Jellybean

By Author / Illustrator

Eve Ainsworth, Theo Parish

Genre

Mental Health & Wellbeing

Age range(s)

11+

Publisher

Barrington Stoke

ISBN

9780008739522

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

14-08-2025

Synopsis

Ellie battles feelings of anxiety about school that she can't explain in this sensitively told tale from acclaimed author Eve Ainsworth.

When Ellie wakes up one day and can't face going to school, her parents think there must be a reason. Is she being bullied? Or is the schoolwork too hard? But neither of these things are the problem, and Ellie finds it impossible to explain how she feels. As the days of absence turn into weeks and then months, Ellie's parents support her through this difficult time, but can she find a way to go back?

Particularly suitable for readers aged 11+ with a reading age of 7.

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Reviews

Ruth

Not only is Jellybean an excellent book, it is an essential read for anyone who is suffering from EBSA (Emotionally Based School Avoidance), their family or their friends. The narrative portrays the anxiety Ellie experiences regarding school in a way that will be instantly recognisable to sufferers of this frustrating and isolating condition.

Eve Ainsworth has crafted a gentle story around the year Ellie (known as Jellybean) found school became too overwhelming to attend and her subsequent recovery. It is both a hard read as it is so emotionally charged, yet easy as you are instantly connected to the protagonist and are immersed in her story.

Written from Ellie's perspective, we gain a real understanding about the effects of school avoidance on the child and family as well as their friends. I should also note the great illustrations by Theo Parish, particularly the front cover which captures the butterflies and brain fog of anxiety being experienced by Ellie en route to school with some simple yet masterfully illustrative strokes of the pen.

The author has added helpful information for parents and carers at the end describing how EBSA may present for children and young people and what it is. There is also information included for children and young people regarding who can help, helpful coping strategies and websites and contact details for further help and support.

This new addition to the Barrington Stoke catalogue offers children of 11 years and over the opportunity to read a good story about an important issue that might be meaningful in their lives or those of their family or friends, whether they have difficulty accessing reading or not. Of course, children with print disabilities such as dyslexia will benefit from the dyslexia friendly font, the use of space, illustrations and shortened sentences which make this a highly accessible read. Jellybean deserves a place in all secondary school libraries and I highly recommend Eve Ainsworth's latest book to tween and teen students.

80 pages / Reviewed by Ruth Cornish, school librarian