Ella Jones vs the Battle Noise – at a glance
The School Reading Lists’ five word review: Heroic Teen Defeats Mythical God.
Children’s book title: Ella Jones vs the Battle Noise.
Children’s author: Lucy Edwards.
Genre: Mythological mystery.
Published by: Scholastic.
ISBN: 9780702337970.
Recommended for children aged: 9-12.
First published: Paperback October 2025.
This children’s book is ideal for: An adventure quest where historical myths are intertwined into a modern day setting. A story of navigating relationships, overcoming personal barriers and problem solving.
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Our review:
After reviewing the first Ella Jones book, Ella Jones vs the Sun Stealer, earlier this year, I was extremely happy to see Lucy Edwards’ new book, Ella Jones vs the Battle Noise, drop through my letterbox a few weeks ago. This second Ella Jones story manages to follow the familiar formula of an adventure quest but remains fresh with new characters, new elements of jeopardy and a very different mythically based problem to solve.
Protagonist Ella Jones was previously sighted but became blind during childhood. She has learnt to navigate the world without vision and with her guide dog Maisie by her side. In the first book, Ella Jones uses the tools she has learnt to save the world from complete darkness at the hands of the God Lugh from Irish mythology. In the second book, Greek God, Homados, is creating turmoil in the world by creating episodes of battle noise that are increasingly painful to everyone apart from Ella, who is protected by the Eye of Horus, gifted to her by Lugh. Yet again, Ella is able to use her unique skills, experiences and her determination to take on a powerful god.
Navigating relationships is a key theme throughout. At the start of the book, Ella is dealing with a feeling of distance between both herself and her sister, Poppy, and with her friend, Finn. Ella also experiences a kind of loneliness and disconnection from the wider world as some of her hopes for how the world might improve for blind people after the sun was stolen are not realised. Amid this state of loneliness, enter the new child at school, River. River, who is incredibly rich, is cared for by his butler and has never before had friends over to his house. You won’t get any spoilers from me but it is safe to say that you are kept guessing throughout as to this new character and his intentions. These relationships, as well as a couple of others which pop up and evolve along the way, provide a rich range of points for discussion around the social side of growing up.
Overall, Ella Jones vs the Battle Noise has a good pace and plenty of intrigue. Whilst reading both of the Ella Jones books, I have felt that, as well as being ideal for the pre-teen and early teen age groups, they are also the perfect stories for even younger readers who are reading at a higher reading age than their actual age. It can be challenging to find appropriate and engaging material for that particular group of readers and I believe these books could be the answer. Furthermore, the themes of mythology, friendships and inclusion lend this book to lots of learning opportunities and plenty of imagination. I only hope that another Ella Jones book finds its way through my letterbox in the not too distant future!
Many thanks to Scholastic for the review copy.
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