YA Literature Module 1: Introduction to Young Adults and Their Literature

Starfish 

By Lisa Fipps 

Bibliography: Fipps, L., & O’Brien, T. (2021). Starfish. Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin 

                            Random House. 

ISBN: 978-1984814500 

Plot Summary: Starfish is a young adult novel in verse about Ellie, a young girl who has been bullied about her weight by friends and even family her whole life. Ellie begins the novel by recounting the origin of her nickname “Splash” after cannonballing into a pool in the fifth grade—she has never lived this nickname down and faces cruel taunts and comments from classmates and her own family ever since. Ellie is dealing with her best friend Viv moving away, leaving Ellie wondering how she will be able to get through school without her friend. Ellie describes her list of “Fat Girl Rules” that guide her through life as an overweight teen; her list can be summed up by the line “make yourself small.” Ellie uses her list as a way to simply get by in life without getting made fun of, until she meets her new neighbor Catalina. Catalina accepts Ellie exactly how she is, and the two girls quickly form a friendship. Meanwhile, Ellie struggles to be accepted by her own family, particularly her mother, who constantly rejects Ellie and desperately tries to make Ellie someone else, through diets, body shaming, and cruel insults. Ellie eventually starts seeing a therapist, and although it takes a while, Ellie soon opens up and embarks on a reflective journey to love herself and learn how to stand up for herself, even to her loved ones. 

Critical Analysis: Starfish shares Ellie’s journey to self-acceptance through short poems, giving snapshots of Ellie’s everyday life and internal dialogue. While each poem is a quick glimpse into Ellie’s life, Fipps is able to pack a punch that leaves the reader rooting for Ellie to stand up to her bullies and love herself the way she is. Because of Fipps’ eloquent writing style, readers are able to connect with and relate to Ellie wholeheartedly, even if they have not shared the exact experience Ellie has. Most people can relate in some way to feeling on the outside of the crowd, or feeling that they are not enough the way they are, and at its core, that is what this novel is about. 

    Fipps’ use of figurative language, including similes, metaphors, and imagery, show without telling the reader how the actions of her family and peers affect Ellie. She creates a realistic story arc in which Ellie has to learn how to stand up for herself instead of simply continuing to live by the “Fat Girl Rules” that she has implemented in order to survive. Readers learn an important lesson in self-worth through Ellie’s journey through friendship, acceptance, and confidence. Fipps excels in creating tense character dynamics, particularly between Ellie and her mom. The author does not shy away from depicting tough moments and conversations that need to happen in order for healing and growth between loved ones; thus another reason why this story is so poignant and memorable. 

Awards and Recognition: 

2022 Printz Honor Book Award 

Review Excerpts: 

From School Library Journal: “ Once readers start, it will be difficult for them to put this book down. Ellie’s story is heartbreaking and raw at times, and Fipps paints a realistic picture of bullying in a world that equates thinness with beauty. . .. True joy comes in watching Ellie gain confidence in herself and standing up to the bullies, even when they’re family.” 

From Booklist: “As she draws readers in with her smart and succinct voice, Ellie navigates the difficult map of knowing she deserves better treatment while struggling with the conflict that's necessary to achieve it. Fipps hands her young narrator several difficult life lessons, including how to self-advocate, how not to internalization of the words of others, and what it means to defend yourself. Ellie's story will delight readers who long to see an impassioned young woman seize an unapologetic victory.” 

Connections: Books that readers may want to check out after reading Starfish include Barely Floating by Lilliam Rivera, Genesis Begins Again by Alicia D. Williams, and A Work in Progress by Jarrett Lerner. All of these books involve themes of self-love and self-acceptance, as well as being yourself. Other connections that readers may enjoy include several novels in verse, including Miles From Motown by Lisa Sukenic, Turn the Tide by Elaine Dimopoulos, and Reckless, Glorious, Girl by Ellen Hagan.

If You Come Softly 

By Jacqueline Woodson 

Bibliography: Woodson, J. (1998). If you come softly. Penguin Books. 

