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The Fetishization of Children's Literature

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The Fetishization of Children's Literature

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When beginning to research areas of The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe I received a startling discovery. Many women have begun to fetishize the children's literature character Mr.Tumnus. The above SNL skit makes jokes about bestiality and treating Mr.Tumnus as a sex symbol. While the actor is an adult it is very uneasy that these women have sexual desires for him since he is a character in a children's book. However, one could see the side that Mr.Tumnus is a childhood crush the ladies grew up still having adoration for, but the inclusion of Edmund is disturbing and inappropriate. The SNL skit depicts Mr.Tumnus as gay and in a relationship with Edmund. While Edmund in the skit is older it is still really disturbing. Especially in recent years with the grooming epidemic of older Hollywood actors, it is uncomfortable to set a children's literature character, that seemed almost Fatherly up with one of the story's children. Mr.Tumnus is one of the only adult figures in Lucy's life, offering her protection and putting his own life at stake. SNL setting him up with Lucy's young brother is worrisome and leads me to believe that comedic platforms need to be careful about the media they produce in retrospect to children's literature characters. If an adult saw SNL was doing a skit having to do with Mr.Tumnus and then showed this to a child there would be a world of questions. Furthermore, if it really comedy if we are perpetuating pedophilia-driven relationships? We should keep children's literature for children.

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Something that struck me as particularly interesting within this text was the inclusion of the Beavers as allies to the children. They are the first creatures in Narnia to fully explain the severity of the situation and they take on paternal and maternal roles toward the children. Arguably, the only paternal and maternal roles taken up by anyone responsible for the children's care. Yet this is contradicted by the beaver's willingness to get involved and have the children serve as fighters. I can't help but wonder what the purpose of the Beavers is within the text. Part of me wonders if this was a subtle move made by Lewis to depict the dangers children get into when they are not under close care or following rules (or Commandments). Or maybe Lewis picked a neutral animal to bridge the gap between what the readers have known and what the children need to know (Edmund being a traitor).

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Let's Keep God Out Of The Public School Classroom

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Let's Keep God Out Of The Public School Classroom

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While I thoroughly enjoyed The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, I honestly thought it was crazy this book was taught in Public Schools. There are so many biblical allusions it seems inappropriate to teach to children and the violence is unnecessary for children. While we were reading I kept focusing on the fact that a child that is not Catholic could possibly be very uncomfortable reading the book. Not only does the novel teach a strong religious message of not sinning or there being consequences that could be fatal, but I think many non-Catholic students would feel uncomfortable. They may not be familiar with the biblical allusions but other 5th graders may pick up on them making students who are not Catholic left out. I feel like teaching this book which has such a strong religious message would be like choosing to tell a secret to only half the class. While there is always the issue of there being an array of different background knowledge it feels wrong to teach this novel specifically because of how blatant the religion is. You can't ignore the fact that the children are referred to as "Sons of Adam" and "Daughters of Eve" and having to give religious background seems inappropriate for a public school classroom. Especially because the public school calendar is largely based around Catholic holidays and not having school on those days, it is unfair to further aid the preference America gives to Catholicism unintentionally within the school system by teaching a book with such religious undertones.

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Sorry but was anybody else wondering what Charlie did to be labeled a hero? To me, he did the absolute bare minimum. While I did think he was so kind and a truly sweet boy, he really didn't do anything so great. He was just a good kid who got rewarded for being decent with an empire. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory sets up unrealistic expectations for kids from lower socioeconomic backgrounds because it is basically impossible for a family to get taken out of poverty and made rich. Furthermore, it is unrealistic for well-behaved children, the book sends mixed messages that in order for good things to happen to you, you have to be a good person. While this is a nice notion it is untrue. Good things do not exclusively happen to good people and while we should promote positive behavior in children we cannot lead them to believe that they will receive insane rewards for being kind. As for Charlie, he really was not a hero. He didn't have the same opportunities for success as the other kids which could be the reason why he was better behaved. He really didn't do any heroic action though to be labeled as a hero. Yes- he essentially saved Wonka but stating that is odd because Wonka picked him out so that he could follow his lead. If anything one could infer Charlie is at his lowest point morally at the end of the book, he forcefully helps Wonka to remove his parents and grandparents from their home, not having any regard for their feelings. If he was labeled a hero for being a good kid then his harsher actions can lead us to believe he is more of a villain or on the way to being a villain at the story's end.

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Reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as an adult was slightly horrifying. Largely because of how the novel deals with childhood obesity. Relating Augustus to being disgusting because of his weight and making his only personality trait his consumption of food is devastating. Dahl sets up the overly skinny boy to be the hero while the outliers in the novel- the two girls and the overweight boy meet the most brutal fate. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory uses scare tactics to relay the theme of the book clearly, but in the form of Augustus, it is almost discriminatory. Augustus is the first one cast aside as he faces public humiliation over his weight while the Oompa Loompas laugh and nobody cares to help. Reading this book to an overweight child would be ostracized as it spreads the message that being overweight is as bad as being rude and greedy like Veruca Salt. Additionally, Augustus's "greed" for food gives into stereotypes about overweight people and binge eaters, neglecting the mental struggle those who binge eat go through. I would never teach a book that makes light of mental illness and discredits the struggles students may have.

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Oh Willy Wonka
You twisted, twisted soul.
Your issues are Bonkas
You should receive coal.

