Starfish

 Starfish

by Lisa Fipps

Nancy Paulsen Books, 2021. 244 pages. Young Adult

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.

This book should be required reading for all middle school and high school students. It beautifully handles so many issues and not just about body positivity. It talks about bullying, emotional abuse, family dynamics, poverty, and immigration. I loved this book because it gave voice to many of the things that I have experienced in my own life and gave me words to help those who are going through them right now. Ellie is my hero.

 

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Turner Publishing Company, 2018. 333 pages. Young Adult Fiction

Paleontology geek and plus-size fashion blogger Natalie Page lands an internship working with a celebrated paleontologist, but she realizes that in order to stand out in a field dominated by men, she must first learn to stand up for herself.

 

Wishbone

by Anna Garcia Schaper

Piñata Books, an imprint of Arte Público Press, 2020. 317 pages. Young Adult Fiction

Told in alternating timelines, fifteen-year-old overweight Pilar ignores her persistent bullies and pursues her dream of acting in the school production of "Our Town," while in 1976 her grandmother finally finds the strength to leave her abusive husband.

 Now, stick with me on this one. It is worth it. 

Eat Your Heart Out

by Kelly DeVos

Razorbill, 2021. 348 pages. Young Adult Fiction

Six disgruntled teens are forced to spend their winter break at fat camp during Flagstaff, Arizona's worst blizzard in a century, only to find that Camp Featherlite is even worse than expected because it is crawling with genetically-modified monsters.

AGP