Oh, how I enjoyed this! I got my hands on this book in the late afternoon and read it all in the same day. Though I do not typically enjoy free verse, Lisa Fipps uses the form masterfully in this novel about middle-schooler Ellie who struggles with self-image, namely, her weight. Though this novel covers a lot of topics --body shaming, confidence, bullying, physical distance with friends, pressure from parents-- the free verse style communicates all of Ellie's experiences and feelings with both minimalism and power.
I was surprised by the depth of this book. Not only does Ellie do some challenging emotional exploration with her awesome therapist (seriously, we're talking a light-saber wielding woman who asks Ellie the tough questions!), but she struggles with finding the balance of standing up for herself without putting others down. Her journey is not without its up and downs, as she says things she later regrets and executes some pretty sassy, albeit creative, messages to her controlling mother.
All in all, this book was a joy and I only hope we see more from Lisa Fipp in the future!
I was surprised by the depth of this book. Not only does Ellie do some challenging emotional exploration with her awesome therapist (seriously, we're talking a light-saber wielding woman who asks Ellie the tough questions!), but she struggles with finding the balance of standing up for herself without putting others down. Her journey is not without its up and downs, as she says things she later regrets and executes some pretty sassy, albeit creative, messages to her controlling mother.
All in all, this book was a joy and I only hope we see more from Lisa Fipp in the future!