- Stunning Debut About Body Positivity -
This was an absolutely STUNNING debut about body positivity! Looking back, I wish I had a book like this to look to when I was at that tender age in school. Kids can be so very cruel, and bullying is bullying - no matter what form.
***[mild] spoilers:
"Starfish" uses beautiful prose in a poetry style that is unlike anything I've ever read - so refreshing and different. It tells the story of Ellie, a young girl who is being harshly bullied about her size. Not only is she being bullied by her classmates, I would go so far as to say her own mother. Ellie ends up going to therapy, during which she works on finding her voice so she can stand up for herself. They discuss the severe bullying situation she is faced with at school, her mom's perspective of her and her behavior at home, and techniques for Ellie to find her self worth and better herself. Things take a dark turn when Ellie's mom takes her to a bariatric surgeon for a pre-assessment, the outcome of which she relays to her therapist. Ellie finally finds her voice and expresses what she has been eager to tell her mom from the beginning.
This was a poignant, complex, traumatic, beautiful, eye-opening work - absolutely loved it. I feel that this is a much needed book for not only this generation but for others to see a new perspective and see a body positive story for kids out there that are being bullied, giving a voice to those who have not yet found theirs.
This was an absolutely STUNNING debut about body positivity! Looking back, I wish I had a book like this to look to when I was at that tender age in school. Kids can be so very cruel, and bullying is bullying - no matter what form.
***[mild] spoilers:
"Starfish" uses beautiful prose in a poetry style that is unlike anything I've ever read - so refreshing and different. It tells the story of Ellie, a young girl who is being harshly bullied about her size. Not only is she being bullied by her classmates, I would go so far as to say her own mother. Ellie ends up going to therapy, during which she works on finding her voice so she can stand up for herself. They discuss the severe bullying situation she is faced with at school, her mom's perspective of her and her behavior at home, and techniques for Ellie to find her self worth and better herself. Things take a dark turn when Ellie's mom takes her to a bariatric surgeon for a pre-assessment, the outcome of which she relays to her therapist. Ellie finally finds her voice and expresses what she has been eager to tell her mom from the beginning.
This was a poignant, complex, traumatic, beautiful, eye-opening work - absolutely loved it. I feel that this is a much needed book for not only this generation but for others to see a new perspective and see a body positive story for kids out there that are being bullied, giving a voice to those who have not yet found theirs.