Inventing Elliot

"Inventing Elliot" is a book aimed at teenagers, and is the first novel of Graham Gardener. It was first published in 2003 by Orion Children’s Books, and was later re-printed by Dolphin.

Plot

This book is set in England, and follows a portion of the life of a boy called Elliot Sutton. Originally, he is bullied by stereotypical bullies but when both he and his father are involved in separate but equally brutal attacks, and his father goes into a deep state of depression. He moves to a different part of his city, far enough to start a new life where no one knows who he is, leaving behind his old life for two new ones.

Sick and tired of being a victim, he decides to change himself; buying new school uniform and attempting to change his appearance...However, he soon realises to his amazement that he is fitting in, and yet...it is not long before he sees that while he is no longer the victim, he is fast being pulled into the dark world of the Guardians.

Whilst he has escaped his traumatic past, his future seems to be that he will join the Guardians, and become one of the bullies that he once despised.

Themes

A main theme is that the book is a tribute to the book Nineteen-Eighty-Four by George Orwell, but there is also a strong theme that some would call ‘Be Careful What You Wish For'.The obvious example being that Elliot wished that he could fit in with the people in his school, and in doing this he causes himself to become a bully himself, thus losing him the two real friends that he has. He also makes a lady friend for the first time. Elliot will have to face the most important decision of his life: Do what is right, or what is easy.