Bullied and shamed her whole life for being fat, twelve-year-old Ellie finally gains the confidence to stand up for herself, with the help of some wonderful new allies...Ever since she wore a whale swimsuit and made a big splash at her fifth birthday party, Ellie's been bullied about her weight. To cope, she tries to live by her list of Fat Girl Rules, which are all about not standing out. And she's found a haven in her swimming pool, where she feels weightless in a fat-obsessed world. In the water, she can stretch out like a starfish and take up all the space she wants. Ellie finds an ally in her new neighbor Catalina--a girl who refreshingly doesn't judge--and in her new therapist, a woman who knows how to laugh at the right things. With these good poeple buoying Ellie up, it's a lot easier to face the bullies and starfish in real life--by unapologetically being her own fabulous self. Lisa Fipps's poignant, inspiring debut novel confronts fat-shaming and its effects head-on, and will speak to anyone who's been made to feel "less than." Readers will cheer for Ellie as she realizes her own worth and begins to move forward into a hopeful, confident future. --Provided by publisher.

Grades 5-8. Nancy Paulsen Books.

Ages 10 and up. Nancy Paulsen Books.

Nutmeg Award Nominee, Middle School (Teen), 2025.