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4.5 AVERAGE
4.5 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Some of the bullying (especially the mother) was really hard to read through, other than that it was okay.
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
I'm not one for middle-grade books much, but I relate to the main character 100%. I added this to my TBR because it was on an old schoolmate's top books of their year list, and I'm so glad I did because I loved this book.
The idea behind the title is that when you're overweight, people are always trying to make you smaller. Be smaller. Act smaller. The only place the main character feels comfortable is in the water where she can be as big as she wants, spread out....like a starfish.
All the while I was reading this, inside I was saying, "Oh honey. I know. I'm sorry!"
One big theme in this book is the disapproval the main character feels from her mother because she's overweight. I don't think any mother would want to pass on that idea. It does happen and reading it was heartbreaking.
All the while I was reading this, inside I was saying, "Oh honey. I know. I'm sorry!"
One big theme in this book is the disapproval the main character feels from her mother because she's overweight. I don't think any mother would want to pass on that idea. It does happen and reading it was heartbreaking.
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I am a huge fan of Julie Murphey and I am so happy to have something similar for a younger audience. Ellie has been bullied about her weight since she was five years old. Her biggest culprit is her mother. In Starfish, Ellie makes a new best friend after hers moves away. She practices the coping mechanisms she learns in talk therapy (yay for normalizing therapy!). And she moves towards self-love and self-acceptance. I will be recommending this book every chance I get.