Starfish
Starfish
By Lisa Fipps
Penguin Random House
2021
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.
Find Books
Books for Borrowing
Beginning January 3, 2022, book discussion sets will be available for borrowing by public, school, and academic libraries from the Middletown Library Service Center. Reserve Discussion Sets.
Talking Books are available for eligible individuals from the CT State Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. Learn more.
Books for Purchase
Libraries can explore purchasing through our partner, CT Library Consortium. Learn more.
For individuals, please support your local bookstore!
Lisa Fipps
Lisa Fipps is a graduate of Ball State University, award-winning former journalist, current director of marketing for a public library (where she won the Sara Laughlin marketing award), and an author of middle-grade books. Starfish is her debut novel. She’s working on her next novel and several others. She currently lives in Indiana and lived in Texas.