Review of Ellie Ment and the Material Matter
1 posts
[Following is a volunteer review of "Ellie Ment and the Material Matter" by Bertie Stephens.]
A very enjoyable read! I always like to keep up to date on novels for kids and this one had a great plot and STEAM theme. I listened to the audiobook which highly contributed to the enjoyment of the novel.
Our heroine, Ellie, was likeable though there were times I preferred the side character of her best friend, Michael. The premise was easy to follow, I was trying to work out how it would all end but I didn't quite put everything together. There was a bit of mystery that Ellie and Michael had to solve, though it didn't take center stage and almost seemed to be forgotten about at times. The focus was much more on "world building" aspects of the society and how the bracelets work. There aren't any real "villains" per se more of how greed and power can be detrimental to society. The focus of the novel on science was especially welcomed and I thought the author did a great job of highlighting how cool science can be, especially the periodic table. Knowing elements and how the building blocks of chemicals are made being a key part of the plot and conflict was interesting. I also appreciated how Michael's love of music was respected along the major science theme. The pacing was pretty slow for the first two-thirds of the book and then picks up quite quickly in the last third speeding toward the resolution. I felt there was a departure from the plot in the middle with Michael but I can see how it linked up later. I didn't feel satisfied at the ultimate ending although it was a great way to encourage me to read the next book in the series. This would be enjoyed most by kids and adults who love science, girl-boy friendship pairings, themes exploring STEM/STEAM, and how best to change the world. This is a thought-provoking novel best suited for readers in middle school and up due to the vocabulary and science elements which may make it more challenging for younger readers. Even as an adult I found this a lovely read, looking forward to listening to it during my car rides for audio entertainment.
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Ellie Ment and the Material Matter
View: on Bookshelves |
A very enjoyable read! I always like to keep up to date on novels for kids and this one had a great plot and STEAM theme. I listened to the audiobook which highly contributed to the enjoyment of the novel.
Our heroine, Ellie, was likeable though there were times I preferred the side character of her best friend, Michael. The premise was easy to follow, I was trying to work out how it would all end but I didn't quite put everything together. There was a bit of mystery that Ellie and Michael had to solve, though it didn't take center stage and almost seemed to be forgotten about at times. The focus was much more on "world building" aspects of the society and how the bracelets work. There aren't any real "villains" per se more of how greed and power can be detrimental to society. The focus of the novel on science was especially welcomed and I thought the author did a great job of highlighting how cool science can be, especially the periodic table. Knowing elements and how the building blocks of chemicals are made being a key part of the plot and conflict was interesting. I also appreciated how Michael's love of music was respected along the major science theme. The pacing was pretty slow for the first two-thirds of the book and then picks up quite quickly in the last third speeding toward the resolution. I felt there was a departure from the plot in the middle with Michael but I can see how it linked up later. I didn't feel satisfied at the ultimate ending although it was a great way to encourage me to read the next book in the series. This would be enjoyed most by kids and adults who love science, girl-boy friendship pairings, themes exploring STEM/STEAM, and how best to change the world. This is a thought-provoking novel best suited for readers in middle school and up due to the vocabulary and science elements which may make it more challenging for younger readers. Even as an adult I found this a lovely read, looking forward to listening to it during my car rides for audio entertainment.
******
Ellie Ment and the Material Matter
View: on Bookshelves |
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