Explore Becoming Ellen Conceived By Shari Shattuck Formatted As Visual Format

loved this book as much as I loved sitelinkInvisible Ellen, Once again, Shari Shattuck has done an amazing job, I laughed, smiled, and got tearyeyed at times, I wanted to hug this book multiple times and hope I get to meet Shari one day so I can hug her for writing these novels! It's like a soothing balm for my soul, making me feel like I ate a bowl of my favorite soup.
I hope she writes another story about Ellen and Temerity soon,
Great story to endwith and it's going on my favorites list, just like Invisible Ellen did last year, If you haven't read that one yet, read it first before starting this one, as there are spoilers,
Bravo to Shari for her excellent storytelling skills! Becoming Ellen
By
Shari Shattuck


What it's all about, . .

It's all about Ellen, She has a blind roommate named Temerity, . . she is working the night shift at Costco, . . she is still a bit chubby but in this book she is more socialized, When I was reading this book I kept thinking that I read it before but after again reading the back cover, . . I realized I read the first book, . . Invisible Ellen. In that book her life was really sad, . . in this book her life is less sad, . . but still sad the Costco cleaning scenes make me want to cry! She still has a scar, . . she is still quiet but in this book she seems to be saving and feeding children, . . and she is very good at it, Especially when she is in a bus crash with one of the children, . . oh my!

My thoughts after reading this book, . .

I did not like this book, I liked Ellen but this book was not for me,

What I loved best, . .

I loved learning that Ellen is better socially, . . more comfortable around people.

What potential readers might want to know, . .

I think you really need to read the first book to better understand Ellen, Unfortunately I have now read both but I don't think I want to know where Ellen goes next, . . I am really not that into her,
I ended up liking this book, though I wondered if I would at first, The main character, Ellen, is so different that I wasn't sure I would relate to her, The book ends up being a story of triumph, as "invisible" Ellen dares to become a little more visible and finds ways to help people and enact justice without being front and center.
Made more confident by her friends/roommates, Temerity and Justice, Ellen helps bring down a drug dealing boss at work, With the help of her roommate and new friend, Rupert, she saves the life of an abused runaway, and ensures a warm, safe home for a little girl whose mother was severely injured in an accident.
Sound like too much dogoodism It's a book about the power of friendship, creative ways to do the right thing, and simply noticing what goes on around you.
Enjoyed this book. Kindly pulled at my heart strings a little as it is about a girl who didnt have anything growing up, I would recommend reading “Invisible Ellen” first bc I believe this is thend one in the series! I thought about getting it and I may at a later time.
The characters were perfect for this plot and it did keep you on your toes at time, Its not too suspenseful where you cant put it down but I did find myself wanting to find out what was going to happen next.
I do recommend this book! er's Note: Because bookof this duology provides readers with a detailed and very relevant backstory which is imperative to the understanding of both the characters and character motivations, which are the basis for book.
It is strongly suggested that book, entitled Invisible Ellen, be read first,

Ellen Homes has come a long way from the reclusive shadow that readers were introduced to in Invisible Ellen, Now living with her best friends, Temerity and Justice Ellen is slowly coming to realize that she is ready to shed the selfimposed cloak of invisibility that has been both her shield and her prison for the majority of her life.


When the plights of two young children spur Ellen into action, She is forced to confront the demons of neglect and abuse in her own tragic past, Putting her sleuthing petal to the metal at work, also puts Ellen front and center with very illegal, and even more dangerous goings on with some of her more shady coworkers amid the Costco night shift.


Becoming Ellen is not a book that is meant to be breezed through, It is both emotionally complex and at times, almost painfully slow, Readers must understand that Ellen is a woman who has made it through life without many of the social skills or the context for said skills, that most of us take for granted.
As a result, each attempt to participate in, or change things in her world is the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest,

Surprisingly, there is love to be had amid all the chaos, self discovery, and Temerity inspired Nancy Drewing, For Temerity, romance comes at the piano playing hands of her new downstairs neighbor, Justice finds his happily with a sweet lady doctor, and Ellen makes three, with the equally shy and incredibly patient musician Rupert,

This is a very compelling read, that draws one in and doesn't let go until its ending pages, Please be advised that even though the sensitive issues of child abuse and neglect are handled with great respect and care these issues can serve as a trigger for some readers.


