Ellie is such a relatable character! Ever since she wore a whale bathing suit to her 5th birthday party and did a huge cannonball into the pool, Ellie has been bullied about her weight and given nicknames like Splash and Whale. It's the summer before she starts 6th grade, and Ellie is stressed because her best friend is moving away and now she will have to deal with the bullying alone. Her mother has put Ellie on every imaginable diet with few results. She posts diet articles on the refrigerator and controls everything Ellie puts into her body. She is also pushing for Ellie to go through with bariatric surgery, a surgery that nearly killed Ellie's aunt! Ellie just wants her mother to love her as she is and stop saying that she would be so pretty if she would "just lose some weight" (every fat person's least favorite saying). Ellie eventually learns to stand up for herself with the help of her father, new neighbor, and therapist.