Where Ella Went - by Laurie Morrison (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A clever, funny multimedia mystery from author Laurie Morrison, about soccer teammates trying to solve the disappearance of their beloved team captain--and facing a few secrets of their own

Why did Ella leave?

Eighth Graders Sadie and Pug don't have anything in common except for their love of soccer and their loyalty to Ella, the overachieving team captain. So when Ella doesn't show up for the most important game of the season and her parents pull her out of school, Sadie and Pug are determined to find out what happened, even though they don't usually get along. There's no way Ella abandoned the team!

But as Sadie and Pug dig deeper, they begin to realize that Ella's life wasn't as perfect as it seemed. And maybe Sadie and Pug have a few secrets that need to come to light, too. Maybe all their classmates do...

Told in recordings, letters, texts, journal entries, and emails, Where Ella Went is a funny and absorbing slice-of-life mystery about friendship, teamwork, and the pressures of being in middle school. If Sadie and Pug keep searching for answers, they risk sabotaging the end of their soccer season. But can they ever move on if they don't learn the truth? And what if Ella needs them even more than they need her?

Review Quotes

"Laurie Morrison has crafted a smart, modern, multi-modal mystery that will truly speak to middle school readers. Where Ella Went is a brilliant page-turner of a novel with believable, messy friendships at its heart."

-- "Kate Messner, NYT Bestselling author of The Trouble with Heroes"

"Any reader looking for an intriguing mystery will become caught up in Ella's story. Laurie Morrison's pitch-perfect middle grade voice shines brilliantly in the epistolary format, and middle schoolers will find themselves cheering for Pug, Sadie and the gang. Important, brave, and compelling!"

-- "Claire Swinarski, Edgar Award-nominated author of What Happened to Rachel Riley?"

"I finished this riveting epistolary mystery in a single sitting. Imagine if Judy Blume wrote Only Murders In the Building. Told through journal entries, podcast transcripts, texts, and narrative prose, Where Ella Went is not only the story of a star soccer player's disappearance, but also a complex, funny, and empathetic study in teen friendships, forgiveness, and mental health issues. Middle school readers won't be able to put it down."

-- "Ali Terese, National Book Award nominee and author of Free Period and Vote for the G.O.A.T"

"Readers are going to LOVE this sporty, fresh, group-told tale of friends learning to relate on and off the soccer field. It's beautifully written and laced with Laurie Morrison's trademark subtle humor. I raced through the pages to find out Where Ella Went!"

-- "Sally J. Pla, ALA Schneider Family Award-winning author of The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn"

About the Author

Laurie Morrison is a middle school language arts teacher who lives in Philadelphia. She is the coauthor of Every Shiny Thing, and she is the author of Up for Air, Saint Ivy, Coming Up Short, and Keeping Pace. Laurie received her MFA in writing for children and young adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts.