Where Ella Went, Laurie Morrison
Where Ella Went, Laurie Morrison
List: $20.00 | Sale: $14.00
Club: $10.00

Synopsis

A clever, funny mystery from author Laurie Morrison, about soccer teammates trying to solve the disappearance of their beloved team captain—and facing a few secrets of their own.

Why did Ella leave?

Eighth Graders Sadie and Pug don’t have anything in common except for their love of soccer and their loyalty to Ella, the overachieving team captain. So when Ella doesn’t show up for the most important game of the season and her parents pull her out of school, Sadie and Pug are determined to find out what happened, even though they don’t usually get along. There’s no way Ella abandoned the team!

But as Sadie and Pug dig deeper, they begin to realize that Ella’s life wasn’t as perfect as it seemed. And maybe Sadie and Pug have a few secrets that need to come to light, too. Maybe all their classmates do…

Told in recordings, letters, texts, journal entries, and emails, Where Ella Went is a funny and absorbing slice-of-life mystery about friendship, teamwork, and the pressures of being in middle school. If Sadie and Pug keep searching for answers, they risk sabotaging the end of their soccer season. But can they ever move on if they don’t learn the truth? And what if Ella needs them even more than they need her?

About The Author

Laurie Morrison is a middle school language arts teacher who lives in Philadelphia. She is the coauthor of Every Shiny Thing, and she is the author of Up for Air, Saint Ivy, Coming Up Short, and Keeping Pace. Laurie received her MFA in writing for children and young adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Sheila on December 09, 2025

I received a free copy of, Where Ella Went, by Laurie Morrison, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Ella is in eighth grade and is captain of her schools soccer team, when she suddenly disappears. Pug and Sadie are classmates and teammates of Ella, and want to find her......more

Goodreads review by YSBR on April 13, 2026

A sports mystery told through an epistolary lens, with an emphasis on learning differences and tween mental health, all leavened with unexpected humor. In this unlikely but masterful blend (that also namechecks Judy Blume), two main characters investigate the sudden disappearance of their seemingly......more

Goodreads review by Merry on March 18, 2026

Book Title: Where Ella Went Author: Laurie Morrison Genre: Middle Grade / Epistolary Mystery ________________________________________ The Hook: A Captain-Sized Hole In the world of eighth-grade soccer, Ella isn't just a captain; she’s the glue holding the team together. So, when she vanishes before the......more

Goodreads review by Christina on February 16, 2026

"Where Ella Went" by Laurie Morrison is a modern epistolary middle grade novel that seeks to solve the title mystery. Ella is one of the co-captains of the girl's soccer team at Birchfield Middle School. She's also a stellar student, president of the 8th grade student council, and an all around popu......more

Goodreads review by Lyon.Brit.andthebookshelf on April 11, 2026

Book Report: Where Ella Went by Laurie Morrison When star soccer player Ella suddenly disappears…missing the biggest game of the season and leaving school without explanation…her teammates Sadie and Pug set out to uncover the truth. As they dig deeper…what starts as a mystery unravels into something......more