Starfish

(This section summarizes Poem 31: “Friends, Not Enemies,” Poem 32: “Unappetizing,” Poem 33: “Missing Dad,” Poem 34: “Someone to Talk to,” Poem 35: “What’s Wrong With Her?,” Poem 36: “Hard to Fit In,” Poem 37: “Pulling Sneakies,” Poem 38: “Taking Inventory,” Poem 39: “Peacekeeper,” and Poem 40: “Secret Stash.”)

Mom alludes to bariatric surgery for Ellie, and Ellie feels sick. Missing her father’s support, Ellie forgives Dad for not telling her about seeking a therapist, and Dad promises that he will never let the surgery happen. Ellie reflects on how Mom has influenced her negative relationship with food. Mom withholds food from Ellie and checks Ellie’s trash for anything outside of her diet plan. As a result, Ellie hides food and trash in her room. Mom also denies Ellie things she wants as “motivation” to lose weight, such as refusing to pay for piano lessons until she loses weight. In Poem 37: “Pulling Sneakies,” Ellie recalls that when grandmother Nana Montgomery was alive, she would secretly teach her how to play piano and encouraged her to always be herself. Ellie and Catalina talk about the difficulty of fitting in at school; this shared experience deepens their bond.