I love middle grade because it captures a lot of heart, depth, and self-discovery in just a few pages and Starfish is no exception. I think many middle school girls could identify with Eliana, a sixth grade who is struggling with self-confidence, body image, and pushy mother, and her best friend's move. The free verse style works surprisingly well to capture a moment or a feeling in few words. I do think this might be a hard read for some, as topics of bullying, weight, and self-image are all deeply personal topics. However, I think there is enough spunk in Eliana's spirit and encouragement from her dad to keep the story from getting too disheartening.