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Unplugged: Ella Gets Her Family Back
In today's wired world, while many debate the ever-present nature of electronic devices, most will agree that learning to manage this technology is an essential task. With many parents confessing they are "addicted" to their smart phones, this is not an easy task. Finding a balance for today's families requires thought, conversation, and some trial and error. Unplugged is a timely and non-judgmental story that takes on a very big issue in a friendly and humorous way. Ella, the youngest family member, let's her frustration with her family's constant use of cell phones and computers be known by confiscating their chargers. Bit by bit, the parents come to see things from their daughter's perspective and find a solution that works for the family.
- GenresPicture BooksChildrens
32 pages, Hardcover
First published October 7, 2012
About the author
Laura Pedersen
23 books42 followersLaura Pedersen was born in Buffalo, New York (one of "God's frozen people") in 1965, at the height of The Folk Music Scare. (For details of misspent youth see essay at 'Is there a Nurse in the Church?'). After finishing high school in 1983 she moved to Manhattan and began working on The American Stock Exchange, a time when showing up combined with basic computation skills could be parlayed into a career. She chronicled these years in her first book, Play Money.
Having vowed to become anything but a journalist and with no conception of what a semicolon does, Laura spent the better part of the 1990s writing for The New York Times.
In 1994 President Clinton honored her as one of Ten Outstanding Young Americans. She has appeared on TV shows including Oprah, Good Morning America, Primetime Live, and David Letterman.
In 2001, her first novel, Going Away Party, won the Three Oaks Prize for Fiction and was published by Storyline Press. Beginner's Luck was published by Ballantine Books in 2003 and subsequently chosen for the Barnes & Noble "Discover Great New Writers" program, Borders "Original Voices," and as a featured alternate for The Literary Guild.
Pedersen's other novels include Last Call, Heart's Desire, and The Big Shuffle.
Laura lives in New York City, teaches reading and trades Yu-Gi-Oh! cards at the Booker T. Washington Learning Center in East Harlem, and is a member of the national literary association P.E.N. (poets, essayists and novelists).
Having vowed to become anything but a journalist and with no conception of what a semicolon does, Laura spent the better part of the 1990s writing for The New York Times.
In 1994 President Clinton honored her as one of Ten Outstanding Young Americans. She has appeared on TV shows including Oprah, Good Morning America, Primetime Live, and David Letterman.
In 2001, her first novel, Going Away Party, won the Three Oaks Prize for Fiction and was published by Storyline Press. Beginner's Luck was published by Ballantine Books in 2003 and subsequently chosen for the Barnes & Noble "Discover Great New Writers" program, Borders "Original Voices," and as a featured alternate for The Literary Guild.
Pedersen's other novels include Last Call, Heart's Desire, and The Big Shuffle.
Laura lives in New York City, teaches reading and trades Yu-Gi-Oh! cards at the Booker T. Washington Learning Center in East Harlem, and is a member of the national literary association P.E.N. (poets, essayists and novelists).
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 2, 2021
This book is a bit preachy, but a good message nonetheless. I feel like all kids (including mine) can relate to having family members a bit too addicted to their technology. Ella's wake-up call to her family is simple and effective, and the book is a good reminder to focus on each other instead of devices. I like that the book features a family with a White mother, Black father, and mixed race children (I especially love that the mixed race family isn't the *point* of the book, the family just happens to be mixed race without comment). I wish the illustrations were more enjoyable to look at, though. They don't particularly grab me, and I think there's a reason that although we've owned this book for a long time it hasn't been read much. I think today was actually my first time reading it aloud to L, although I know S has read it to himself in the past.
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December 18, 2019A modern story, for sure! I like that both children and adults are the "guilty" parties. While the story has an important message, odds are pretty good that siblings will start pointing fingers at each other. Ella's solution is simple and attention getting without being over the top.
Read the review at the Reading Tub.
Read the review at the Reading Tub.
January 13, 2021
Grandmother loaned us this book to read. It's a very realistic story of life these days ... everyone in the family on a device - moms, dads, kids. Ella missed her family and had to hide all the chargers in order to get them to listen to her. They did listen and decided to have family meals together - no devices allowed, and they played games together and played outside together. Ah yes, this is a good reminder to all of us. It's a challenge for all.
December 19, 2016
Ella misses the days when her family used to spend time together without constant interruptions from texts, video games, iPods, and laptops, so she confiscates her family’s gadgets in an effort to do something about it.
Penny Weber’s illustrations of Ella and her family tell us a lot about where they live and how they interact. Facial expressions convey Ella’s excitement over playing Hangman with her brother, her disappointment when she learns there won’t be blueberry waffles for breakfast, and her outright anger when she can’t seem to get anyone to notice her instead of their various screens. The characters dress like real people, and they resemble many families I have interacted with. My favorite image is the final wordless spread that reveals the outcome of Ella’s heart-to-heart talk with her parents about trying to “unplug” their family. Words aren’t necessary, because it’s all spelled out in pictures.
This book is probably best-suited to an elementary school audience. I don’t think most preschoolers could relate too well to the concept of their family’s ignoring them in favor of technology, nor is a preschooler likely to take away Mom’s cell phone to punish her for such behavior. Parents might like to share this book with kids who beg for cell phones, or with kids who spend too much time with video games and not enough time outside in the fresh air or spending time with siblings. It doesn’t stand out as a great read-aloud, but in the right situation, it could be useful for addressing very specific issues.
Unplugged might pair well with Blackout by John Rocco, where a family becomes closer after the power goes out and they can’t use their devices for several hours. Overall, I see this as more of a self-help type book for kids than a story one might read for pure entertainment, but for what it is, I thought it was well-told and well-illustrated story with a plucky, authentic, and memorable protagonist.
