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‘Honestly Elliott’ Will Teach Your Kids How to Be Their Best Self

by Marianella Orlando

Whether you love it or despise it, cooking can be seen as a form of self-expression and creativity–no matter if you whipped up dinner in 30 minutes or over an hour or spent hours in the kitchen preparing a feast. For some, cooking can even create feel-good emotions about one’s self, like pride for making something new or fulfillment for doing the best that one can.

That’s what Gillian McDunn, the critically acclaimed author of Caterpillar Summer, The Queen Bee & Me, and These Unlucky Stars, sets out to reveal in her latest heartwarming middle-grade novel: Honestly Elliott.

A contemporary fiction book, Honestly Elliott follows a sixth-grader named Elliott who is trying hard to be his best self, from finding methods to better cope with Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) to handling all the changes that are occurring in his life. Children eight to 12 will be able to sympathize with, and relate to, all the life transitions and daily challenges Elliott faces at home and at school.

Add this special ingredient to your child’s growing pantry of books!

The Story

Middle school has been tough for Elliott. He can’t keep his grades up, he keeps forgetting things and he feels out of place–at least with his dad who has completely opposite interests from him. On top of that, he is also struggling to accept everything that has changed in his life: his parents’ divorce, his father recently remarrying, his stepmother’s pregnancy, his best friend moving away and dividing his time between two different households.

Fortunately for Elliott, he can find comfort in cooking. He can control the outcome of the dishes he makes, can experiment with new recipes and escape the real world with his favorite cooking shows. So when he’s paired with his intelligent and popular classmate Maribel for a class business project, Elliott turns to cooking once again. Only this time around, his passion must be replaced with baking, which requires testing out gluten-free pie recipes for Maribel, who suffers from celiac disease. See what Elliott bakes up in this charming book!

See what Elliott bakes up in this charming book!

What Makes Honestly Elliott So Special

Through humor, heart, relatable characters and real-life experiences, Honestly Elliott touches on many transitions that come from adolescence–both in school and at home. The captivating plot keeps children engaged in the outcome of Elliott’s large school project but also brings to life the stereotypes of toxic masculinity, the effects of having ADHD and the journey of making mistakes and trying again.

Children may be able to see a little bit of themselves in Elliott and his new friend Maribel who are doing their best to become a better version of themselves.

The Reviews Say it All

“Starring a sweet and messy kid tackling problems that will bring laughter and tears, Honestly Elliott has all the ingredients for a memorable story.” ―Lynne Kelly, author of Song for a Whale

“McDunn is a master at creating characters that are fun, flawed, and above all, real. Full of humor and heart, Honestly Elliott is honestly and truly middle-grade at its best.” ―Jess Redman, author of The Miraculous and The Adventure is Now

“McDunn (These Unlucky Stars) offers an affirming and nuanced depiction of empathetic and creative Elliott's experience of ADHD. . .Elliott's relationship with his father, from whom he craves acceptance despite his dad's failure to acknowledge Elliott's specific challenges, is particularly inspiring as the two work toward openness and understanding.” ―Publishers Weekly, starred review

Get a copy of Honestly Elliott today to discover what Elliott bakes up!

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