I'm absolutely loving all of these body positive books that are coming out. This was such a great story and I related to everything Ellie was going through, I lived by the "fat girl" rules. Still do sometimes. I definitely recommend this book for middle grade children. I thin stories like this are important to add to collections.

Thank you Netgalley for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this verse novel so much!! It was a quick, moving read. I really hope that kids & teens will read this and that it will make them feel seen and/or make them more empathetic towards their fat classmates. I will definitely read everything else by this author.

I'm not reviewing this on social media because I read it for YALSA's Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers list (it was nominated for the list! Much deserved).

Told in verse, Starfish, is a coming of age novel about an overweight girl who defies her bullies by learning to speak up for herself.

Absolutely beautiful. Ellie's voice is clear, the emotions are resonant, and I couldn't stop reading.

This book was incredible. First of all, it's beautifully written in verse. But mostly, it's a very powerful story. Honestly, I connected so personally to it that it's hard to even go into it. The fat positivity, the feelings she felt, the way people treated her--these things need to be seen more in children's books. It was heartbreaking, but also affirming. Will recommend to all.

SO INTENSE. As a straight-sized person, I found this eye opening, and searingly painful as well. I mostly don't read books in verse, precisely because it is able to deliver this emotional punch, and deliver it did! But in a good way. I do wish there had been at least one side-plot going. Perhaps our characters could have other adventures that weren't always about the primary issue? I also found the ending a bit too neat for me. Still, I appreciated the salve for my newly acquired burns, even if it wasn't my ideal ending.

Starfish, a novel in verse, has an emotional pull that hits all the right buttons. Beautifully written. Very relatable. Recommend to any student dealing with bullying. Your bullies may not always be at school, sometimes they are at home too.

This compulsively readable novel-in-verse should be on everyone’s shelf or TBR list! This realistic, poignant, raw, and ultimately hopeful book is a must-read for all. Fat shaming, bullying, dysfunctional family dynamics, and self loathing and doubt are dealt with in a way that both sears, flays open, and ultimately heals. You cannot help but fall in love with the buoyant and ebullient Ellie, who tamps down and suppresses her beautiful self due to fat shaming. Ellie is constantly bombarded and bullied by her family, classmates, and total strangers about her weight, But with the help of her father, a new friend, and a therapist, she finally allows her beauty—both inner and outer—to vanquish the hate.

11-year-old Ellie Montgomery-Hofstein is bullied everyday of her life because she is fat. Ever since her fifth birthday party when she cannonballed into the pool with a massive splash, the kids at Ellie's school and even her mom, brother, and sister bully her relentlessly because of how she looks. The bullying and torment prompts Ellie to create the "Fat Girl Rules" to help her fit in and stay invisible. When her best friend Viv moves away, Ellie feels all alone and without an ally -- especially as her mother's threat of bariatric surgery (which Ellie knows is dangerous) becomes more severe. Fortunately, Ellie's compassionate father notices how upset these words are making Ellie and helps her find a therapist to work through her problems. She also finds a new friend in her new neighbor Catalina, who helps her feel loved and accepted for who she is.

This debut novel is an emotional powerhouse made all the better by Ellie's powerful voice. Ellie considers herself a poet, so it is fitting that this novel is written in verse that allows her voice to shine through. The bullying that Ellie endures -- especially from her own family members -- is pretty intense, but readers will celebrate as Ellie learns to self-advocate and demand that she be treated better. The scenes of Ellie in therapy will be especially helpful for young readers struggling with self-acceptance and not knowing how to defend themselves. This is a triumphant novel about a girl becoming comfortable taking up space in this world.

This book follows a young girl named Ellie, who is constantly bullied for her weight.

This is a story about discovering your own self-worth, and I really liked that. I really liked the depiction of therapy in this and the positive relationship Ellie had with her therapist. I absolutely despised the mother and brother in this story, I just wanted to reach through the pages and give Ellie a hug. She didn't deserve the way they treated her. I liked how she had a support system in her father and friend Cat. The author's note also explains that many people may think that a lot of the actions against and words said to Ellie couldn't possibly happen in real life, as people can't be that cruel... but everything in the book are actually based on things that happened to her growing up.

