Ellen Outside the Lines
on Goodreads (1,275)
What’s inside...
A novel about a neurodivergent thirteen-year-old named Ellen Katz who navigates changing friendships, a school trip to Barcelona, and expanding horizons. Ellen struggles with her friend Laurel drifting away and meeting a new nonbinary classmate, which challenges her binary viewpoint. As she faces homesickness and a team project, Ellen learns to adapt to unforeseen changes and discovers new aspects of herself. Winner of a Sydney Taylor Book Award Honor, this heartfelt story explores growth, friendship, and acceptance.
Discussion points
How did Ellen's journey to finding herself help you understand the importance of self-acceptance?
What did you learn about the different ways people can experience and express their identity?
How do the friendships in the book change or grow? What makes a good friend in your opinion?
Ellen faces various challenges throughout the story. Which challenge resonated with you the most, and why?
What does the setting of Barcelona add to the story? How might the story be different if it took place somewhere else?
Tip: Role play these questions
Start the conversation by sharing your own insights or favorite moments from the book to make your child feel more comfortable sharing theirs.
Encourage your child to relate their personal experiences to those of Ellen, discussing similarities and differences in feelings and reactions.
Ask your child what they learned from the book, and discuss how those lessons might apply in real-life situations they encounter.
Guide your child to think about each character's perspective by asking how they might feel or react in similar situations.
Emphasize the value of diversity and inclusion highlighted in the book, discussing how these themes are important in your child’s own environment.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Understanding and accepting differences
Explanation: Ellen, the protagonist, navigates social interactions and relationships with neurodiverse peers, teaching the importance of acceptance and understanding.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by embracing diverse classmates and understanding that everyone has unique ways of interacting and learning.
Example Lesson: Importance of teamwork and collaboration
Explanation: The story emphasizes working together to solve problems during a school trip, showcasing how collaboration leads to success.
Real-World Application: Children learn to cooperate with others in group projects or team sports, understanding that collective effort can achieve greater outcomes.
Example Lesson: Self-discovery and personal growth
Explanation: Ellen’s journey includes self-reflection and personal development, which highlights the value of understanding oneself.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to explore their own interests and abilities, and to be open to personal evolution and self-improvement.
Example Lesson: Resilience in facing challenges
Explanation: Throughout the book, Ellen faces various challenges and learns to overcome them, demonstrating resilience.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to face academic and social challenges with determination and not be disheartened by obstacles.
Example Lesson: Empathy and compassionate communication
Explanation: Ellen learns to communicate her feelings effectively and listens to others, fostering empathy and understanding.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the importance of expressing themselves clearly and listening to others' perspectives to build stronger relationships.