I have always struggled with my body image and I can honestly tell you exactly when it happened. I never really thought about my weight or my size when I was younger. I knew I was short because everyone else always towered over me, otherwise I never really cared about my size. But when I was about 10 years old I remember sitting by the pool thinking I was just going to enjoy my time by the pool with a book and dip my feet in the water. That is until a family member came up to me and said, "Oh my gosh, look at the rolls on your stomach! Looks like someone enjoys the cookies a little too much."
From that day forward I had issues with my body image. I stopped eating for a while until someone at school took notice and I was made to see the school counselor. And I still struggle now, as an adult, when I look in the mirror.
You're probably wondering where I am going with this because clearly I have this beautiful book listed here and I should probably talk about it.
Lisa Fipps was an author that I had the pleasure of listening to on a panel on Body Positivity that I mentioned in a previous post. Her novel Starfish is one that I think expresses every young girls insecurities. It definitely hit home with a lot of mine.
Our character Ellie has always been the 'fat girl.' It's something she gets made fun of daily both by her peers and sometimes even family members. You see her struggle in this book to make herself as small as she possibly can. Try to take up less space. When really she should be the amazing person she has always been and take up space and be a STARFISH (see what I did there).
This beautifully written book in verse is something that I recommend for the young and old. It may be written with the Middle Grade ages in mind, but teens and adults will get just as much out of the messages in this book.
So, be like Ellie! Take up space! You are beautiful just the way you are! And let me know what you think of this amazing book.
Happy Reading!
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