Language: G. (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (Bullying).
BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
When Ellie was 5, she jumped into the family pool making a big splash - her sister called her "Splash" and the name stuck. she has been teased and bullied about her weight ever since. Even her mother is constantly criticizing her weight. Now 12yo Ellie is starting a new school year without her best friend Viv who moved over the summer, but the bullies are still there - especially Marissa and Kortnee who openly call her names, tease and sabotage her. As the bullying at school intensifies, Ellie's father, a psychiatrist, wisely gets Ellie into a good therapist, but can Ellie be completely honest about everything that is going on? After so many years, it's hard to know who to trust.
Wow - such a great debut novel. Written in verse, it reads quickly, and as the author's note explained based on her own experiences. I couldn't wait to talk about it and have been thinking about it all day. I love stories that stick around in my head. I didn't love that the school couldn't seem to stop the blatant bullying and name calling, even the attacks (pranks?) they happened in the hallway, the classrooms, everywhere. And her mother was particularly awful. I hesitate to recommend this to a student with a similar struggle as Ellie, as I'm sure a lot of the experiences may be triggers, but it will certainly build empathy.
Lisa Librarian
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