by Lisa Fipps
This book needs to be read by every single person, no matter what age, lifestyle, background, etc… No matter who you are, you will find something that connects you to Ellie’s experience. Everyone has insecurities and we all say words that hurt each other. Starfish shines a light to the emotional and mental burden caused by our own hurtful self-talk and the external as well. This book helped me reflect on my own upbringing, but also how I can do better for my students and my own kids.
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.