Inventing Elliot - Hardcover

Gardner, Graham

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1842552635 ISBN 13: 9781842552636

Publisher: Orion, 2003

Synopsis

Elliot was beaten up by bullies at his old school. He is determined to reinvent himself at the new school. This time he will be so cool that no one will touch him. But he is too successful. He is taken up by the Guardians, the mysterious group who control the whole school, manipulating others to create a reign of terror. He is invited to become a Guardian himself and goes along with it. He is not going to get hurt again, whatever it takes. Until he realizes that he is as good as dead unless he takes the risk of standing up for himself. Written with great power and economy, this psychological novel was inspired by George Orwell's 1984 and is reminiscent of those two great children's writers Robert Cormier and Robert Westall. It has strong characters, strong moral dilemmas and a story that moves at a great pace to a highly dramatic ending. It is an incisive and compelling look at the terrors and rituals of adolescence and you're there with Elliot every step of the way.

About this title

Review:

In this stunning first novel, Graham Gardner pays homage to Robert Cormier’s great The Chocolate War with a story about a boy trying to survive in a school run by a vicious secret society. But where Jerry Renault resists the system, only to succumb to it in the end, Elliot Sutton is more eager to do its bidding, and doesn’t take action to resist until it is almost too late. At first Elliot had hoped that it would be different at Holminster High. He carries the fear always--the fear of the beatings and much worse that made his life hell at his old school. But at Holminster High, Elliot can be the kind of person who avoids trouble by fitting in. He watches himself carefully every moment and shapes himself to be noticed just enough in the right way. Ironically, his strategy backfires when the Guardians (the secret three who control and terrorize Holminster High) select him as a candidate to be trained for their group.

After school, Elliot finds a friend in outcast Ben, but both boys know they can never acknowledge each other in the halls. When Elliot falls in love with bright, outspoken Louise, he feels he must wear yet another identity for her. Elliot sinks into numb isolation behind his masks when a crucial decision pushes him to take back his self with an act that could cost him dearly. Inventing Elliot is a heartrending, engrossing novel to be pondered and discussed. (Ages 12 and older) <--Patty Campbell>

From the Inside Flap:

Elliot's life has been spinning out of control. He would give anything to get back to normal. Now, at his new school, he has a chance to reinvent himself. He will make himself so cook, so out of reach, that no one will hurt him ever again. The plan succeeds beyond his wildest dreams. And then beyond his wildest nightmare.

Elliot is noticed by the Guardians, the mysterious, manipulative group who run the school according to their own very special rules. They want him to become one of them. For the first time, Elliot has power. But power comes at a terrible price, and Elliot faces an impossible choice when he has to decide how to use it.

About this edition

• Publisher: Orion
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 1842552635
• ISBN 13: 9781842552636
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 183