ISBN: 978-0142415221 

Plot Summary: If You Come Softly is a young adult novel by Jacqueline Woodson about two teenagers, Ellie and Miah, and their story of young love. Ellie is a white, Jewish girl from a wealthy family, and Miah is an African American boy from Brooklyn who is a new student at Ellie’s private school. Ellie and Miah have a brief encounter at school one day, when Miah picks up Ellie’s books that she dropped. From that moment on, the two young teenagers can’t ignore their interest in each other and their developing feelings. Ellie and Miah feel love at first sight and eventually develop a relationship, while also feeling nervous about telling their families about their interracial romance. Ellie is also dealing with the lingering fallout of her mother’s twice abandonment of their family, constantly feeling like her mother could leave again at any time. Miah is dealing with his parent’s separation, with his father living across the street with his new girlfriend. Miah also has not told Ellie that his father is a famous filmmaker, and his mother is a successful writer. Miah and Ellie continue their romance, enjoying each other’s company and feeling that they have found someone who completely understands them. Eventually, Miah introduces Ellie to his mother, who welcomes her with open arms. Encouraged by this, Ellie finally decides to introduce Miah to her family, which fills Miah with elation and excitement. At the climax of the novel, Miah can’t help but run through Central Park while dribbling his basketball because he is so overjoyed at the prospect of taking this next step in his relationship with Ellie. Miah is so overcome with joy that he does not hear the police, who are chasing an unrelated suspect, calling for him to stop as he runs through the park, and they shoot and kill Miah in a case of mistaken identity. Ellie, heartbroken, attends Miah’s funeral and the story ends with a glimpse of the future as Ellie graduates from high school with Miah, but never forgetting the impact he had in her life. 

Critical Analysis: If You Come Softly expertly captures the innocence of young love between two teenagers who are coming into their own and discovering the joy in following one’s own heart. Jacqueline Woodson masterfully weaves a narrative that shows the longing each character has to explore their newfound feelings for the other; despite Miah and Ellie coming from different cultures, neighborhoods, and backgrounds, they are determined to continue their relationship. The story explores many relatable topics for young adults: first love, fitting in, family dynamics, abandonment, divorce, and interracial relationships; however the writing never feels inauthentic or patronizing to young readers. Instead, Woodson crafts an authentic portrayal of the many experiences teenagers face when trying to find themselves in the face of societal “norms”. 

     With each chapter alternating between Miah’s and Ellie’s perspectives (interestingly, Ellie’s chapters are told from first-person narrative and Miah’s chapters are told from third-person narrative), the reader gets to know each character individually. The reader learns about Ellie’s fears of her mother abandoning her again as well as her struggles with finding her place in her family, and it is because of this attention to detail in building Ellie’s backstory and character development that results in the reader acutely feeling the heartbreak that comes after Miah dies right as Ellie has decided to introduce him to her family. In the same way, Miah’s chapters depict an eager yet sometimes lonely young boy who yearns for his now fragmented family to be together again and to be accepted for himself at his new private school while still maintaining his own identity. Again, the effort that was put into developing both Miah’s and Ellie’s characters makes the novel’s climax all the more devastating and impactful. Although Miah’s untimely and wrongful death is sudden and shocking, happening in the span of just one short chapter, Woodson uses this heartbreaking turn of events to slam the reader back to reality and deliver the harsh reminder that racial discrimination and profiling is a serious danger in the lives of many. While Miah quickly becomes a beloved and very relatable teenage character, his life is gone in an instant, and his death and subsequent end of the story opens an important discussion for the readers. While there are many complex and important topics layered within this novel, Woodson creates a story that will stay with readers long after finishing the book. 

Awards and Recognition: 

Coretta Scott King Award, 2001 

ALA Best Book for Young Adults, 1999 

Margaret A. Edwards Award Winner, 2006 

CCBC Choice, 1998 

Review Excerpts: 

From Publisher’s Weekly: "Once again, Woodson handles delicate, even explosive subject matter with exceptional clarity, surety and depth. In this contemporary story about an interracial romance, she seems to slip effortlessly into the skins of both her main characters. . .. Both voices convincingly describe the couple's love-at-first-sight meeting and the gradual building of their trust. The intensity of their emotions will make hearts flutter, then ache as evidence mounts that Ellie's and Jeremiah's 'perfect' love exists in a deeply flawed society. Even as Woodson's lyrical prose draws the audience into the tenderness of young love, her perceptive comments about race and racism will strike a chord with black readers and open the eyes of white readers." 

From Kirkus Reviews: "Woodson perceptively explores varieties of love, trust, and friendship, as she develops well-articulated histories for both families. . .. A tale as rich in social and personal insight as any of Woodson's previous books.” 

Connections: Behind You is the sequel to If You Come Softly, taking place after Miah’s death and exploring how Miah’s loved ones carry on afterwards. Jacquline Woodson’s works are numerous and each impactful in their own way; an author study would be one way to make a connection with this novel. Some of her young adult novels that students can explore after reading this include: Remember Us, Before the Ever After, The House You Pass on the Way, and Harbor Me. Even picture books such as Each Kindness and The Day You Begin can be applicable to young adults as well, with similar lessons of treating others with empathy and respect. Additionally, readers may be inspired to dive into the poetry that inspired the title of this novel, which comes from the poem If You Come Softly by Audre Lorde.