It’s also where she can get away from her pushy mom, who thinks criticizing Ellie’s weight will motivate her to diet. In the water, she can stretch herself out like a starfish and take up all the room she wants. To cope, she tries to live by the Fat Girl Rules–like “no making waves,” “avoid eating in public,” and “don’t move so fast that your body jiggles.” And she’s found her safe space–her swimming pool–where she feels weightless in a fat-obsessed world. This is a must read–both for kid readers and for any adult who interacts with kids.Īdd Starfish to your Goodreads shelf and check out Lisa Fipps’ websiteĮllie is tired of being fat-shamed and does something about it in this poignant debut novel-in-verse.Įver since Ellie wore a whale swimsuit and made a big splash at her fifth birthday party, she’s been bullied about her weight. Ellie learns that forgiveness and love are journeys with ups and downs. Ellie does not have to magically forgive everyone who’s ever bullied her and she does not have to love her body every single day. This is a tough, emotional read but it discusses healing and acceptance. Throughout the novel, Ellie uses their love to boost her own self-worth and she learns how to stand up for herself. She has people on her side who love her and celebrate her just as she is. And I loved that Ellie had a core friend group who would be there for her no matter what. She also sees a therapist who compassionately gives her the tools to stand up against hate. Ellie has a fierce ally and protector in her father. To be honest, it was very hard to read these scenes but I think it will make tween readers who are dealing with the same type of bullying feel like they’re not alone. Ellie has a very difficult, emotionally abusive relationship with her mother.
She is happiest when she’s in the pool and can escape to her safe space. This book is about Ellie, a fat girl who is sick and tired of being shamed for her weight. Starfish by Lisa Fipps is an incredibly heart wrenching novel in verse. It’s #MiddleGradeMarch and I wanted to make sure to highlight one of my recent favorites.
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