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A review by dustilane
Starfish by Lisa Fipps
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Ellie is tired of her weight being the only thing people notice about her. She is more than just her size. She is also tired of all the bullies in her life, including her mom. In this book, Ellie, with the help of her support system, learns to love herself and stand up against fat-shaming.
This is a hard book to read as it definitely rings true of what it's like to grow up as a larger person. It hurt my heart to hear the fatphobic comments made against Ellie because they are so similar to the ones I heard myself growing up. Ellie's relationship with her mother was the most difficult and accurate thing to read about. So many parents put such an emphasis on their child's body being the "right size" that it is no longer about health, it is only about weight. I think the book might feel a little over the top to those who did not experience this type of childhood, but in reality, it's very real experiences that are just condensed to fit in one book. This is unfortunately the reality for so many people.
I listened to the audiobook and I think the narrator did an excellent job. She sounded the right age and helped the character of Ellie come to life. Overall, this was a good book and I hope that some kid somewhere reads this and is able to see themselves and learn from it, whether they relate to Ellie or they find themselves represented by the bullies. I also think this would be a good read for parents as well.
This is a hard book to read as it definitely rings true of what it's like to grow up as a larger person. It hurt my heart to hear the fatphobic comments made against Ellie because they are so similar to the ones I heard myself growing up. Ellie's relationship with her mother was the most difficult and accurate thing to read about. So many parents put such an emphasis on their child's body being the "right size" that it is no longer about health, it is only about weight. I think the book might feel a little over the top to those who did not experience this type of childhood, but in reality, it's very real experiences that are just condensed to fit in one book. This is unfortunately the reality for so many people.
I listened to the audiobook and I think the narrator did an excellent job. She sounded the right age and helped the character of Ellie come to life. Overall, this was a good book and I hope that some kid somewhere reads this and is able to see themselves and learn from it, whether they relate to Ellie or they find themselves represented by the bullies. I also think this would be a good read for parents as well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Fatphobia