![]() ![]() Ellie’s brother is always nasty to her, and this time is no different. On Thanksgiving, she only serves turkey, Brussel sprouts and mashed cauliflower. She tracks everything Ellie eats and goes through Ellie’s garbage looking for contraband. Her mother covers the fridge with diet articles and information on bariatric surgery. Ellie doesn’t think her mother loves her, and we readers must agree. I originally wrote “almost hateful,” but she’s truly hateful. ![]() Mothers are supposed to love unconditionally, but Ellie’s mother is hateful. Perhaps it’s Ellie’s mother who is the worst in my mind. And her narration makes us feel what she’s feeling as she describes the horrible things she experiences in a world where being thin is a universal goal. We meet Ellie when she’s eleven, and we realize that Ellie may be zaftig, which is one of the kinder words used to describe her, but she’s also smart and funny. The only one on Ellie’s side is her dad, but it’s not enough. It’s tough being a five-year-old and having your mother and everyone in your family berate you for your weight. It’s about Ellie, who is known as Splash for an unfortunate exclamation made by her older sister when she did a cannonball into the family pool at age five. Think Jennifer Weiner for middle grade readers and you will come close to picturing this book. ![]() “Starfish” is Lisa Fipps’ debut novel, and it’s a winner. ![]()
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