Starfish by Akemi-Dawn Bowman

Starfish tells the story of Kiko Himura, a half-Japanese high school student in Grade 12 who struggles with self image and self worth while growing up in a town without many other Asian people. When she is rejected by her dream art school, Prism, she is crushed, but decides to spend her summer touring art schools on the West Coast with her friend in order to escape a traumatic family incident from her past. [Content Warning: Mature language throughout and mature themes including abuse and attempted suicide]

Starfish is Akemi Dawn-Bowman's first novel and has garnered numerous accolades and praiseworthy reviews, including being a 2018 William C. Morris Award finalist and the 2020 Winner of the MeMo Award for Best Teen Novel. It reminds the reader of the importance of accepting yourself for who you are, despite what others are thinking

Have you ever had trouble accepting yourself for who you are?