by Lisa Fipps
First published 2024
Ellie has endured years of weight-based bullying since her fifth birthday party, when she wore a whale swimsuit that became ammunition for cruel classmates. She survives by following her own Fat Girl Rules: don't make waves, never eat where others can see, move carefully so nothing jiggles. The swimming pool becomes her sanctuary, the one place she feels weightless and free to stretch out like a starfish, claiming all the space she wants. At home, her mother's constant criticism about her weight adds another layer of pain, disguised as motivation to diet. But Ellie finds strength in unexpected allies: her supportive father, a understanding therapist, and Catalina, a new neighbor who accepts Ellie completely. These relationships give Ellie the courage to question the rules that have governed her life and consider what it might mean to take up space in the world without apology.
Genres: family-life, coming-of-age, contemporary, young-adult
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, overcoming-adversity
300 pages · Paperback · Youth Large Print