SuitabookEllie Pillai is (Almost) in Love
Christine Pillainayagam
- Reading
- If the topics fit your child, read alongside them or check in after sections involving eating disorders, racism or relationship distress. Discuss the songs and cultural differences, while allowing them to decide which issues they want to explore.
- Themes
- Romantic uncertainty and self-knowledge: Ellie is already involved with Ash but questions what falling in love means; a school acquaintance invites her into his band and becomes another possible attraction. The story appears to treat romance as emotionally complicated rather than presenting one simple route, while following Ellie’s effort to understand her feelings.
- Family, culture and belonging: Ellie’s Granny joins the household and holds traditional views about food, partners and clothing, adding tension to Ellie’s family life. The book’s stance on this remains unclear.
- Racism, eating disorders and friendship: These issues are identified as woven through Ellie’s relationships and friendships, alongside a friend who is unhappy and another friend who has a girlfriend. The topics are present, but the brief account cannot show how individuals are portrayed, what responses are modelled or whether the treatments are detailed.
- Worth knowing
- The book includes kissing and a scene of under-age drinking. It also addresses eating disorders, racism, traditional family views, romantic uncertainty and positive LGBT representation; the intensity and detail of these treatments are not fully established.