On nearly any list of “must-read” verse novels for middle-graders, I come across Starfish. I finally read it, and I completely understand why it’s on so many lists. There are so many things — some small, some big — that make this book special.
Twelve-year-old Ellie has Fat Girl Rules to protect herself. She must never draw attention to the way her body jiggles. She should try to be invisible, never make waves. She even holds a pillow in front of herself without even realising it to hide her body as best she can.
She knows, however, that her problem is not her being fat. Rather, it is how other people make her feel because she is fat. And the other people, unfortunately, start with her family. Specifically her mother who uses fridge magnets to draw Ellie’s attention to articles about losing weight. And her brother, who loses no opportunity to mock her or look at her with disgust.
When Ellie’s best friend moves away, she feels lonelier than ever, but I love books that don’t spiral into doom and gloom. Starfish is such an optimistic book!
In her note at the end, Lisa Fipps says that she originally envisaged this story as a young adult novel. It was her editor who suggested that she should rewrite it as a middle-grade read so that it could empower young people who struggle with fatphobia. And I love that she did it!
From making a new friend to discovering love in a new family, Ellie’s journey through the story just becomes bigger and better. With help from a brilliant, quirky therapist, Ellie learns to come to terms with what she wants. She begins to understand how she can defend herself without attacking someone else. And most importantly, she learns to stand up for herself.
What a lovely, powerful book Starfish is!
| Title | Starfish |
| Author | Lisa Fipps |
| Tags | Middle-Grade, Verse Novel, Bullying |
| Rating (out of 5) | 5 |
| Age-group | 10+ |
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