Ellie McDoodle: Have Pen, Will Travel

As far as I can tell, there's no known solution to the problem of being an adult reviewer who reviews children's books from an adult perspective. I don't care how immature you are or how stuck you might be in your second childhood, since you will never be able to replicate the feeling of being a kid picking up a book and reading it for the very first time. It just ain't gonna happen. No, see, when YOU pick up a book you're carrying years worth of baggage on your shoulders. You're viewing the story through the filter of your own perspective and what you see will inevitably be tainted by your past. I'm telling you all of this up front because in order to convey just how much I adored "Ellie McDoodle: Have Pen, Will Travel," I need to make it clear that a significant percentage of that love is rooted in my own experiences as a kid. Author Ruth McNally Barshaw has successfully nailed what it feels like to be a child going on a summer vacation in Michigan. I was a Michigan child. I "camped" in cabins and experienced many of the same things as the heroine of this book. But even if I'd grown up in Bemidji, Minnesota or Walla Walla, Washington, I'm almost certain that I would still have adored this book as a kid. It's another example of the "illustrated novel" brought to brilliant, vibrant life. How would you go about defining the word "torture"? If you were Ellie McDougal (McDoodle, to those in the know) you might define it as, "a family vacation with your monkey-boy little brother, annoying cousins, and boring aunt and uncle in the woods of Higgins Lake." Which, of course, is exactly what Ellie has been subjected to. Stuck with intolerable relatives, she decides to make the most of her ordeal by recording everything in her sketchbook (the one you, the reader, are reading) and getting some time away from the craziness. Of course, a series of incidents shows Ellie that maybe her extended family isn't the crew of monsters she thought they were. Maybe, in fact, they can all be a lot of fun and the summer isn't totally ruined after all. Maybe. So what is this book exactly? I mean, on the outset it looks like a sketchbook with sentences in between the pictures. Obviously there are a lot more written sections than drawn sections, but the pictures are pretty steady throughout. So how do you categorize this book? It's not a graphic novel, since the pictures are sporadic and pop up only at random intervals. It's not a comic book either, nor is it a straight written novel. At this point in time, the only option left is the phrase, "illustrated novel". It's not perfect, but it's the only thing I've found to describe Barshaw's style. Plus it's a style, moreover, that I think is going to inspire a whole generation of kids. I can picture young 'uns bugging their parents to buy them sketchbooks and blank pages, just so that they can create highly illustrated personal diaries like Ellie/Ruth. Heck, while reading this I myself wished I knew

It's camping time for Ellie McDougal but she's not happy about it. Ellie's parents have to go out of town, so she and her baby brother, Ben-Ben, will be going with their Aunt Ug, Uncle Ewing and cousins Erick, Deanna, and Tiffie. All of the camping supplies are packed and ready to go, including Ellie's sketchbook. Will the trip be as bad as Ellie is afraid it will be? Through the pages of Ellie's sketchbook, she tells the story of her camping trip. She meets a 13-year-old boy by the name of Scott. He is one interesting character, as he speaks French, Japanese, and English. He wants to learn to draw, which is something that Ellie can help him with. He has to leave but never tells Ellie that he is leaving Campsite 137. She is saddened by her friend leaving. Her opinions of her relatives change throughout the book. In the beginning, she thinks of Erick as being a dinosaur but that changes as it goes along. Erick also collects frogs and thinks he has found the best frog, but holds him too tight -- Oh, no! The illustrations are very cute and add meaning to the story. The characters you meet in this book are very unusual. The storyline keeps young readers interested. This is a must read for children ages 9-12 who would love to be entertained with a good story and a very easy read. With fewer words and many pictures on each page than most books for this age group, this is a delight. Pack up your bags and get ready for a camping adventure with Ellie along -- it's bound to be a great time! I hope that there are more exciting adventures of ELLIE MCDOODLE books in the future. Reviewed by: Bri P.

In the tradition of the delightful illustrated Amelia books by Marissa Moss, 11-year-old Ellie McDoodle details her funny and insightful adventures in this travel journal. When Ellie's parents must go to a funeral, Ellie and her wild toddler brother, Ben-Ben, are forced to go camping with other family members. Unfortunately, these relatives are not people Ellie likes enough to be confined in a cabin with. Aunt "Ug" spits when she yells, Uncle Ewing has no sense of humor and the cousins are as bad as their parents. Eleven-year-old "Er-ick" lies, steals and licks any available cookies so that no one else will eat them. His twin, Deanna, is holier-than-thou, and little Tiffie sulks. Happily, at the campground Ellie meets friendly 13-year-old Scott, who is not only nice but knows tons of fascinating nature facts. Along the way, Ellie learns much from him. Readers also become familiar with several games, thanks to Ellie writing down exactly how to play them. Spoons, sardines or hunka bunka, anyone? Ellie is wise beyond her years, in a sly, wisecracking and enjoyable way. She shares her Rules for Life (including: have courage, learn from the past, respect the earth, play many games, don't drink a lot before bedtime) with Tiffie (who particularly needs the warning about bedtime drinking). Ellie also gives readers "Tips for Surviving Camp with relatives you can't stand," which warns sufferers to "keep your distance" and "don't pick up any of their bad habits." But after the cousins survive a life-threatening adventure by joining forces, Ellie begins to consider her relatives in a whole new light. There is nothing to dislike in this charming tale, which is heavily illustrated with whimsical cartoonish drawings. It realistically portrays the characters (even the adults!), giving readers much to consider about the pros and cons of relationships, along with hilarious situations and witty asides. There's also a mystery regarding some frogs, nuggets of facts about creatures and plants in the wild, and a bit of spot-on preteen philosophy. --- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon

Ellie McDoodle takes place at a campground in Michigan...Higgins Lake. I have been there many times with my own family. I really enjoyed the book and its pen and ink sketches. I am a substitute teacher in Michigan and I share parts of the book with the children. You do not have to live in Michigan to enjoy this book, but if you are a camper anywhere you will be able to find your own experiences at the frog pond, games of spoon, wandering in the woods, differences with family members and great science tips. Looking forward to more Ellie books. I travelled to a book signing in Rochester and was delighted to hear the comments from the author as she conducted a cartoon workshop for the children and adults present.

Ellie McDoodle captures the spirit, triumph and frustration of every child in Ruth Barshaw's debut success! While the book is geared for 8-12 year olds, children of all ages(and even adults) can find comfort and enjoyment as they follow Ellie on her family camping experience. The illustrations are wonderful and the story line is one children will not want to put down. The book leaves only one thing missing...What will Ellie's next adventure be? Truely Great!