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. Fortunately, Ellie has allies in her dad, her therapist, and her new neighbor, Catalina, who loves Ellie for who she is. It’s also where she can get away from her pushy mom, who thinks criticizing Ellie’s weight will motivate her to diet. In the water, she can stretch herself out like a starfish and take up all the room she wants. 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. I’m working to reclaim the word and strip it of its use as a weapon.Įllie is tired of being fat-shamed and does something about it in this poignant debut novel-in-verse.Įver since Ellie wore a whale swimsuit and made a big splash at her fifth birthday party, she’s been bullied about her weight. I think fat should be a simple descriptor, like tall or brunette. Not any of the other words a lot of people use. Today we’re pleased to welcome Lisa Fipps to the WNDB blog to discuss her MG novel Starfish, out March 9, 2021!Īuthor’s note: I use the word fat.
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