This was my first introduction to a novel in verse, and the narrative established by Ellie is heartbreaking. The use of space in the verse perfectly reflected Ellie's evolving feelings about her body as she learned that taking up space is okay. Starfish is a novel in verse at its finest, using the sparse prose and its organization to make a big impact.
As for the story itself, a tale of a young girl being bullied for her size, it moved me in a way very few books have before. Why no one did anything to help her (besides her extraordinary friends) had me in angry tears on her behalf. Poetic, horrific, beautiful, and wholly necessary for anyone who is being bullied, especially if that bully exists within their family.
I will say that content warnings are VERY important for students reading this. This is a hard read, one that could potentially be very triggering. Make sure to support kids reading it. I probably needed support reading this as an adult.
As for the story itself, a tale of a young girl being bullied for her size, it moved me in a way very few books have before. Why no one did anything to help her (besides her extraordinary friends) had me in angry tears on her behalf. Poetic, horrific, beautiful, and wholly necessary for anyone who is being bullied, especially if that bully exists within their family.
I will say that content warnings are VERY important for students reading this. This is a hard read, one that could potentially be very triggering. Make sure to support kids reading it. I probably needed support reading this as an adult.