Star Fish by Lisa Fipps

Star Fish

By Lisa Fipps

Star Fish is a Junior Fiction, Maine Student Award Selection about Ellie, an overweight 6th grader. She has been bullied about her weight since she was a little girl by other children, her sister and brother, doctors, teachers, etc. but mostly…by her mother! Imagine being bullied everyday of your life at home and school. Where do you find a safe haven?

Bullies have called Ellie “Splash” ever since she was 5 years old. Ellie calls herself “Star Fish”. Read this inspiring novel about kindness vs. bullying and the struggle of being overweight written in free verse (which makes for ease of reading), to find out why.

What are Ellie’s Fat Girl Rules? Who values her and treats her with kindness? How does her mother bully her? How does her father treat her? Does she have any friends?

If you are overweight or bullied for any reason, you may find a friend in Ellie in this book. You will also realize that you are not alone. Ellie is the character with strength and perseverance in Star Fish, not those who do the bullying.