Starfish

Lisa Fipps

Mar 2021 · Penguin Random House Audio · Narrated by Jenna Lamia

About this audiobook

A Printz Honor winner!

Ellie is tired of being fat-shamed and does something about it in this poignant debut novel-in-verse.

Ever since Ellie wore a whale swimsuit and made a big splash at her fifth birthday party, she's been bullied about her weight. To cope, she tries to live by the Fat Girl Rules—like "no making waves," "avoid eating in public," and "don't move so fast that your body jiggles." And she's found her safe space—her swimming pool—where she feels weightless in a fat-obsessed world. In the water, she can stretch herself out like a starfish and take up all the room she wants. It's also where she can get away from her pushy mom, who thinks criticizing Ellie's weight will motivate her to diet. Fortunately, Ellie has allies in her dad, her therapist, and her new neighbor, Catalina, who loves Ellie for who she is. With this support buoying her, Ellie might finally be able to cast aside the Fat Girl Rules and starfish in real life--by unapologetically being her own fabulous self.

Ratings and reviews

Starfish is a touching middle grade novel in verse featuring Ellie, an 11-year-old who's long been bullied about her weight. The overt fat-shaming feels particularly cutting when it comes from her own mother. Ellie also has to say goodbye to her best friend Viv, who moves away. But she soon begins a friendship with her new neighbor, Catalina, whose Mexican family is warm and welcoming to Ellie. They draw a stark contrast to Ellie's own family, with the exception of her father, who helps get Ellie a therapist. Through therapy and support from her allies, Ellie begins to stand up for herself. She even learns how to do so in a way that's better than simply treating others as painfully as they treat her. Overall, I think this is an affirming representation of being fat (and accepting our/others' bodies in general) - important for middle grade readers, and adults too.

About the author

Lisa Fipps is a graduate of Ball State University, an award-winning former journalist, a former director of marketing for a public library (where she won the Sara Laughlin marketing award), and an author of middle-grade books. Starfish is her debut novel. She lives in Kokomo, Indiana.