I was provided with a copy of this work as part of Penguin's First To Read program in exchange for the honest review provided
This review has spoilers for Invisible Ellen but not for Becoming Ellen

Becoming Ellen is the sequel to Invisible Ellen.
I highly recommend reading that book first to really understand who Ellen is, And Ellen is a very damaged individual, She has a paralyzing fear of interacting with other people and has used food as an emotional crutch in the past, although not so much in this book.


As with Invisible Ellen, there are several subplots that have Temerity and Ellen involving themselves in sticky situations to try and help people.
Some of these situations involved the foster care system and as foster parent myself, I was bothered by the inaccuracies of how the system works.
It's probably not enough to concern someone who isn't familiar with the system but I didn't like it,

Ellen still struggles with anxiety and extreme shyness in the book but she is slowly coming out of her shell, She lives with Temerity and her brother Justice now instead of living isolated and alone, Her scar has been fixed for the most part and her relationship with food is healthier, although still not perfect, We learn more about Ellen's childhood which is the reason she became the person she is now,

I liked this book but I didn't love it like I loved Invisible Ellen, I think it's because Invisible Ellen was mostly focused on Ellen and developing her character, Becoming Ellen is more focused on action and plot, If there is another book, I would like it to explore the character of Temerity more deeply in addition to following Ellen on her journey.


If you read Invisible Ellen then I recommend Becoming Ellen, I enjoyed checking in with Ellen, Temerity and Justice,
This book was so good!! Highly recommend " Becoming Ellen" which I won through Goodreads/First Reads is a poignant, darkly humorous story that revolves around the friendship of two women shy, reclusive Ellen Homes and confident, energetic Temerity Bauer.
As the story opens a young man in a black leather jacket on Ellen's bus is attacked by a bully, forcing the bus driver to slam on the brakes and flipping the vehicle onto its side.
In the chaos that follows Ellen is forced to step out of her comfort zone saving the little girl sitting across from her her severely injured mother lying wedged between the seats.
Stirred by the near fatal tragedy and fearing for the girl's safety in the foster care system that traumatized her as a child Ellen takes tiny steps out of her shell of invisibility not only protecting the young girl and a twelve year old runaway boy, but female coworkers bullied in her workplace.
In doing so she has to face demons from her own past that continue to haunt her as she struggles to find a sense of balance, of normalcy in her life.


In a wellwritten plot that's heartwarming and mesmerizing the reader takes a journey with Ellen who bravely begins stepping out of her selfimposed isolationism into a world where she's forced to interact and communicate with others, not just her two closest friends Temerity and Justice.
This is a story of one woman's passionate struggle to make sense of the unpredictability of life and a world where her trust is not easily given.
It is wellwritten, a pageturner from beginning to end as Ellen takes a giant leap when she begins to voice her experiences and emotions not only heard in the pages of her journal but in her interaction with coworkers and the children she yearns to help.
Within the angst, pain and violence of the story not only is love and friendship prevalent, but Shari Shattuck sheds light on the legalities and abuse some children suffer in the foster care system.


Ellen Homes powerless against the mistreatment of a mother who burnt her face and from years of abuse in the cold, inhumanity of foster homes, keeps her anger, pain and suffering locked deep inside her.
Keeping herself invisible, free from interaction or the touch of others, she's begun to emerge like a butterfly from its chrysalis in her need to help the vulnerable and oppressed.
Cautious, untrusting but observant, Ellen struggles to redeem her life from obscurity, clinging to the support and encouragement of the caring friendship of Temerity and Justice.
Her sidekick in the adventures is Temerity Bauer a blind and talented violinist in the city's symphony orchestra whose wit and humor keep Ellen anchored to reality.
She's capable, resilient and kind, but struggles with a sense of insecurity fearing the romantic advances of man on the second floor, that he could never care for a blind woman.


Among the other unforgettable characters is Temerity's smart, funny and caring twin brother Justice his kindhearted and conscientious girlfriend Amanda, a dedicated doctor the nononsense, honest and brave Thelma Seth a tough twelve year old survivor and Rupert the private, unsocial, awkward cello player and creative baker.
Even antagonists like the bully Eric, the druggie Daniel and Seth's obnoxious uncle add chilling excitement to the power and depth of the drama as events unfold.


I loved the fluid writing style and the remarkable characterizations in "Becoming Ellen" as this insecure, haunted young woman courageously, but hesitantly steps

forward to embrace the world she fears.
I rate it highly,look forward to reading "Invisible Ellen" and hope to read more about Ellen and her friends in the future,
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