who can love and accept her as she is. Powerful message about learning to be comfortable in your own skin.

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.

Rocky Anicette narrates the audiobook wonderfully. Her voice has just the right tone and range for Ellie. Her expression and pacing make for easy listening. Her voices are distinctive. I look forward to seeking out more of her work.

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

Leah Johnson does it again! I was utterly charmed by Ellie from beginning to end. As always, the pop culture references are absolutely on point. I will officially read anything written by Leah Johnson.

I loved this book from page one. Ellie is such a relatable character. What would you do if you found out you had strange new powers? Ellie has plenty of inspiration to figure it out from her love of comic books. Not only is Ellie moving to a new school but now she also has to figure out the ins and outs of her new abilities. Surely she can work this all out with the help of her best friend, except her best friend seems to be too busy. Then an accident in science class is caught on video and there is no hiding. The fallout is handled with grace and humor for the missteps along the way. Rocky Anicette does a wonderful job of bringing Ellie to life.

This is so cute!

In this story chock full of Marvel/DC references, a new superhero is born!
... maybe.

Ellie Engle is having a sleepover at her best friend Abby's house when an earthquake hits early on the first day of school. When she wakes up, she wakes up... Different.

Ellie can hear things she's not supposed to. She can smell things she didn't used to. And when she touches a dying plant, it comes right back to life!

As our new heroine is thrust into the superpowered life without a Charles Xavier to guide her, she is terrified of being found out. Behind the scenes, Abby is both pushing Ellie away and stifling Ellie's freedom to use her powers or not. Ellie is trying desperately to cling to her friendship with Abby, but it's a losing battle once she ends up going viral.

Ellie is a very relatable and realistic character. She deals with a lot of anxiety, and she struggles to make friends. I loved her development from someone who doesn't bother to try new things for fear of getting hurt, to someone who sees the new thing in her life and embraces it.

I did not like Abby for almost the entirety of the book. I could see right through her thanks to my own personal experiences. I am so glad that she grew as person just like Ellie did. She made mistakes and she hurt her friend, but she learned who actually cares about her.

This would be a very fun story for middle schoolers who like comics. For those who feel like they are something Other. The references are gems, Ellie is an incredibly funny character, and it's got a really heartfelt ending.

I liked this book. It reminded me of Sky High, except Ellie is one of the few superheroes in the book. I was also hoping Ellie would actually get the chance to come out of the closet, but the metaphor of her powers being exposed to the world was equally relevant.

I wanted to enjoy this more than I did. I liked the premise, enjoyed the narrator, and found many turns of phrase that I really enjoyed. However, I had been hoping for something I could listen to with my kids and neither they nor I could stay engaged in the story. Maybe the pacing wasn’t quite what we wanted or were used to. I think that many people (and kids!) will enjoy this book; it just wasn’t quite for me.

Utterly sweet and captivating, Ellie is sure to sweep middle grade readers away. This story explores the complexities of growing up and that messy age at 6th grade. Ellie is someone who learns from her mistakes and will have you rooting for her till the very end.

Two friends that have different interests and are growing apart. The main character, Ellie, is one students will connect to. Anyone who has survived middle school will recognize many of the challenges she faces. I felt the story flowed well, and Ellie’s personality jumps off the page.