Penny Weber’s illustrations of Ella and her family tell us a lot about where they live and how they interact. Facial expressions convey Ella’s excitement over playing Hangman with her brother, her disappointment when she learns there won’t be blueberry waffles for breakfast, and her outright anger when she can’t seem to get anyone to notice her instead of their various screens. The characters dress like real people, and they resemble many families I have interacted with. My favorite image is the final wordless spread that reveals the outcome of Ella’s heart-to-heart talk with her parents about trying to “unplug” their family. Words aren’t necessary, because it’s all spelled out in pictures.
This book is probably best-suited to an elementary school audience. I don’t think most preschoolers could relate too well to the concept of their family’s ignoring them in favor of technology, nor is a preschooler likely to take away Mom’s cell phone to punish her for such behavior. Parents might like to share this book with kids who beg for cell phones, or with kids who spend too much time with video games and not enough time outside in the fresh air or spending time with siblings. It doesn’t stand out as a great read-aloud, but in the right situation, it could be useful for addressing very specific issues.
Unplugged might pair well with Blackout by John Rocco, where a family becomes closer after the power goes out and they can’t use their devices for several hours. Overall, I see this as more of a self-help type book for kids than a story one might read for pure entertainment, but for what it is, I thought it was well-told and well-illustrated story with a plucky, authentic, and memorable protagonist.
February 1, 2013
Ella misses spending time with her family. Everyone seems to be ignoring each other because they are all plugged in to whatever electronic thing they have. Her brother has his video games, her dad has his computer and her mom and sister have their phones. Ella has had enough and decides to unplug her family!
Why I liked this book – I love the message of this book! It is well-told in the story. I like Ella’s cleverness and creativity. She probably has it because she is not plugged in! All families should read this book and learn from the message given in it – spend more time with each other! I like the illustrations! The expressions on the faces of the characters are really life-like. I like all the small details in the illustrations. This is a great book with an awesome storyline! I recommend this book to kids 5+
*NOTE I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Why I liked this book – I love the message of this book! It is well-told in the story. I like Ella’s cleverness and creativity. She probably has it because she is not plugged in! All families should read this book and learn from the message given in it – spend more time with each other! I like the illustrations! The expressions on the faces of the characters are really life-like. I like all the small details in the illustrations. This is a great book with an awesome storyline! I recommend this book to kids 5+
*NOTE I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 6, 2015
Laura Pedersen is addressing a vital topic in a way both accessible to children and thought-provoking for adults. It is all about our absorption with electronic devices - smartphones, pcs, consoles. I confess I look at the book partly in a professional way too. I have worked with children for 26 years now and in all those years I have never come across a book quite like UNPLUGGED before. It is a children's book, a picture book, written and made to entertain. At the same time it is educational. Raising questions, adressing a subtle uneasiness. My children at once related to the story, showing their awareness of the underlying problem, although they could never have articulated it alone. I am very happy I bought the book. It's continually providing my whole family with a playful way to raise awareness.
February 14, 2015
Ella is fed up with her family. Everyone used to enjoy spending time together, but now it seems as though her siblings and parents are so preoccupied with all their tech devices that no one has time for her or for each other. In a flash of brilliance, she decides to confiscate all their chargers and small devices to make her point. They get the message, and the concluding pages show how one family reserves family time and decides to go unplugged for a short period each week. The illustrations show how involved with their tech toys the family seems to be. Clearly, this picture book has promising uses for starting conversations about the issues it raises--and some possible solutions for families that are so connected with the wider world that they are disconnected from one another.
May 12, 2013
I love it when books exceed my expectations. And this one did. Surprisingly, the story didn't come off as overly preachy. It was well written and concise. I love the idea of unplugging from devices at mealtime so that the family can connect. I also love the way Ella confronts her problems head on instead of waiting for someone else to do it for her.
The illustrations were okay. I didn't hate them, but I didn't absolutely love them either. I really didn't have strong feelings about the artwork either way.
Books for Kids
The illustrations were okay. I didn't hate them, but I didn't absolutely love them either. I really didn't have strong feelings about the artwork either way.
Books for Kids
December 20, 2013
Other than the fact that a young girl Ella's age would NEVER use the phrase "before you all got so plugged in," nor even the word "unplugged," I loved this story. It was a great book to discuss the influence technology has on our social relationships on our lives with young children. While there are many books out there on this topic, this one is my favorite. It gets its point across directly and concicsely, without being too abstract nor too preachy, which is the fault of many other similar books.
February 6, 2013
I received a copy free through Goodreads First Reads.
This was a really cute story about unplugging and connecting!! Kids will like it and grown ups can learn a valuable lesson from it!!
Beautiful illustrations!! My Nice is in love with it and I may never see my copy again!
This was a really cute story about unplugging and connecting!! Kids will like it and grown ups can learn a valuable lesson from it!!
Beautiful illustrations!! My Nice is in love with it and I may never see my copy again!
January 23, 2013
I wasn't expecting a picture book- but it's a great picture book! I haven't decided yet if I'm going to selfishly keep it or give it to my local elementary school so that many kids may enjoy it as much as I did.
Of course, I could always buy the school another copy....
Of course, I could always buy the school another copy....
February 16, 2013
I REALLY LIKED THIS BOOK. I WILL SEND IT TO MY NIECES. I WON BOOK FROM GOODREAD.
April 27, 2013
the story was nice. The pictures were eh. I like that it is a multicultural family.
March 2, 2014
Poignant story of how all our electrical devices can separate us as a family
April 9, 2017
I absolutely adore this book! Everyone needs to unplug at times and this is a great little story.
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May 16, 2016eletronics
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews