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Ella Minnow Pea

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2001

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Book Brief

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Mark Dunn

Ella Minnow Pea

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2001
Book Details
Pages

208

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Nollop Island • 2000s

Publication Year

2001

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

14-18 years

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Super Short Summary

In Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn, on the island of Nollop, named after Nevin Nollop who created the sentence "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog," the story follows Ella Minnow Pea as letters fall from a statue honoring Nollop, prompting the island's Council to ban their use, causing societal chaos and personal upheavals as the community struggles under increasing linguistic restrictions.

Mysterious

Challenging

Bittersweet

Humorous

Reviews & Readership

4.2

56,448 ratings

72%

Loved it

21%

Mixed feelings

7%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn is a clever and inventive epistolary novel that many readers appreciate for its imaginative use of language and unique premise. While praised for its wit and satirical edge, some find the constrained format limiting and the narrative overly whimsical. The novel is mostly celebrated for its originality and thought-provoking commentary on freedom of expression.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Ella Minnow Pea?

A reader who enjoys Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn is likely a lover of clever wordplay, satirical humor, and thought-provoking social critiques. Fans of George Orwell's 1984 and Aldous Huxley's Brave New World might appreciate its exploration of language and freedom within a quirky, epistolary narrative.

4.2

56,448 ratings

72%

Loved it

21%

Mixed feelings

7%

Not a fan

Character List

Ella

Ella is a young woman growing into her own identity, and is the namesake of the story. She becomes a central figure as she navigates a society facing change and finds strength through her family connections.

Tassie is a character who embodies rebellion and initially acts as a voice of reason. Her journey involves challenging authority as she grapples with the consequences of love and communication breakdown.

Amos is a character who is efficient with language and focused on his business pursuits. His actions and letters contribute to a significant turning point in the narrative.

Tom and Nate both play roles that influence the main female characters, Ella and Tassie, respectively. They are involved with a crucial project, with Nate as an initiator and Tom as a motivator, affecting the progression of the plot.

Mr. Lyttle is a council member inclined to listen to and support citizens. His encouragement and openness are instrumental in furthering a major effort within the story.

Book Details
Pages

208

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Nollop Island • 2000s

Publication Year

2001

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

14-18 years

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