A Middle Grade Book that anyone who feels different should read

When I read Starfish by Lisa Fipps, I thought no-one had ever written a children's book, that should be compulsory reading for adults. Turns out I was wrong and I appear to be building a list.

This book should be required reading for every parent who makes their child not feel enough, who choose a partner over their child.

It should be read in schools so that stupid children think before they label someone as weird, because it might make them think twice and avoid a lot of hurt and hate. Also so the ones who feel different realise they are not alone, to help them find the courage to stand up to the bullies and be who they are not who anyone thinks they should be.

Calliope is braver than I could ever manage to be. The one person who should always be in her corner is too self centered to even notice anything except the fact that she doesn't fit. I am a grown woman with children who have additional needs, who currently wants to punch a fictional character for adding to her daughters burdens when they are already enough to break most people.

Children's fiction shouldn't leave you feeling so broken inside, but then in a perfect world we wouldn't need the books like this, to tell the stories of the ones who are different but not less.

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