Emma Galvin narrates an audiobook featuring a neurodivergent teenager who is facing new challenges. Thirteen-year-old Ellen is anxiously looking forward to her class trip to Spain. The autisitc teen has the whole journey planned in her journal; however, when their teacher veers from the trip’s schedule and Laurel, her closest friend, spends time with new friends, Ellen struggles with the changes. Galvin brings the diverse cast of characters to life. Her realistic portrayal of Ellen brings the listener into the young neurodivergent teen’s mind, allowing them to fully imagine how she views the world around her. The use of layered voices when several characters are speaking and the slightly distorted sound when Ellen is experiencing sensory overload add a deeper level to the production. A.L.S.M. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine

01/10/2022

Sass’s (Ana on the Edge) sophomore novel explores classic struggles of navigating identity, relationships, and social expectations via an autistic, queer, Jewish 13-year-old traveling on a class trip to Spain. Having carefully planned out each day based on the previous year’s syllabus, Ellen Katz hopes to reconnect with best friend Laurel McKinley, starting on the flight from Georgia to Barcelona with their mostly white class. But awkwardness with Laurel and an unexpected schedule pivot—to a scavenger hunt with an unfamiliar group of students—leave the teen grasping for stability, despite the presence of Ellen’s beloved Abba as a parent chaperone. Facing changing plans and conflicting loyalties, Ellen finds support in family, faith, and new friends, including nonbinary classmate Isa, who is “Latin@.” The first-person narration, studded with Hebrew phrases, sympathetically details Ellen’s experiences of social anxiety and sensory overload while paving a route to friends who don’t blink at Ellen’s accommodations—and around whom Ellen enjoys life as well as feels free to consider gender and sexuality. The story’s beautiful locales and scavenger hunt puzzles frame a heartwarming story about a transitional period in life, conveyed alongside an affirming, incidental portrayal of Ellen’s experiences. Ages 8–12. Agent: Jordan Hamessley, New Leaf Literary.(Mar.)

A Sydney Taylor Book Award Honor Book
A Golden Kite Award Finalist, Middle Grade Fiction
A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
A Booklist’s 2022 Editors’ Choice Book 

* "A heartwarming and inviting book about finding self that hits at the ever-changing (and challenging) world of middle school. Recommended for all middle grade shelves."—SLJ, starred review

* "Sass' sophomore novel shines in its nuanced characterizations, subversion of stereotypes, and world that celebrates autism for the joy it brings Ellen when they are happily flapping. A tender, sweet coming-of-age story."—Booklist, starred review

"The story’s beautiful locales and scavenger hunt puzzles frame a heartwarming story about a transitional period in life, conveyed alongside an affirming, incidental portrayal of Ellen’s experiences."—Publishers Weekly

"The amazing-to-imagine school trip provides an appealing backdrop, but it is the story’s interpersonal aspects that are especially welcome."—The Horn Book

Praise for Ana on the Edge:
A Booklist Editor's Choice Title
An ALA Rainbow Book List Top Ten Title for Younger Readers

"Sass has created dynamic, original characters who are believable and fun to follow… You can’t help rooting for Ana."

★ 05/13/2022

Gr 3–7—Ellen Katz is an autistic, queer, Jewish 13-year-old who is spending two weeks on a class trip in Barcelona. She is excited to reconnect with her best friend Laurel, who she hasn't seen much lately. Ellen has looked at the past itinerary for the course and planned out everything she and Laurel will do in Spain. But a surprise group scavenger hunt that puts them in separate groups, throws off all her carefully detailed plans. Even with Abba as a parent chaperone, Ellen needs to face the changes that new friends and new adventures bring. As Ellen works with her new nonbinary classmate, Isa, and gets to know her other teammates, she realizes that maybe it is okay to make new friends and try new things. Even though she misses her time with Laurel, with the help of her new friends, who are supportive of her accommodations, Ellen learns a bit more about herself, her family, and her Jewish faith. Sass's latest book gives readers insight into what it is like to be autistic, sharing how Ellen's brain functions and the coping mechanisms that help her deal with things when they become overwhelming. The text thoughtfully deals with gender identity and fluidity at various levels. VERDICT A heartwarming and inviting book about finding self that hits at the ever-changing (and challenging) world of middle school. Recommended for all middle grade shelves.—Rebekah J. Buchanan

Emma Galvin narrates an audiobook featuring a neurodivergent teenager who is facing new challenges. Thirteen-year-old Ellen is anxiously looking forward to her class trip to Spain. The autisitc teen has the whole journey planned in her journal; however, when their teacher veers from the trip’s schedule and Laurel, her closest friend, spends time with new friends, Ellen struggles with the changes. Galvin brings the diverse cast of characters to life. Her realistic portrayal of Ellen brings the listener into the young neurodivergent teen’s mind, allowing them to fully imagine how she views the world around her. The use of layered voices when several characters are speaking and the slightly distorted sound when Ellen is experiencing sensory overload add a deeper level to the production. A.L.S.M. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine