I am not going to lie...this book had me ugly crying. It brought back a lot of memories I’d probably rather forget of my own childhood, body issues, and bullying. But I loved the growth Ellie went through to claim her space through this story. And I think this story would really speak to everyone even those who didn’t have quite as similar experiences because everyone knows what it feels like to not fit in. And the image of starfishing to claim the space that is already deserved was so beautiful and simple I can’t believe I’d never thought of that before. I loved the examination of bullying and how to defend without attacking. It broke my heart all of the pain Ellie had been hiding from everyone in her life and I cheered to see her learn to express it. I loved the way the story was told through free verse. The lyrical style created such a unique and believable voice for Ellie. This is a debut story but I definitely hope it does not stay Lisa Fipps’ only story!