Starfish

About This Audiobook

Starfish isn’t just a story about body image—it’s a visceral, poetic rebellion against the casual cruelty of fat-shaming, delivered through the fierce inner world of 12-year-old Ellie. Told entirely in free verse, the audiobook transforms Ellie’s emotional journey into something rhythmically intimate, each poem like a heartbeat beneath the surface. What could be a heavy read instead feels fluid and defiant, thanks in large part to Jenna Lamia’s narration. She doesn’t perform Ellie so much as become her—quietly resilient, occasionally seething, often tender, with a vocal nuance that captures both adolescent fragility and steel. The sparse, lyrical structure works powerfully in audio form, where silence and breath become part of the storytelling. This isn’t a didactic lesson on self-acceptance; it’s a lived experience, complete with therapy sessions that don’t magically fix everything and a mother whose criticism cuts deep because it comes from love twisted by societal pressure. Lamia’s performance elevates the material with subtle tonal shifts—her voice softens during moments of connection with Ellie’s therapist and hardens just enough when mimicking the taunts from classmates or the passive-aggression of her mom. The production is clean and uncluttered, letting the poetry breathe. While the verse format may challenge listeners who prefer traditional narratives, it’s precisely what makes Starfish feel so immediate. Ideal for tweens navigating identity, but with emotional depth that resonates far beyond that age group. This audiobook doesn’t shout its message—it whispers it, then slowly builds to a roar.