A starred review from Kirkus Reviews

A starred review from School Library Journal
A starred review from Booklist

A starred review from Publishers Weekly

Horn Book

Recommended School Library Connection
Ellie was carefree, happy, and loved swimming in her backyard pool. Sadly, all that changed on her fifth birthday when wearing a whale-themed swimsuit to match her Under the Sea birthday party theme led to family members making fun of her body shape and size. From that moment on, her weight was fair game for bullying and teasing from classmates, siblings, and even her own mother. Fast-forward to the beginning of 6th grade and her situation is worse than ever. Ellie’s best friend has moved away, her mom wants her to have bariatric surgery, and, to help navigate the relentless taunting and teasing she endures, Ellie has created a list of “Fat Girl Rules” because she believes her actions cause the bullying. However, with the help of her dad, therapist, and the new girl next door, Ellie finds the inner strength and courage to stand up to the bullies, including her mom. This beautiful, heartbreaking, and powerful novel-in-verse would pair well with media literacy lessons on body imagery, bullying, and victim shaming. The story is very engaging and readers will not want to put it down. School guidance counselors, school psychologists, and social workers will appreciate the realistic portrayal of Ellie’s therapist and the benefits of therapy for children and adults. — Kelly R. Silwani, Library Media Specialist, Olentangy Orange Middle School, Lewis Center, Ohio
Recommended
Awards
2022 Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature Honor Book

Association for Library Service to Children 2022 Notable Children’s Book
2022 International Literacy Association Notable Books
for a Global Society Award Winner
National Council of Teachers of English
2022 Charlotte Huck Award Honor Book
2022 NCTE/Children’s Literature Assembly
Notable Children’s Books in the Language Arts Award
Jane Addams Children’s Book Award 2022 Finalist
2022 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults winner
2022 YALSA Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults winner
Internationale Jugendbibliothek 2021 White Raven
2022 YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
Four Starred Reviews
Publishers Weekly
Kirkus
School Library Journal
Booklist
Best Book Lists
Publishers Weekly 2021
School Library Journal 2021
The Washington Post 2021
The Boston Globe 2021
New York Public Library 2021
Chicago Public Library 2021
King County Library System 2021
Denver Public Library 2021
Phoenix Public Library 2021
Bank Street College: The Best Children’s Books of the Year 2022 Edition
State Book Awards
Blue Hen Book Award 2023 Nominee (Delaware)
Sunshine State Young Readers Award Grades 6-8 2022-2023 Nominee (Florida)
Georgia Children’s Book Award 2022-2023 Nominee
Nēnē Award 2022 Nominee (Hawaii)
Iowa Teen Award 2022-2023 Nominee
Read Aloud Indiana 2022 Reading List
Kentucky Bluegrass Book Award 2022-2023 Nominee (Kentucky)
Black-Eyed Susan Book Award 2022-2023 Nominee (Maryland)
Maine Student Book Award 2022-2023 Nominee
Great Lakes Great Books 2022-2023 Nominee (Michigan)
Land of Enchantment Book Award 2022-2023 Nominee (New Mexico)
Sequoyah Book Award 2023 Nominee (Oklahoma)
Pennsylvania Young Readers Choice Award 2022-2023 Nominee
Keystone to Reading Book Award 2022-2023 Nominee (Pennsylvania)
Rhode Island Middle School Book Award 2023 Nominee
South Carolina Book Award 2022-2023 Nominee
Lone Star 2022 Reading List (Texas)
Spirit of Texas Reading Program 2022 List
Beehive Book Award 2023 Nominee (Utah)
Virginia Reads 2021-2022
Vermont Golden Dome Book Award 2022-2023 Nominee
Just One More Page 2022 Reading List (Wisconsin)
Indian Paintbrush Book Award 2022-2023 Nominee (Wyoming)
Surrey Schools’ Book of the Year Nominee, Surrey, British Columbia
Reading Lists
2022 Texas Library Association Spirit of Texas Reading List
2022 Texas Library Association Lone Star Reading List
2022 All Connecticut Reads Short List
Notable
Lisa received the Sagamore of the Wabash Award from Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
2021 Project LIT Book Club Selection
Starfish is in English, Turkish, large print, and soon will be in four more languages
Starfish featured in
the New York Times, The Washington Post, and Horn Book
Lisa’s done virtual visits with thousands of students in
the United States, Canada, and China
Endorsements from the back cover
“Readers will rejoice as Ellie gains the strength to confront bullies with intelligence and honesty, and refuses to allow other people’s cruelty to shape her life.” —Padma Venkatraman, award-winning author of The Bridge Home
“This is a big, beautiful book about a big, beautiful girl … An honest, heartbreaking, hilarious novel in verse from a debut author with a delicious voice.” —Sonya Sones, award-winning author of What My Mother Doesn’t Know
“For a reader of any age, it is a revelation to feel seen in the book you’re reading. For middle grade readers, it can be life-changing. Starfish will be this life-changing book for so many kids and teens, and it will be an eye-opening book for many more. Lisa Fipps’ spot-on verse gives Ellie a wrenchingly real voice that sings with humor, pain, and hope. Prepare yourself: once you read this book, your heart will never be the same.” —K.A. Holt, award-winning author of many middle grade novels-in-verse including House Arrest
What bloggers and reviewers are saying
@thebookmommy on Instagram: “… [O]ne of the most powerful novels in verse I have ever read: moving beyond measure, equal parts devastating and uplifting, and jaw-droppingly gorgeous. It will be eye-opening for many, as it was for me, and life-saving for others. My daughter loved it as much as I did. … Lisa Fipps’ … raw, intimate free verse packs a punch on every page, even as it seamlessly weaves together a larger story. In addition to kids, EVERY PARENT (and anyone who works with kids) should read this. Just incredible.” 3.1.21