Action-packed, thrilling, scientific, this book is perfect for science enthusiasts ages 10 and above!
Let me introduce you to Ellie Ment; a self-proclaimed, 11 year old scientist, but a brilliant one nonetheless. When her school burns down in purple flames, Ellie is determined to find an explanation for this. However, it is beginning to seem that not everything has a logical explanation, even more so when her science teacher gives her Elemental Bracers that allow her to summon elements from within her body. Can Ellie uncover the truth about her school? Or will she land in something larger than just her?
Ellie Ment and the Material Matter is an educational, fast-paced read with hints of humour that keeps you on tenterhooks the whole way. This book took me on an unforgettable rollercoaster ride with Ellie as we shot Carbon at a frying pan, anxiety bubbling through me as I pondered the outcome, helped Ellie collect jam jars in the freezing October rain, excitement coursing through my veins as I read her detailed notes and shot streams of magnesium into an algae-filled pond. In this book, every twist and turn was unexpected and kept me on the edge of my seat.
This book has a wide variety of different characters; from studious Ellie to carefree Michael and I loved every single character in this masterpiece. Ellie was extremely dedicated: from sneaking out at 2am to place jam jars in the October soil for an experiment to filling her room with ammonia “for science” she is always willing to sacrifice for science and the greater good. Michael, on the other hand, is less about lessons and more about upcycling - if there is something to be upcycled, he’ll upcycle it. From (unknowingly) destroying Ellie’s science experiment to using swimming equipment to make a Halloween costume, if something is not being used, he’ll use it. Like elements on a periodic table, Bertie Stephens has concocted characters that fit perfectly well together and make it an unputdownable read.
One thing I loved about this book is the fact that it has notes from the author at frequent intervals, adding a touch of humour to this book. Action-packed, thrilling, scientific, this book is perfect for science enthusiasts ages 10 and above!
Perfect for readers who like a mix of science, curiosity, and adventure
Ellie Ment and the Material Matter is a really engaging and thoughtful book that manages to turn science into an adventure. From my perspective, Ellie is a brilliant main character because she's not just clever-she's curious, determined, and always asking questions about how things work. She doesn't always get everything right, which makes her feel realistic and shows that learning takes time.
One of the strongest parts of the book is how it explains ideas about materials and matter in a way that feels natural and interesting. The science is built into the story, so instead of feeling like a lesson, it feels like you're discovering things alongside Ellie. This makes it much more enjoyable and also helps you understand the ideas better.
The plot is interesting and keeps you hooked, with just the right amount of mystery and problem-solving. There are also some light, funny moments that balance out the more serious thinking parts.
Some sections are slightly more challenging, but that actually makes the book more rewarding because you feel a sense of achievement when you understand them. Overall, it's a clever and enjoyable story that's perfect for readers who like a mix of science, curiosity, and adventure. I would definitely recommend for people who love science, adventure and reading.
Really good book about an adventure with the environment and science. Definitely recommend
Really awesome book, definitely worth a read to any young teens. The story is about a young girl named Ellie who becomes involved in mysterious and strange situations. We love that it has alot of stuff about science, the environment and adventures. We also learnt alot of new things reading this story. We found the book easy to read and understand, it's mysterious and magical and we can't wait to read the next one.
Join Ellie Ment in a scientific and magical adventure. Dealing with important environmental issues like recycling, littering and micro plastics. Learn through adventure to find out is science really magic?
This book is written in a way that’s different to most. It has a way of teaching things whilst still being fun and entertaining.
As an eleven year old girl Ellis has an interest in science and when her school goes up in purple smoke Ellie is thrown into a story of magic, mystery and scientific exploration.
She is gifted wrist braces that take her to a secret society where so many important topics are covered like upcycling, littering, micro plastics just to name a few.
It learning through adventure with likeable and well thought out characters.
Is science magic?
The final chapters do a good job at building up to the great ending with all loose ends tied up.
A book that feels like you’ve been on an incredible journey.
Adventure, magic, science and learning all rolled into one exciting book. To learn without realising is the best way to learn.
This book is firstly fun and feels like you’ve are on an adventure from beginning to end.
When Ellie’s school burns down the flames are purple and Ellis begins to wonder what is going on. She gets a gift from her prof of some wrist bracers and these help her join a scientific secret society.
