School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-5-Introduced in Ellie McDoodle: Have Pen, Will Travel (Bloomsbury, 2007), Ellie documents her move to a new school in her journal. The sixth-grader struggles to find friends, until she discovers the perfect outlet for her energy: leading a campaign to improve school lunches. Each spread invites readers in with high-spirited cartoons and a font that looks handwritten. (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Although Ellie McDoodle knows that moving means the end of everything good, her sketch journal (which, glumly, begins, "The End") shows her gradually making a place of her own in her new house, finding friends and conducting a successful nonviolent campaign to improve the school-lunch situation. Ellie is lucky in her move; her house is roomy and her neighborhood full of young people who gather for evening group activities. This sequel to Ellie McDoodle: Have Pen Will Travel (2007) carries healthy messages: Ellie finds a new friend in the librarian; reading is more interesting than TV and video games; her new friend's Down syndrome brother is just another piece of a complicated life; peaceful protest works. But readers won't notice as they gobble down this fast read, enjoying the jokes and riddles, familiar situations and interesting instructions for group games and paper-folding woven into the story. An appendix includes an interview with the author and suggestions for making and keeping a sketch journal. (Graphic fiction. 8-11) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
This stand-alone sequel to Ellie McDoodle: Have Pen, Will Travel (2007) shares many similarities with Marissa Moss' Amelia notebook series: in both sets of books, a likable female protagonist chronicles life's mishaps in her amusing, heavily cartooned journal. Barshaw has created a distinctive character in spunky sixth-grader Ellie, who adjusts to life in a new home and school. The plot focuses on Ellie's successful campaign to improve school lunch, but Barshaw skillfully works in supporting issues, such as finding kindred spirits in unexpected sources, dealing with irritating acquaintances, and Ellie's discomfort with and eventual acceptance of a friend's older brother who has Down syndrome. Barshaw leavens the messages with Ellie's self-deprecating humor and the memorable illustrations on every page. Jokes, riddles, and instructions on making cootie catchers and origami pianos will further engage young people. The surprisingly readable appendix features an interview with the author and practical, eye-opening suggestions for keeping a sketch journal.--Carton, Debbie Copyright 2008 Booklist
