Starfish is written as a free verse novel and I assume the author employed this technique because El, the main character, is a poet herself. The last free verse novels I read were basically all of Ellen Hopkins books, i.e. the Crank trilogy, Impulse, Burned, etc. in middle school almost 14 years ago so I think it'd be nice to revisit this style again.
Ellie is starting 6th grade, hence the middle grade category, but I don't feel like she speaks like a 6th grader but maybe I just can't remember how 6th graders speak anymore.
I can tell this will probably be a partially painful read and a huge reminder that kids are pretty mean sometimes. Also, I absolutely hate when a parent is part of the problem. But I look forward to the inevitable uplifting moments El experiences as her confidence in herself grows as this story continues.
Ellie is starting 6th grade, hence the middle grade category, but I don't feel like she speaks like a 6th grader but maybe I just can't remember how 6th graders speak anymore.
I can tell this will probably be a partially painful read and a huge reminder that kids are pretty mean sometimes. Also, I absolutely hate when a parent is part of the problem. But I look forward to the inevitable uplifting moments El experiences as her confidence in herself grows as this story continues.