Starfish

De: Lisa Fipps

Narrado por: Jenna Lamia

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.

©2021 Lisa Fipps (P)2021 Listening Library

Reseñas de la Crítica

“In her debut novel, Starfish, Lisa Fipps confronts diet culture and fat phobia head-on.... This can make for difficult reading, but it never becomes unbearably bleak thanks to Ellie’s humor (there are some laugh-out-loud moments), as well as the power of her voice, which manages to convey many different feelings, often at once: sass and rage, innocence and cynicism, and, most of all, heartbreak. The book reads as if Ellie herself is writing these poems, which are accessible and engaging.” (The New York Times Book Review)

“Fipps bursts onto the middle-grade scene with her debut, a verse novel that shines because of Ellie’s keen and emotionally striking observations. As she draws readers in with her smart and succinct voice, Ellie navigates the difficult map of knowing she deserves better treatment while struggling with the conflict that's necessary to achieve it. Fipps hands her young narrator several difficult life lessons, including how to self-advocate, how not to internalization of the words of others, and what it means to defend yourself. Ellie's story will delight readers who long to see an impassioned young woman seize an unapologetic victory.” (Booklist, starred review)

“Fipps’ verse is skillful and rooted in emotional reality. The text places readers in Ellie’s shoes, showing how she is attacked in many spaces - including by strangers on public transit - while clearly asserting that it’s other people who need to change.... Make room in your heart for this cathartic novel.” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review)

There is no such thing....

as a perfect book about body positivity. Wait, what's this?
This is absolutely everything I could have ever wanted to hear as a child. EVERYTHING. I think I might have cried during the entire book. I'm very happy I got it on Audible; otherwise, I never would have been able to read it through the tears.
My mother bullied me relentlessly, not about weight but about being alive. I wish I could have confronted her like Ellie.
This book not only speaks to body positivity but also to racism, unhealthy family dynamics, bullying, and friendship.
"Does everybody make somebody feel like a nobody?"
That hit home. Do I look down on people who aren't like me? How could I hurt others the way I've been hurt? What gives me the right to pass my pain on to others? How could I continue the cycle?
This book gives the reader a lot to think about, and the narrator is absolutely perfect!

Books As Mirrors

I want to give this book to every child in 5th grade. I plan on sharing my appreciation for it with everyone in my school and community. It is beautifully written and I loved listening to Starfish on audible. I saw myself in this book often and it was incredibly poignant. I am grateful for books because we can use them as mirrors. A gift for all readers!

Amazing

So incredibly well done, absolutely amazing execution and voice, I definitely recommend! I love the character development and it’s such an amazing story so many people need to hear!!

pretty cool book but the main character is rude sometimes

i think the format of this book is pretty cool. i liked the neighbor character. i just think the main character was unnecessarily rude sometimes, especially to people who were trying to be supportive. ok i’m specifically thinking about the scene with her sister. i understand that her sister messed up and caused her a lot of pain, but when the sister started turning around and realizing what she had done, i felt like the main character was just pretty rude about it instead of idk acknowledging the effort and turnaround? but also these are middle schoolers so i guess they’re not the most emotionally mature. i wasn’t really happy about the resolution of the book, but i don’t really know how i would have resolved it so. i just felt like it ended kinda abruptly like not much was resolved? it ended with the main character telling her mom how she felt, but then what, the mom just cries? she doesn’t say i’m sorry and then work hard to undo her mistakes or try to show that she does love her daughter? i thought that the book would end with her going from “fat girl rules” to “fat girls rule” and it would be like an aha moment, but then she just burned the fat girl rules so it was like oh ok. idk. i think the book was good but there were parts that could have been better ig

...headline...

i loved it even tho it was a school project
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Inspiring 

The most inspiring story ever really good thank you love it always others should read

Lovely

Absolutely loved everything about this book. I listened to it after I found out my 60 year old librarian mother and my 13 year old daughter were reading it (coincidentally) at the same time. They couldn’t have an accidental book club without me! It was such an easy and enjoyable listen. Ellie is so lovable and experiencing her growth from beginning to end was transformative for me. I was really cheering her on! I also love how it challenged the reader to consider how we treat others. Our differences don’t make us any less human. And human Ellie is a remarkable being! 🥰

The reader’s voice was not exactly what I would have imagined Elli’s voice to be for a girl her age. (Hence the 4-stars for performance.) but it wouldn’t prevent me from listening again and again!

The authenticity of the characters in dialogue and emotions for their age.

I'm ready for the sequel! So sincere, so heartbreaking, so redeeming. Elle is a heroine for every young adult, regardless of shape and size.

Everyone Needs to Read This!

An honest, heartfelt novel brilliantly describing the feeling of a young girl’s journey through weight centered bullying and body shaming. Not only bullying from other adolescents but from siblings and parents. A must read for all who live with or deal with anyone suffering from obesity. I feel, no…I know, I should and could have done more as a teacher to stop bullies in their tracks.

Good story!

I liked that Ellie stayed positive her mom
should have not shamed her I recommend reading!