Saturday, October 29, 2022

STARFISH: A Teen Review of a Middle-Grade Book



My teen blogger Elliott Kurta is now busy being a freshman in high school and doing his volunteer job at the library. So, we'll enjoy his book reviews whenever he has time to get them to me.

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REVIEW

           Young Elle is constantly shamed for being overweight; at school, in public, and even at home. To make matters worse, her mother obsessively monitors what she eats and her brother and sister poke fun at her. It’s no wonder the only place Elle feels safe is in her pool, where her weight doesn’t matter, and she can take up as much space as she wants. In this middle-grade novel, Elle finally decides to fight back with the support of her father, a new friend, and her therapist.

            Bringing a rarely seen viewpoint to a young audience, Starfish does a commendable job of not only approaching a sensitive topic but relating the perspective of a young, overweight girl to middle-schoolers. Elle’s bullies are painfully realistic, and so is the fatphobia she experiences every day. Additionally, the book is primarily presented in verse, which forces readers to slow down in order to absorb the cadence and message of each sentence. The poetic format also allows for certain dramatic flourishes in word placement which leaves a lasting impact on readers.

            At times, Elle’s narrative style can lead to confusion while reading. For a pre-teen, Elle uses uncharacteristically sophisticated terms to describe her own emotions and has an unusually mature awareness of her feelings. In her afterword, Lisa Fipps mentions that Starfish was originally going to be a YA novel, which explains why the book reads like one. This instance, found on page 34, highlights the discrepancy in Elle’s age and maturity present throughout the book:

 

            The first Fat Girl Rule

            you learn hurts the most,

            a startling, scorpion-stinging soul slap.


             Aside from the inconsistencies in Elle’s narration, there’s a subtler flaw in the book. Starfish focuses entirely on Elle’s body, her perception of it, and how it affects her life. Each of the one- or two-page long chapters either shows Elle being bullied at school, talking with her friend about her body, or fighting with her mom over her weight. In fact, one of the major sources of tension in the book is that Elle’s mother wants her to undergo bariatric surgery, a reference that would fly over the heads of most middle schoolers. The singular focus of the book is overwhelming and could even be considered in contrast with the novel’s message. By focusing entirely on one aspect of Elle, her weight, Lisa Fipps undermines the idea that Elle is more than her body.

            Regardless, there’s a reason that Starfish won a Printz award. Line for line, Lisa Fipps’ debut novel is nothing short of extraordinary, bringing the issues of a tween who’s more than her body weight front and center. For middle-schoolers everywhere, Starfish will make them reconsider how they see their friends, family, and most importantly, themselves.


A QUESTION FOR OUR READERS

Have you read this book? Elliott and I would like to know what you thought of it.

ALL ABOUT ELLIOTT

Elliott is a prolific reader of various genres who is more than happy to share his opinions on books. In his free time, he enjoys writing, reading, and running. He is a 9th-grade student in Charlotte, NC.                                                

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Congratulations to Kathy Wiechman who won TEDDY, LET'S GO! from last week's blog.


Don't forget to check out the other wonderful middle-grade books on Greg Pattridge's MMGM site.



23 comments:

Theresa Milstein said...

I read this book last year and agree that sometimes the voice does sound a little YA. I thought it was a good book on an important subject. My one complaint is that I wish there had been more moments of happiness for the main character.

https://antoinettetrugliomartin.com said...

This book is on TBR list. It is now on the top. Thanks for the review.

Carol Baldwin said...

Thanks, Antoinette!

Carol Baldwin said...

Thank you, Theresa. I bet Elliott wouldn't disagree with you.

Marci said...

I read this book and really liked it. Thanks for sharing your review—your words are also so poignant.

Carol Baldwin said...

Thanks, Marci!

Randomly Reading said...

What a wonderful review. Young reviewers are so spot on and Elliott certainly is on this book, which I read when it first came out. Thanks for sharing Elliott's review.

Carol Baldwin said...

Thanks of your comment, "Randomly Reading"!

Patricia T. said...

Excellent review. I agree with your thoughts about the book feels like it is meant for older teens. I was bothered by the suggestion bariatric surgery for someone so young. But, I worked with girls with eating disorders many years ago, and they can swing to anorexia and bulimia. So, I read the story with different thoughts in mind. But, I'm sure that it will be helpful for those dealing with overweight. Excellent review!

Carol Baldwin said...

Thank you, Pattricia! I'm sure your comment will mean a lot to Elliott!

Carol Baldwin said...

Thank you, Valinora. It's certainly an important issue to be talked about.

Brenda said...

Totally enjoyed reading Elliott's thoughts on the book and felt it was really balanced in explaining the things that didn't work, something I'm still struggling to do.

Carol Baldwin said...

Thanks, Brenda. I know Elliott will appreciate your comment.

Greg Pattridge said...

I have not read this book, but it is fifth down in my pile of future reads. Your enticing review was honest and although there are some YA leftovers, I'm glad the issue of body image and weight are taking center stage in an MGM novel. A+ review, Elliott. Thanks for taking the time to give us your thoughts on this week's MMGM.

Carol Baldwin said...

Thanks, Greg. I'll look forward to hearing what you think of Starfish. I'm happy to have Elliott on my blogging team!

Rosi said...

Elliott always does a fine job with his reviews. This is no exception. I think this is an extraordinary book. I am so glad it is out there for kids to read. Thanks for the post.

Sue Heavenrich said...

I love this book!

Sue Heavenrich said...

I read this book a while ago and loved it. Thanks for sharing Starfish

Carol Baldwin said...

Thanks, Sue, for your comments!

Elliott Kurta said...

Thank you so much for all of your comments! I agree that Starfish deals with a lot of important topics, and I definitely think it's worth reading. I'm so glad everyone enjoyed my review!

Carol Baldwin said...

Your perspective is enjoyed by many, Elliott!

Natalie Aguirre said...

I really enjoyed the book, and its focus didn't bother me personally. Thanks for your honest review, Elliott.

Carol Baldwin said...

Thank you, Natalie. It's interesting to see how different books resonate with different readers.

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