I liked that this is told in verse because I think that it makes it a very easily digestible read for a lot of young readers and it holds a very important message.

Beautiful book about learning to love yourself even when those who should love you the most don’t. Everyone should read this.

Starfish will make such a positive difference for so many of all ages. Beautifully written in verse, honest, and engaging, I finished reading in one sitting. The main character, Ellie, is bullied about her weight at home and at school. I found myself crying, laughing, and wanting nothing but the best for this relatable eleven-year-old.

Hit with so many emotions, I was reminded of the first time I was bullied and called fat in the third grade, the constant yo-yo dieting, the frustration of clothes shopping, and the hate I had for myself and my body. It wasn't until I was an adult in my thirties that I finally accepted and love myself as is. Now I proudly take up space and starfish, just like Ellie. Growing up, books like this didn't exist, but I'm so excited that uplifting and empowering books like Starfish are finally starting to get published, to get space at bookstores, and to find their home with readers.

I was holding my chest on this one, trying not to let my emotions escape. This world is hard for women and girls: are bodies are scrutinized before our minds, our feelings, our anything. And if that body doesn't fit into this world's ideal, you will be treated like less than human. Lisa Fipps has penned one of the most important middle grade books that I cannot wait to put into the hands of my patrons.

Loved this book! Such an poignant story about an issue that’s not written about enough, especially for this age group. Ellie’s relationship with her mom is heartbreaking. I liked how not all the family problems are not resolved at the end.

As someone who also got the whale comparisons as a tween, I can without a doubt see Starfish making a world of difference for young readers. And to anyone who might read this book and think circumstances or dialogue are exaggerated for the purpose of fiction—you would be incorrect.

The free verse poetry makes this into a quick, but still punchy read. Sometimes I find poetry as a story-telling medium makes it harder to feel inside the protagonist’s head, to connect to them, but this was absolutely not a problem here! Eli’s voice is one that demands your attention in the best way.

Also, aside from the obvious ways I think this book is important, I really appreciate a middle grade novel that normalizes kids going to therapy, and receiving professional help.

Lovely and heartwrenching novel in verse about fat-shaming and learning to accept who you are. Highly recommend for middle grade libraries and book clubs.

I loved this title so much. The writing was excellent- I kept rereading certain lines because they were so good. The message is one that all people need to hear- no matter what size or shape they are. If only a book with this kind of validating message was around when I was younger, I could have saved myself so much heartache. I will be recommending this title immediately.

Watching Ellie come in to her own and face her body image issues with people- including family- was heartwarming. Additionally, I appreciated the juxtaposition of families and friends who love you just as you are. I have never seen seeking therapy handled so tastefully in a middle grades novel. This one is excellent!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for offering the e-ARC of this this novel through SLJ's Middle Grade Magic event.

This was a quick read dealing with a girl who has substantial weight issues and how her family reacts to her. There are not many books out there dealing with this issue, and the author did a wonderful job showing how the multiple micro-aggressions inflicted on the main character by both her classmates and her family really affect her. This book is definitely being added to my classroom to provide another "mirror" to my students who might not see themselves in any other books.

What a wonderful, positive book for teens. Ellie is such a real person who teens can easily connect to due to the realistic writing and situations. I love how she doesn't try to change for others, but instead tries to find her own way to solutions, without trying to hurt anyone, but still being real. Definitely a mush read for my middle school students.

I think Starfish is an important book fir middle schoolers. It deals with many issues that they are facing today such as self-image, bullying, friendship, family dilemmas, and emotional and mental health. It is one of the few books I’ve seen that shows what it’s like to be an overweight teenager from the perspective of the teenager. How her mother starves her and emotionally abuses her and how her classmates bully her because of the way she looks and how all this makes her feel. This is an important book so that teenagers can read it and understand that they are not alone.