Jellybean

About this book

Ellie is terrified. Going back to school seems impossible. 

Six months ago, she had woken up as usual, but her body wouldn’t work properly, and the thought of school made her tremble and cry, so her parents let her stay at home. The same thing happened the next day, and the next, and the one after that.

Surely, her parents said, there must be a reason for her being so scared. Was she being bullied? Was the work too hard? But neither of these were true.

Ellie has good friends who care about her and want to help. She misses both her friends and her favourite lessons but despite desperately wanting to get back to her old routine, her mind simply won’t let her do it.  

Dedicated to anyone who has ever suffered from anxiety, this gentle story explores the complex feelings behind school avoidance: a problem that has seen a huge increase in recent years, especially since the Covid-19 pandemic. 

In a super-accessible format, interspersed with black and white illustrations, Ellie’s journey shows how the right support and therapy can equip young people with the strategies to process difficult emotions and manage anxiety.