The book tells us some interesting things and helps us to learn through the story.
Issues like upcycling and micro plastics are talked about raising awareness and helping us kids to learn to treat our environment better.
Ellie is a strong main character and it feels like we go on this adventure with her. The twists to the story took me by surprise and I like that in the end we feel everything has come to a good conclusion.
This is a funny book about a girl who is given bracelet ‘wands’ and who later joins a secret organisation. If you like science, mystery and a little bit of magic, then you’ll like this book.
This is a funny book about a girl called Ellie, whose Science teacher gives her unusual bracers that allow her to summon any element in her body. She is then invited to join a secret organisation called the Material Matter who want to make the world a more sustainable place. When Ellie decides to stand in for an ill member of the group, chaos suddenly happens.
This book is set in a fictional town called Hapsie, which is often rainy but mostly seems like any other place. My favourite character is Ellie because I can relate to her. She has a range of feelings but it’s easy to predict how she’ll react when anything goes wrong with her science. My least favourite character was a greedy man called Greg.
Once I had got started, I couldn’t put it down. By the time I’d got to chapter 5, I was worried about what would happen but also excited to find out what’s next. There are no big illustrations just little line drawings at each chapter heading. I like the writing style; it’s quite scientific but chatty with funny sidenotes. I liked the plot twist and the cliffhanger ending – it made me want to read the next book.
A page turner! I got into a lot of trouble for staying up too late reading - I couldn’t put it down! Can’t wait for the next book.
Once you’ve read the first chapter you won’t be able to put it down! I would recommend it for all kids who are interested in science, magic and learning new things while on an adventure with the characters.
Full of adventure and scientific discoveries, this is an entertaining read for everyone.
Ellie Ment, a science loving girl, is given magical bracers after her school has burned down. Her mission- to join a secret society to help save the world!
Whilst on her mission, Ellie Ment and her friends take part in The Games, travel back in time and revisit what really happened to the school. Through her determination, she summons the elements to get through the tasks.
The twists and turns of the investigation keep you guessing.
Not only is this book a fantastic read, you also get to learn lots about science and the elements in your body. I loved learning about all of this!
A book that truly proves that science is magical!
I think that the author's imagination is incredible - the elemental bracers were truly original. I rated this book 4/5 because at points, I was confused with what was happening. I found it funny when Michel found out that Ellie often changes her experiments so she can always be right.
A mysterious adventure that starts with a literal bang! I loved how this book made science feel like a superpower. Once the mystery of the purple flames starts, you won't want to stop.
This book by Bertie Stephens is a mysterious adventure that starts with a literal bang! The story follows 11-year-old Ellie Ment, a science wizard (though she thinks science has nothing to do with magic) who discovers her brand new school has been burnt down in purple flames. She is given 'Elemental Bracers' by her favourite teacher, which let her summon any of the 118 elements like nitrogen to solve problems.
I liked Ellie because she is extremely smart, but I dislike her a little because sometimes she is stubborn, especially when she won't listen to Master Quinn when he asks for her bracers. My favourite part was when Tithe Barn was full of letters of people replying to Ellie and Michael. I liked how the book made science feel fun and exciting, not just a normal school subject. I would recommend this book to anyone aged 9-12 who likes science and mysteries. I gave this book a 5 out of 5 stars because once the mystery started, I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next.
Strong storyline and engaging science themes, particularly the periodic table. The author talking to the reader mid-story is initially distracting, but becomes easier to follow. A good read, especially for children interested in science.
This book has a strong storyline, and I was interested from the moment I read the blur. I felt it was the kind of book I would quickly get into. However, the writing style is quite unusual for children's literature in that the author frequently uses brackets to speak directly to the reader in the first person. At first, I found this a little distracting, as it interrupted the flow of the story and made it harder to fully get hooked. However, as I continued reading, I did begin to get used to this. The asides started to feel more purposeful, particularly when explaining some of the more scientific ideas. In that sense, it almost felt like the author was guiding the reader through the more complex parts of the story - or giving explanations which is indeed what Ellie Ment needs herself!
I particularly enjoyed the science elements and the links to the periodic table, which I think would really appeal to children with an interest in science. Overall, although it took a little while to adjust to the style, I did enjoy the story and will be reading 'Ellie Ment and the Passage to Glenmorgan' next!