Honestly Elliott

Content warning: This section of the guide discusses ableism toward people with ADHD.

Elliott is the protagonist and narrator of Honestly Elliott. He is a sixth grader with ADHD who loves cooking. He lives primarily with his mother, Nina, and visits his father, Mark, and stepmother, Kate, at their house on the weekends. He has two pet guinea pigs, Denver and Omelet, and a best friend, Malcolm, who is away with his family for two years of traveling. At the beginning of the novel, Elliott struggles with loneliness and the changing dynamics of his family as he prepares to welcome a new little brother into his life. By making new friends, Elliott experiences a coming-of-age character arc during which he learns to accept himself and his family as they are, and he learns to become more flexible and accepting of others.

Elliott’s coming-of-age arc centers on his relationships. He begins the story isolated since his best friend is away traveling, and he struggles to connect with other children his age, instead putting his energy into learning from Griffin Connor. His fixation on Griffin Connor has multiple side effects, such as when he lashes out at Maribel for his inedible pie crust.