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Complimentary Library Copies

5 Star Award for Ellie Ment
Indie Approved Award and Review of Ellie Ment and the Material Matter

The Ellie Ment series is a STEM-based adventure where chemistry meets chaos, physics bends reality, and curiosity might just save the world. An educational book series that has received 5-star ratings from major professional reviewers in UK, USA and Canada and is a Moonbeam Children's Book Awards-winner.

The Clean Planet Foundation (publisher) is currently offering complimentary library copies of Book One to selected libraries (and school libraries) in the UK, USA and Canada. Why?​

Clarion review of Ellie Ment
Kirkus Review of Ellie Ment and the Material Matter
Kirkus Get it Veridct for Ellie Ment and the Material Matter
Goodreads rating of Ellie Ment
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San Franscico Book Review of Ellie Ment and the Material Matter
Gold Moonbeam Children's Book Award for Ellie Ment

“Edutainment at its finest—exciting, funny, and impossible to put down!”

- Chris Riches, Daily Express

“Encourages kids to think deeply, explore bravely, and believe their questions matter.”" 

"Brilliantly clever!

Pure scientific magic!" 

- John Ward, The Star

- Will Barker, The Sun

Vicky Holmes - Portrait

Vicky Holmes, One of the World’s Most Successful Children’s Fiction Creators, Joins the Ellie Ment Series

Vicky Holmes has shaped children’s fiction for decades, as creator, editor and co-author of globally successful series that have sold more than 150 million copies in over 40 languages.

 

She now joins Ellie Ment as developmental and copy editor, bringing world-class storytelling expertise to the series’ blend of adventure and real science.

Read her exclusive interview with LoveReading4Kids on fantasy, young readers, “invisible learning” and joining the Ellie Ment series.

READ FULL PROFESSIONAL REVIEWS:

Kirkus Review of Ellie Ment and the Material Matter
Blue Ink Review of Ellie Ment and the Material Matter
Forward Clarion Review of Ellie Ment
National World Review of Ellie Ment
Online Book Club  Review of Ellie Ment and the Material Matter
Book Life  of Ellie Ment and the Material Matter
Readers' Favourite review of Ellie Ment
Discovery Review of Ellie Ment
City BR Review of Ellie Ment and the Material Matter
San Francisco Book Review Ellie Ment
Indie Reader Ellie Ment
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Gold Moonbeam Children's Book Award for Ellie Ment

Ellie Ment and the Material Matter received the top honour at the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards.

The Moonbeam Awards celebrate outstanding storytelling for young readers and are the oldest and most recognised national awards platform in America devoted entirely to children’s literature.
 

IMG_7810.jpeg
Gold Moonbeam Children's Book Award for Ellie Ment

Ellie Ment and the Material Matter received the top honour at the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards.

The Moonbeam Awards celebrate outstanding storytelling for young readers and are the oldest and most recognised national awards platform in America devoted entirely to children’s literature.
 

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Audiobook Cover by Jennifer Saunders of Ellie Ment and the Material Matter
Jennifer Saunders narrates audiobook of Ellie Ment and the Material Matter

Now also available as a major audiobook release, read by JENNIFER SAUNDERS

- LoveReadingUK

Audible audiobook of Ellie Ment
Google Play audiobook of Ellie Ment
Apple Books Google Play audiobook of Ellie Ment
Libby audiobook of Ellie Ment

The Blurb

Ellie doesn’t believe in magic, she believes in science.
But science is magic!

Science explains everything, right? But when Ellie’s school burns down in roaring purple flames (wait, what?), her favourite teacher hands her wrist bracers that summon the elements (Bracers…Nitrogen!), and she’s invited to join a secret society of the smartest minds on Earth (yikes!), suddenly not everything has an explanation after all!

Driven by logic, unshakeable stubbornness, and an unreasonable number of jam jars, Ellie is determined to prove that science can explain everything – no matter how strange things get.
 

But can she?

The Ellie Ment Series is a STEM-based adventure where chemistry meets chaos, physics bends reality, and curiosity might just save the world.

Ellie Ment and the Material Matter - Book Cover
Kirkus Review of Ellie Ment and the Material Matter

The gold standard in book reviews since 1933

“A quirky science adventure with an engaging message of sustainability and hope.

 

Effectively blends environmental science, mystery tropes, and discussions of ethics in this story for STEM-focused middle-grade readers.

 

The narrative handles the complexities of trying to save the world with nuance and care."

Kirkus Get it Veridct for Ellie Ment and the Material Matter
Blue Ink Review of Ellie Ment and the Material Matter

"This playful novel—set in England’s picturesque small-town of Hapsie—recalls Harry Potter and
Hogwarts, but instead of magic, science unites the story.
Ellie’s experiments and discoveries offer
opportunities for the heroine to break into explanations about the scientific principles involved."

"There’s much to appreciate about this purpose-driven book. Along with a valuable STEM focus, the
story is creative
, and Ellie’s fierce stubbornness and willingness to go head-to-head with adults
makes her a strong role model."

Extract from official BlueInk review

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Forward Clarion Review of Ellie Ment

"Ellie Ment and the Material Matter is a witty, warmhearted novel about kindness, truth, and science.

In Bertie Stephens’s wonderful mystery novel Ellie Ment and the Material Matter, an aspiring scientist investigates a blaze at her school."

Forward Clarion Review of Ellie Ment
National World Logo

Ellie Ment and the Material Matter: The Science Book Your Child Will Actually Want to Read

By Timothy Arden

"Smart, funny and grounded in real science, Bertie Stephens’ novel is a gripping eco-mystery that helps children connect the dots without ever talking down to them. It’s a book that opens the conversation about science and environmentalism...

​... Plenty of books try to tackle the subject, but few treat children as if they’re genuinely capable of grasping real science—and even fewer manage to make that science exciting. Ellie Ment does both. In fact, it’s the rare children’s book that manages to be educational, gripping and laugh-out-loud funny all at once."

...If you’ve ever wondered how to talk to your children about plastic waste, climate change, or why grown-ups always dodge the big questions, this book does it. It even makes quantum relativity sound like something you’d chat about over breakfast. Every school should have a copy. Every kitchen table should have a child reading it."

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Online Book Club  Review of Ellie Ment and the Material Matter

"The book is a one-of-a-kind children's book that teaches children to use their knowledge for the greater good, like protecting our environment from pollution of any kind. 

I honestly couldn't find anything negative about the book. It delivered exactly what I expected."

Book Life  of Ellie Ment and the Material Matter
One of Stephens’s standout themes is the tension between idealism and pragmatism in environmental action.
 
The narrative challenges readers to consider whether compromising ethics for the greater good is justifiable, a question that resonates deeply in today’s climate crisis. Stephens also excels at making science accessible and exciting, seamlessly integrating important learning concepts into the plot to inspire curiosity in young readers."
Readers Favorite Logo
Ellie Ment Background
"Ellie Ment and the Material Matter is a brilliant fusion of education and entertainment, making complex scientific concepts accessible and exciting through Ellie’s infectious enthusiasm.
 
Bertie Stephens’ storytelling, paired with a cast of relatable characters, creates a narrative that is both thought-provoking and laugh-out-loud fun.
 
The environmental themes, underscored by the Clean Planet Foundation’s mission, resonate deeply, urging young readers to question systems and take action.
 
I highly recommend this book to young readers and adults alike who love science, adventure, and stories that inspire courage and curiosity.
 
The story blends quantum physics, environmental activism, and youthful rebellion, and leads to a thrilling cliffhanger with a neon green sky.
 
This is a must-read that will leave you eagerly awaiting Ellie’s next move. Ellie has more adventures to come!"

Cherubimaris Casino, for Readers' Favorite

5 Star Review Ellie Ment
Reedsy logo Ellie Ment
Discovery Review of Ellie Ment
Ellie perfectly embodies the children of the STEM generation as she regularly engages in scientific observation and experimentation that would often be considered far beyond her years.... 
 
...A brilliant beginning to a series that promises many more adventures, Ellie's quest to protect the planet earns five out of five stars for storytelling excellence. Read In Full
Must Read for Ellie Ment
Star Rating Ellie Ment

Dakota Love, for Reedsy Discovery

Book Store
City BR Kirkus Review of Ellie Ment and the Material Matter
Five star Kirkus Review of Ellie Ment and the Material Matter

"Okay, so first things first: this book is a blast.

 

Ellie Ment and the Material Matter isn’t your average “kid genius saves the world” story. It’s fun, it’s quirky, and it somehow manages to sneak real science lessons into a story that never feels like homework."

Bottom line? Ellie Ment and the Material Matter is smart, funny, and way more exciting than I expected. It’s the kind of book I’d happily pass along to my younger cousins, but also one I had no problem enjoying as a grown-up who just likes a good adventure."

San Francisco Book Review of Ellie Ment and the Material Matter

“Ellie Ment and the Material Matter succeeds in something rare: it makes science feel exciting without being intimidating...

...A delightful blend of adventure, science, and environmental awareness. At its heart, this is a book about curiosity and the courage to ask questions… an invitation to young readers to see wonder not in the fantastical, but in the tangible mysteries of the natural world.

Children will enjoy the quirky adventures, the jam-jar experiments, and the mysteries Ellie stumbles into, while adults will appreciate the gentle encouragement to nurture curiosity and responsibility in the next generation."

Golden Gate Bridge
Indie Reader Ellie Ment
Indie Approved Award and Review of Ellie Ment and the Material Matter

 "a perfect blend of fun, informative, and timely."

"ELLIE MENT is also just plain fun. The text crams in a lot of adventure: a mysterious set of gauntlets that grant power over elements; an inciting mystery that can only be solved with knowledge of chemistry; a secret society with a vast underground lair...

... ELLIE MENT is exciting, funny, and charming. However, at its heart, it’s a call to action—to stand up, to be our best selves, and to stand together to tackle the challenges we all face in the current moment.

“Encourages kids to think deeply, explore bravely, and believe their questions matter.”

Will Barker, The Sun

Key Themes

STEM

Adventure

Introduces children to real scientific concepts (elements, compounds, chemical reactions, quantum superposition) through thrilling, accessible storytelling.

Friendship and Teamwork

Ellie and Michael's frienship highlights the importance of diverse talents—science and art, logic and creativity—working together toward a bigger goal. There isn’t just one type of ‘smart’.

The

Environment

Tackles real-world issues like microplastic pollution, unsustainable industry practices, and the importance of circularity.

Courage and Curiosity

The bravery to ask questions, experiment, and stand up for what’s right underpins Ellie’s journey.

Youth Empowerment

Ellie symbolises the next generation challenging the old way of doing things. The story explores the frustration and hope young people experience when confronting adult compromise.

"Edutainment at its Finest"

Chris Riches and the Daily Express says it the best... "Edutainment at its finest - exciting, funny and impossible to put down!"

Tone and Narrative Style

  • Playful, witty, and self-aware.
     

  • The narrator often breaks the fourth wall with cheeky asides, drawing the reader deeper into the adventure.
     

  • The tone balances humour and high-stakes tension, keeping younger readers excited while introducing meaningful messages.
     

  • Ellie’s failures, experiments, and messy victories are relatable and inspiring for a generation taught that progress is built on persistence.

Scientific and Educational Foundations

  • The Elemental Bracers are grounded in real atomic theory and chemical science.
     

  • Concepts such as compounds, states of matter, reaction chains, the conservation of mass, and quantum mechanics (especially quantum superposition and the observer effect) are woven into the story naturally.
     

  • Ellie Ment makes science fun, magical, and powerful—without distorting the real-world possibilities of STEM.

Teachers and Parents View?

Science, Maths and Language teacher, Joshua (and Dad too!) gives his honest view about Ellie Ment and the Material Matter...

"The Future of Books"

We sent Charlotte of popular YouTube channel Charlotte’s BookNook an advanced copy to read.

What was her honest review? 
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Publisher

The Clean Planet Foundation is the not-for-profit arm of the Clean Planet Group, working to educate and take action for the sustainable use of plastics and the reduction of carbon emissions.

 

The Foundation believes that everyone deserves better and initiates projects to mitigate the impact of the plastic and climate crises across the UK and beyond.

Clean Planet Foundation is the publisher of Ellie Ment

© 2026 Clean Planet Foundation CIC - Contact the Publisher

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