A review by pucksandpaperbacks
Starfish by Lisa Fipps

medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes

4.5

Wow. I loved this book so much. It does heavily explore fatphobia in a little girl's life at home and school, so please do go into this book knowing there is emotional abuse and fatphobia from her mother and children at school. I loved Ellie and felt for her so much as she just navigated life. She is definitely a character many fat kids will be able to see themselves in and know they're not alone. This book also has positive therapy rep and I appreciated seeing that in a middle grade novel!! I read this book on audio and would recommend that experience if it's an option. I'm so glad I read this and I'm definitely going to pick up a copy for myself. However, do read reviews from fat reviewers and know that this has a lot of fatphobia Ellie has to endure. But, she does have great friends who lift her up which I adored. This is a perfect book that middle school teachers should have in their classrooms because it teaches an important lesson -  the effects of bullying. 
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