Inventing Elliot, by British author Graham Gardner, is set in England in a fictional high school, Holminster High. First published in 2003, Inventing Elliot is Gardner’s debut novel. He was inspired by The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier, a realistic book about a boy going against the system in a private Catholic school, and George Orwell’s book 1984, a dystopian social science fiction novel that explores the horror of violence and totalitarianism. Garner was also motivated to write Inventing Elliot because of his own experience of being bullied at school.

Inventing Elliot has been translated into 10 languages, and was short-listed for multiple awards, including the United Kingdom’s Branford Boase Award and the Angus Book Award. It was also nominated for the American Library Association’s Best Young Adult Book Award 2004, the Nutmeg Prize, and the Heartland Award. In 2005, Inventing Elliot won the prestigious German Youth Jury Award.

Plot Summary

A fresh start in a new house, new school and new town is what 14-year-old Elliot Sutton’s mother hopes will be the panacea to their depressing situation. Elliot and his parents used to be a happy family, but everything collapsed three years ago, when Elliot’s father was attacked and left with a severe brain injury. This meant that Elliot had to switch to a more affordable school, where he was mercilessly bullied. 

Despite having to take on multiple jobs, Elliot’s mom is determined to make the “fresh start” work. Elliot is equally determined not to be the target of bullies at his new school. He changes his style and invents a new, “cool” persona, not standing out too much or too little. His new school seems perfect, but before long, Elliot sees a younger student getting cruelly bullied, echoing his previous school experiences. Elliot identifies with the victim but is so relieved that he is not the target that he stays quiet.

Elliot does well academically and excels on the swim team, all the while perfecting his mask of confidence and indifference. Just as Elliot is starting to relax, he finds out about the Guardians, a violent gang who use fear to control the school. The Guardians decide who will be “punished” and who will carry out the bullying, the “punisher.” The first brutal “punishment” Elliot witnesses is in the bathrooms, where the victim is humiliated and tortured in front of a crown of jeering students. Elliot forces himself to maintain his new air of indifference as he watches despite the horror he feels inside. Elliot notices the victim drop a film cassette, which he picks up. Elliot tries to stay in the library during the weekly “punishments” rather than join the crowd, but he can’t avoid them all and even covers for the bullies when questioned.

Meanwhile, Elliot’s home life is getting worse. His mother is exhausted and his father is completely withdrawn, listlessly watching TV all day. Elliot has nowhere to turn and no one to share his feelings with. Then, to his surprise and horror, the Guardians summon him. The new Elliot comes across so self-assured and nonchalant to the Guardians, hiding the terrified old Elliot beneath so successfully, that they recruit him into their secret society. Their leader, Richard, takes inspiration from George Orwell’s book, 1984, which he holds as he explains about their network of spies and informants and their use of fear and intimidation to keep control and power.

Elliot’s only mental escape is swimming at the local pool on Saturdays, where he meets and befriends Ben. Ben is the student who was “punished” and dropped the film cassette. Elliot and Ben develop a genuine friendship based on shared interests in swimming and photography, but the friendship never crosses into school. Elliot knows he must never be seen with Ben, who is a target, and Ben instinctively understand this.

Elliot struggles to maintain his new multiple identities, but when the principal asks Elliot about rumors regarding a vicious gang at the school, Elliot shuns the opportunity to tell him everything. Instead, Eliot deftly lies, reassuring him that there is no truth in the rumors.

Then Elliot meets Louise, a girl from his English class, and they develop a friendship. Their discussions about books and philosophy provide an escape for Elliot, who falls in love with Louise. George Orwell’s 1984 is also one of Louise’s favorite books, but she counters Richard’s interpretation of it; to Louise, the message is about resistance and refusal to conform, even if it breaks you, giving Elliot a different perspective on his situation.

Juggling all his masks—one each for Ben, Louise, Richard, and his parents—becomes too much for Elliot, and he starts to question who he really is. After falling out with Ben and Louise, Elliot can’t take it anymore. He breaks down when his mother tenderly tells him that she will never give up on him, no matter what he has done. Armed with this support and the realization that the old, authentic Elliot is still alive, he walks to the principal’s office to fully expose the Guardians. Elliot finally understands that the most important things in life are knowing who you really are and the choices you make, especially when you are afraid.