This week I read the verse novel Starfish by Lisa Fipps. I’m amazed that this is her debut novel. She uses verse effectively; It’s not a prose story told with line breaks. I was drawn in by the story and by the character of Ellie, but I also enjoyed each verse as its own poem.
I sent this poem to my friend- Inkling writer Linda Mitchell. She is a librarian in a middle school in Virginia and I know she is the type of librarian who would create a safe place for kids like Ellie.
Below is my review on Goodreads:
Starfish by Lisa Fipps
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I have never been a fat person until I read Starfish by Lisa Fipps. I became Ellie and felt every pain of the torture her family and classmates put her through. Reading this book, I was reminded of the bullying I endured as a skinny teenage girl with a flat chest. No bullying is pretty and it happens to lots of different people for lots of different reasons.
The way that Lisa Fipps can magically place you into the body and mind of Ellie through sparse, yet powerful verse is transformative. It made me as an adult examine the language that I use to talk to others. Like Wonder by R.J. Palacio, I want to place this book into the hands of all my students in middle grades. There is an important message here: “I deserve to be seen./ To be noticed./ To be heard./ To be treated like a human./ I starfish./ There’s plenty of room/ for/ each/ and/ every/ one of us/ in the world.” You matter. Ellie matters. I matter.
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Reflections on the Teche 
Thanks for sharing such a powerful poem, Margaret. And what a special tribute to librarians. Good luck with your judging – it must be so hard, yet so rewarding.
This book is on my to-read list! It tackles such an important theme. I’m so happy to see it making its way into the world. We need more books that can foster empathy and affirmation. Thank you for this review!
Ditto the above replies. I’m so glad I started following you.
This book broke my heart – honestly, the ugly-crying, heaving, red-face nose-blowing wasn’t cute. But you’re right: you BECOME Ellie in this story, and that its power. You understand her, and understand that how we treat each other MATTERS.
Happy Cybils-ing.
I love this poem…and, I love the book. The characters were refreshing, realistic and people that we can’t help but to love (or hate). I have that very poem taped up on my desk at school. I love that this author honored librarians this way. There are so many kids that need someone to just see them and make a safe space. I’m so glad you are judging cybils. I loved it when I did it –but there’s no way I could keep up this year.
I love this poem, too, Margaret, have read this & know the book is both powerful & sorrowful. I have read quite a few memoirs & picture book giving shout-outs to libraries & librarians as their safe place & people. Even if I really don’t know their true stories, many kids spend time at the library up the street after school, & they are in a safe place. They read, do homework, play games on the computers, so nice to see. Then, I worried so about them when the libraries closed. I’m glad you loved Starfish, too.
I’ve wanted to read this book, but haven’t managed to do so yet. I love that you sent this poem to Linda–definitely a perfect poem for her!
Margaret, I love Starfish. The topic is an important one. Lisa Fipps captured Ellie’s voice perfectly and packed a lot of emotion in the poems.
This is a fascinating subject. I will have to read this book. I, like you, spent my teenage years skinny and underweight without a chest that seemed to define the coming of age for young girls back in the 70s. I was still shopping for clothes in the children’s department when I was in 9th grade to get something to fit around the waist! Luckily, my grandmother was an accomplished seamstress so I did have clothes that were age-appropriate and fit well. I often wonder, however, if people realize that it is sometimes as hard to be skinny and teased (or bullied, as the case might be) as it is to be overweight. Something to think about. Thanks for showcasing this interesting book topic and rating it. I will seek it out! Good luck to you as you judge for the awards.
Oh – that final stanza. That transition. I didn’t know that was where this poem was going. But how wonderful. And yes – it amazing that in all our different body shapes and sizes, the bullies can find our vulnerabilities and exploit them. I already had this book on my radar. But I’ll have to hunt it up!
Thank you for shining a spotlight on this important book. Like you, I was amazed that it was her debut novel. And like you, I BECAME Ellie and was forever changed.
I love that this poem expresses, shows, the vulnerability this MC feels. I’d like to read this
It is a very important book! We are having some interesting discussions about the various qualities of novels in verse…thanks for highlighting it.
I am a keen devotee of verse novels Margaret, so I am most grateful to you for sharing your review of this book and a significant extract as well. I shall seek it out. You have done good work here…
Wow, that poem is wonderful. And true. Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
I love this book and her interview I had with her in April
Wonderful review Margaret, and I’m so taken from the poem/page you shared-such emotion and feeling. Thanks for sharing it with us and being a judge!
Thank you, Margaret–I’ve seen this book mentioned a lot, but your post made me go put it on reserve. Librarians and teachers save so many lives…
Very helpful. Thanks for sharing!