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dbestrnbsw's review
5.0
Excellent book for adults too!
Incredibly empathetic story for any child or tween who has faced overt and "thinly disguised" forms of torment and bullying. A must read for parents of kids plagued with this type of abuse.
Incredibly empathetic story for any child or tween who has faced overt and "thinly disguised" forms of torment and bullying. A must read for parents of kids plagued with this type of abuse.
larajgriff1's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
I think this book could be triggering for many people. The first half is just all the horrible things this girl is forced to deal with every day at home and school. But if you feel comfortable enough to get through it, I think it could be very cathartic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
stdl_teen_library's review
An emotional novel in verse with body-positivity, self-acceptance and friendship
maren2012's review
emotional
inspiring
medium-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
5.0
This book was very moving and it really explained and showed how the character developed and changed throughout the book. She is an amazing person with a loving heart.
kaimo007's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
bardo's review
5.0
There are rules every fat person follows and Ellie knows them all. Through pose, Ellie eloquently shares her experiences through all spaces and how they affect her. Starfish gives a raw and emotional look into the life of a child that is over weight. Fipps does an incredible job portraying Ellie and making her relatable in every way. Giving voice to a real person who deals with the same struggles as any other child. Her worth should not be determined by the number on a scale nor the way society decides to categorize each person. The family dynamics are painful to read but will resonate with readers on how their perception of what a parent should be like and how they are in reality. The struggles and miscommunication between the siblings reflects real sibling conflicts and fights. The societal pressures to conform and acceptance of bullying that is in the educational system is on full display, while also contrasting it to the increase in bullying if there are any punishment to the bully. The positive and progressive therapy sessions are a great way for readers to get a taste of how beneficial therapy can be. But Fipps didn't stop there but also included the misconception of bullied food chain and how some are just trying to survive by putting others down. Friendship is a huge element and it was awesome to see Ellie interact with established friendships and creating new one. A must read for any age!
ami_music's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bananathemuffin's review
5.0
This book made me cry so many times, I've never felt so connected to one character's story so much.
This is definitely a read I would suggest to any young woman still struggling with her personal body image.
This is definitely a read I would suggest to any young woman still struggling with her personal body image.
chrystaliris's review
4.0
4.5
Fast-Paced and Heartfelt!
First of all, this book is an ARC copy, and there were bound to be mistakes galore. And it did, but personally, I only saw around three total. Also, I was never really distracted by these mistakes. They seemed to actually add to the story more. In a weird way.
As for the story portion, I loved it. I felt Ellie's emotions and understood her through Fipp's writing. The word choices in this novel were marvelous and always fit the tone of the scene. The character development was real, and I could always point out where Ellie was seeing herself in a different light. The drama was stunning to read, with the arguments and fights between Ellie's parents and herself always being expertly written. Also, the friendship element was heart-warming, and I learned to love seeing the names, Catalina and Viv. Lisa Fipps did an incredible job writing this book, and I look forward to more books by her in the future.
Fast-Paced and Heartfelt!
First of all, this book is an ARC copy, and there were bound to be mistakes galore. And it did, but personally, I only saw around three total. Also, I was never really distracted by these mistakes. They seemed to actually add to the story more. In a weird way.
As for the story portion, I loved it. I felt Ellie's emotions and understood her through Fipp's writing. The word choices in this novel were marvelous and always fit the tone of the scene. The character development was real, and I could always point out where Ellie was seeing herself in a different light. The drama was stunning to read, with the arguments and fights between Ellie's parents and herself always being expertly written. Also, the friendship element was heart-warming, and I learned to love seeing the names, Catalina and Viv. Lisa Fipps did an incredible job writing this book, and I look forward to more books by her in the future.