As Wren and I read the story, I tried to engage her in thinking about the secondary characters, thinking about all of the different roles that they played in Ellie’s life. The antagonists range from strangers in public places, peers, and even Ellie’s own family members. I was drawn to the cast of supporting characters that Lisa Fipps develops throughout the story. She just wants to be accepted for who she is.
Despite all of the bullying Ellie endures, she is not ashamed of her weight. Most people call Ellie, Splash, after an incident at her pool party when she turned five. In this story, Ellie is a twelve year old girl who takes the readers through all of the challenges of living in a world where her weight is the one thing she can’t escape. I quickly realized that this book was not only appropriate, but one that would make an amazing middle grade read aloud. At first, I wasn’t sure if the book would be appropriate, but I let her dive in as I listened to the audio version on my ride to and from work. When my pre-ordered copy finally arrived, my almost nine year old daughter, Wren, got to the book before I even had a chance. I think it will be a story that many fifth, sixth and seventh graders will take to heart and that will be invaluable to them as they navigate middle school and body image issues.Ĭons: As much as I loved the verse format, I think its brevity made some of the work done in therapy seem a little quick and easy.Starfish by Lisa Fipps is a book I wish someone had handed me as a child. I commend Nancy Paulsen (mentioned in the author’s acknowledgements) for seeing this as a middle grade book instead of YA. Pros: I inhaled this novel in verse in a single sitting and can’t wait to share it with students at my school. Includes a brief author’s note explaining how she based Ellie’s bullying on her own experiences. It’s clear there’s still a lot of work to do for Ellie’s family, but by the end she is feeling empowered to confront some of the bullies and to stop hiding who she really is. Fortunately, a new girl next door becomes a friend, and Ellie’s sympathetic dad takes her to a therapist who helps her explore her emotions and learn to stand up for herself. Things get worse when her best friend moves away the summer before sixth grade, and Ellie has to face middle school alone. Summary: Eleven-year-old Ellie has been bullied about her size for many years–by her classmates, her brother, and her mother, who is pushing her to have bariatric surgery.
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