Skip to main content

Starfish

Image
By

By Lisa Fipps
New York: Nancy Paulsen Books, 2021. Verse fiction.

11-year-old Ellie Montgomery-Hofstein is bullied everyday of her life because she is fat. Ever since her fifth birthday party when she cannonballed into the pool with a massive splash, the kids at Ellie's school and even her mom, brother, and sister bully her relentlessly because of how she looks. The bullying and torment prompts Ellie to create the "Fat Girl Rules" to help her fit in and stay invisible. When her best friend Viv moves away, Ellie feels all alone and without an ally -- especially as her mother's threat of bariatric surgery (which Ellie knows is dangerous) becomes more severe. Fortunately, Ellie's compassionate father notices how upset these words are making Ellie and helps her find a therapist to work through her problems. She also finds a new friend in her new neighbor Catalina, who helps her feel loved and accepted for who she is.

This debut novel is an emotional powerhouse made all the better by Ellie's powerful voice. Ellie considers herself a poet, so it is fitting that this novel is written in verse that allows her voice to shine through. The bullying that Ellie endures -- especially from her own family members -- is pretty intense, but readers will celebrate as Ellie learns to self-advocate and demand that she be treated better. The scenes of Ellie in therapy will be especially helpful for young readers struggling with self-acceptance and not knowing how to defend themselves. This is a triumphant novel about a girl becoming comfortable taking up space in this world. 
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

If You Like...KPop Demon Hunters

By
KPop Demon Hunters has been one of the most talked-about movies of the summer. If you loved this movie as much as I did, you don't want the magic (or the music) to stop. Try reading these books that touch on some of the same topics and themes as the animated hit! Brick Dust and Bones By M. R. Fournet New York: Feiwel and Friends, 2023. Fiction. 247 pages. Orphaned Marius works in the family business--as their cemetery's ghost caretaker. However, Marius also moonlights as a monster hunter in order to earn the costly Mystic currency he needs to bring his mother back from the dead. As the window to bring his mother back begins to close, Marius's exploits get more and more dangerous, and he may have set his sights on a monster too big to handle on his own. Like Mira, Marius longs for familial connection, and his work as a monster hunter will satisfy the thrill of demon hunting for fans the movie. Where's Halmoni? By Julie J. Kim Seattle, WA: Little Bigfoot, 2017. Comics. W...
Post a Comment
Read more

If You Like... Folktales

By Suzanne
Folktales have long carried the wisdom, imagination, and traditions of cultures around the world by passing stories from one generation to the next. They often weave together important life lessons with magical creatures or daring adventures. Books, like the ones on this list, bring these age-old tales to life for today’s readers. Each story is rooted in its own cultural heritage and offers a glimpse into the values of the people who first told them. They remind us that storytelling is a powerful way to connect us across time and place. The Three-Year Tumble By Dayeon Auh New York: NorthSouth Books, 2025. Picture Book. Based on a beloved Korean folktale, a superstitious grandfather and his thoughtful granddaughter turn the legend of Misfortune Mountain on its head. According to the myth, anyone who falls down the mountain has only 3 years left to live! Together, this family learns how changing your mindset can make a positive impact on your life. The Salt Princess By Anoosha Syed New Y...
1 comment
Read more

Display: Golden

By
The Bakery Dragon By Devin Elle Kurtz New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2024. Picture book. Ember, a small dragon with an unimpressive roar, fears he will never be as good at stealing gold as other dragons, but discovers a different path to joy after a chance encounter with a baker.--Editor Sona and the Golden Beasts By Raani LaRocca New York: Quill Tree Books, 2024. Fiction. 385 pgs. Discovering an orphaned wolf pup she believes is related to the five sacred beasts of Devia, which a Hunter has been killing one by one, Sona embarks on an epic adventure during which she realizes that the fate of the sacred beasts, and the future of Devia, is in her hands. --Publisher Gold and Silver, Silver and Gold By Alvin Schwartz New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2009. Informational. 128 pgs. Presents legends, true stories, and tall tales about the hunting, finding, and losing of treasure, including pirate treasure and treasure not yet uncovered.--Editor Golden Girl By Reem Faruqi New York: Harper, 202...
Post a Comment
Read more