‘A tense and tender portrayal of friendship and loss. Missing Ellen is
beautifully written and completely addictive.’ Laura-Jane Cassidy, author of
Angel Kiss & Eighteen Kisses
Ellen and Maggie have been best friends for as long as they can remember –
sharing clothes, passions and secrets. When Ellen goes missing, Maggie feels
completely alone. Looking back over the upheaval that led to Ellen’s
disappearance, Maggie tries to make sense of her friend’s actions. At school
and at home, she feels no one understands what she is going through – except
maybe Liam, the boy next door who has always had feelings for Ellen.
How will Maggie cope without her best friend? And where on earth is Ellen?
Review
deftly captures the spirit of early adolescence in a book that will appeal to
anyone who has ever had a friend that meant the world to them
(yellowbrickreads.com)
the author covers the terrain of adolescent emotion with great sensitivity and
insight (yellowbrickreads.com)
the central friendship is believably fraught with tension and affection,
jealousy and admiration (yellowbrickreads.com)
a sharp and poignant book about friendship, growing up and loss
(http://teachermoloneyking.com)
beautifully and sweetly told (http://teachermoloneyking.com)
an excellent debut leaving readers waiting for more
(http://teachermoloneyking.com)
a beautifully crafted book for teens and pre-teens (writing.ie)
the best “letters to loved ones” book since “Love, Aubrey” (writing.ie)
an amazingly touching story (writing.ie)
written in a simple, easy to understand style (writing.ie)
a must read (writing.ie)
such a great read (inkandpaperhearts.wordpress.com)
my only complaint is that it was actually too short!
(inkandpaperhearts.wordpress.com)
the character of Ellen is so well executed (inkandpaperhearts.wordpress.com)
this book will speak volumes to you about friendships between girls
(inkandpaperhearts.wordpress.com)
I look forward to the next book from this author
(inkandpaperhearts.wordpress.com)
a compelling first teen novel (Evening Echo)
it was great–and strange–to have something propel me right back into
secondary school and growing up in Ireland (Goodreads)
readers are sure to identify with the pressurised environment of the school
setting and the exploration of themes such as peer pressure, bullying, first
crushes, friendship and loss (Children’s Books Ireland Recommended Reads Guide
2013)
sensitive and well-written … an excellent read for mature readers. Highly
recommended (Children’s Books Ireland Recommended Reads Guide 2013)
9/10 … makes you keep reading … had me guessing at all the possibilities
of how she could have disappeared (TheGuardian.com)
with so many great first-timers this month, it’s hard to pick a favourite.
Have a look and try for yourself! – but have to admit, we do really love
Missing Ellen by Natasha Mac a’Bhaird (lovereading4kids.co.uk)
this book is the reason why I adore contemporary young adult fiction
(whatdanielledidnext.com)
Mac a’ Bhßird is a stunning writer and her coming of age tale is both hopeful
and poignant (whatdanielledidnext.com)
Missing Ellen is a wonderful novel with characters so recognisable you can’t
help but care for, a story that is both captivating and affecting and one that
you will remember long after you close its covers. Simply gorgeous
(whatdanielledidnext.com)
a thoughtful, affecting and very well written novel (booksforkeeps)
glad I read this little gem … bitterly sad but I would recommend this novel
to any young girl (www.gobookyourself.info)
Natasha does a fantastic job representing what we all go through as teenagers
… adults will also enjoy (or cringe) at the memories this story will
resurrect (www.gobookyourself.info)
engaging … a good read … worth checking out (YAYeahYeah.com)
I was choked up more than once while reading … very easy to connect to and
even easier to enjoy (betweenmylines.com)
the writing style is deceptively simple. So simple and chatty that you are
flying though the book and then you hit a few sentences so profound that you
have to stop and think (betweenmylines.com)
if you are a fan of realistic YA contemporary fiction then I’d recommend this
one to you (betweenmylines.com)
a great story … of friendship and growing up, and the strains that come with
it (Ourbookreviewsonline.blogspot.co.uk)
skilfully deals with interrelationships between friends and family (Inis
Magazine)
displays brilliant characterisation and a window into early teenage life in
Ireland (Inis Magazine)
an excellent book (Inis Magazine)
will be much enjoyed by readers in their early teens (Inis Magazine)
5/5 … emotionally compelling and haunted, right to the end
(Lilypadlibraryuk.blogspot.ie)
A moving, contemporary story about life, friendship and family (TBK Magazine)
this would be the best Irish book young adult book of the year (Robert Dunbar,
The Marian Finucane Show, RTE Radio 1)
terrifically well paced (Robert Dunbar, The Marian Finucane Show, RTE Radio 1)
a great sense of mystery (Robert Dunbar, The Marian Finucane Show, RTE Radio 1)
Review
‘A tense and tender portrayal of friendship and loss. Missing Ellen is
beautifully written and completely addictive.’
Laura-Jane Cassidy, author of Angel Kiss and Eighteen Kisses
‘I really enjoyed Missing Ellen! The believable friendship and the compelling
mystery at its core are really involving. A lovely, simply-written book about a
complex subject.’
Deirdre Sullivan, author of Prim Improper and Improper Order
‘Missing Ellen is a beautifully-crafted novel about love, friendship and
everything in between.’
Michelle Gyo, Random House”