Today we are very excited to share an interview with author Bertie Stephens!
Read on to learn more about the author, the book, and a giveaway!
Meet the Author: Bertie Stephens
When Bertie’s not writing about Elemental Bracers and science going bang in the early hours of the morning, he spends his working days as co-founder and CEO of the Clean Planet Group. Together with his team, they’re building advanced recycling facilities to tackle the plastic waste crisis, developing breakthrough technologies, and launching diverse environmental projects via the Clean Planet Foundation. Stephens now lives between England and Czechia with his wife and almost-three-year-old, Oskar.
About the Book: Ellie Ment and the Material Matter
Ellie doesn’t believe in magic, she believes in science.
But science is magic!
Science explains everything, right? But when Ellie’s school burns down in roaring purple flames (wait, what?), her favourite teacher hands her wrist bracers that summon the elements (Bracers… Nitrogen!), and she’s invited to join a secret society of the smartest minds on Earth (yikes!), suddenly not everything
has an explanation after all!
Driven by logic, unshakeable stubbornness, and an unreasonable number of jam jars, Ellie is determined to prove that science can explain everything — no matter how strange things get. But can she?
Ellie Ment and the Material Matter is a STEM-based adventure where chemistry meets chaos, physics bends reality, and curiosity might just save the world.
~Author Chat~
YABC: What inspired you to write this book?
A mix of panic and hope, really. Through the Clean Planet Foundation (the publisher of Ellie Ment – and where I spend my day-to-day), we’ve spent years tackling plastic pollution and trying to make environmental education more accessible. But our next generation don’t need more doom—they need stories that will inspire the solution. That can come in facts and booklets, but also proper adventures. I wanted to write something exciting that didn’t sugarcoat real issues but also didn’t talk down to young readers. Science is fascinating. Plastic pollution is urgent. Kids are clever, so why not trust them with both?
YABC: What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?
The start of chapter one, without a doubt. It’s the first real moment we see Ellie and Michael interact—two totally different types of ‘smart’ coming together. And different types of smart is important. She’s all equations and order; he’s paintbrushes and wild ideas. But it clicks. There’s something special about watching these two who might not normally bond find common ground through curiosity. It sets the tone for the whole book: humour, science, chaos—and I hope gives readers that “oh I love these two” feeling right away. But more importantly, it shows the readers that any type of smart is as valuable as the other type of smart – a science star doesn’t beat an artist, any more than your music talent doesn’t beat sportsperson.
YABC: What is the main message or lesson you want your reader to remember from this book?
That science is for everyone—and it’s often the curious ones who change the world. Ellie isn’t a superhero (even if she has already manged to reach #1 New Release in Amazon’s superhero category). She’s a kid with a backpack full of jam jars and way too many questions. But she’s brave enough to ask them, even when the grown-ups don’t want to answer. The book wraps real scientific concepts—like elements, reactions, and even quantum superposition—into a fast-paced adventure. But underneath it all, it’s about teamwork, environmental responsibility, and the power of thinking differently.
YABC: What are your favourite themes or tropes?
I love stories that mix real-world education with wild adventure—what some people call “edutainment,”! Ellie’s story plays with classic tropes like “the chosen one” but twists it: she’s not chosen because she’s perfect or born a wizard, but because she’s willing to challenge the status quo – she chooses herself, and so can you. I’m also drawn to the theme of youth empowerment. The idea that young people aren’t just future problem-solvers—they’re already asking better questions than most adults. Because that’s what happens today.
YABC: Do you have a playlist you listened to while writing?
Not while writing – silence was golden here, but we do have an original Ellie Ment Overture, composed by the amazing Joe Hogan. It captures the vibe of the book perfectly—mysterious, playful, and a bit chaotic. The Overture takes you through about 6 different key chapters of the book. We’re even recording a live orchestral version for the trailer. It gives me goosebumps every time, and I’d love to know if it does for you too. It’s all at https://EllieMent.com
YABC: What’s up next for you?
More Ellie Ment! Book Two is well underway, and it picks up right where the Material Matter leaves off. Expect deeper tunnels, bigger science, more moral grey areas, and some new characters I’m very excited about. We’re also expanding the world across schools, comics, and even some short stories—so there’s a lot to come. And for those who can’t wait for the next Ellie Ment book, Ellie was born in the HAPSIE comics which is a monthly print comic for budding eco-warriors, so feel free to join thousands of young people reading it every month!
Title: Ellie Ment and the Material Matter
Author: Bertie Stephens
Illustrator: Farras Raihan (Cover Illustrator), Milena Vieira (Chapter Illustrator)
Release Date: 26/06/2025
Publisher: The Clean Planet Foundation
Genre: Middle-Grade
Age Range: 8-12