You bully the children
and neglect their needs
You are a true villain,
ignoring their pleas.

With Augustus, you cackled
as he decreed he was struggling to breathe.
You should be in shackles
for your desire to cease.

Like with the Oompa Loompa's
of whom you stole.
We could assume the
actions would leave you without parole.

The biggest issue within yourself
is your need to appease.
Your obsession with being great is not stealth.
You fail, however, you just displease.

You are no hero
But rather
simply Sub Zero.

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The heart of Alice's Adventures In Wonderland is, in my opinion, Alice's finding herself and her voice. Hearts are frequent within the book. As I just stated there is the novel's "heart" which is the struggle endured by Alice and her resilience. Then there is the Queen of Hearts who is the antagonist of the novel. But we can push the narrative even further, and discuss how the heart of the novel, the theme of Alice’s growth, can be contrasted to “the heart” Alice conflicts with, the Queen and her tyrannical stance. When we place these metaphoric hearts up against one another we see that the novel circulates around the relationship between Alice & the Queen of Hearts but also the resistance Alice is able to engage in when realizing that the Queen of Hearts is "just a deck of cards". This an interesting move as the Queen is the heart of the conflict, discrediting her is a bold move but proves the heart of Alice's growth. One can wonder if this move would be made if Alice was head to head with the King of hearts. Is the confrontation only accessible because she is the queen of hearts? Or does gender not play the role we'd assume it to? Overall, I think the heart being a feminine symbol is an affirmation that the conflict and the growth is the way it is because the novel centers the Queen.

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Though it is a slight shock, Alice's Adventures In Wonderland was actually on the banned book list for various reasons. The University of Tulsa reported it was first banned in 1931 for its use of talking animals. The reasoning was that it was disastrous to put humans and animals at the same level. I wonder if Carroll was one of the first authors to use personification in Children's Literature though I have yet to find research on the matter. The United States first banned the book in the 1960s because of the inclusion of the hookah-smoking caterpillar and body-altering mushroom. While it makes sense for parents to not want their children to read about drug use, the mushroom in the book seems more like magic than a psychedelic. Lastly, the book was banned in the U.S. because of its suggestive sexual promiscuity but was quickly repealed because the banning was more of a statement on Carroll's character rather than the content of the book. Though I do potentially see the case for the mushroom scene, I think it would be harmful to ban this book as it is more so an invitation for children to indulge in fantasy and an alternate universe.

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Alice in Wonderland or Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is a novel published in 1865 written by Charles Lutwidge Dodgson under the pseudonym Lewis Carroll. "It tells of a girl named Alice who falls down a rabbit hole into a fantasy world populated by peculiar, anthropomorphic creatures. The tale plays with logic, giving the story lasting popularity with adults as well as with children" (literature.org). Alice in Wonderland has been adapted into many theatrical and screen versions, most famously, Walt Disney's version produced in 1951. The novel was recently turned into a television series on ABC titled Once Upon a Time in Wonderland. The novel was also referred to in Jefferson Airplane's famous song "White Rabbit".

Although it is evident that the story has held popularity with children and adults for many years, Dodgson's work has been challenged and banned multiple times since its publication. The novel is most often challenged for its alleged promotion of drug use. The most controversial scene takes place after Alice enters Wonderland and meets the philosophic caterpillar. The caterpillar sits atop a mushroom, smoking a hookah, offering Alice advice on how to find the white rabbit. He also provides Alice with a piece of the mushroom that will alter her size to help her on her journey. The presence of the hookah and the body altering and allegedly mind altering mushroom enraged academic institutions, parents, and religious groups. This outrage led to the book being banned in the United States during the 1960s.

In the early 1900s the state of New Hampshire banned the book from all public schools because the novel was accused of promoting sexual fantasies and masturbation. This accusation most likely refers to the questionable sexual activities of the author, not the novel's content.

The novel has also been challenged for its use of talking animals, which were deemed an abomination in the sight of God by many religious institutions. In 1931 the Governor of the Hunan Province in China banned the book for the same reasons arguing that "animals should not use human language, and that it was disastrous to put animals and human beings on the same level". This accusation is a common defense for censorship of books, as you will see in our next blog on Winnie the Pooh.

To read more on why Alice in Wonderland is on the American Library Association's top 100 banned books list click

To see our exhibit featuring Alice in Wonderland visit the Department of Special Collections located on the 5 th floor of McFarlin library, open to the public Monday-Friday 8-5.

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Alice in Wonderland or Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is a novel published in 1865 written by Charles Lutwidge Dodgson under the pseudonym Lewis Carroll. "It tells of a girl named Alice who falls down a rabbit hole into a fantasy world populated by peculiar, anthropomorphic creatures.

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What If It Were Andrew's Adventures in Wonderland...

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What If It Were Andrew's Adventures in Wonderland...

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Gender roles were clearly defined during the Victorian Era. Victorianera.org defined a young girl or women's role as being heavily domestic with little freedom. "Women were not assigned responsible jobs in general. She was to give birth to children and look after the house. They could neither vote nor sue. Women could not also own property. Women had no legal say". In Alice's world, she would never be able to adventure and have agency, so she dreamt of a fantastical world where she can have the rights of a man. She could wander and experiment and do as she pleases. The pathetic fallacy in the story of her tears becoming a tsunami mirrored the loneliness in her transition. The patriarchal characters refuse to have her seat at the table and she is challenged by authority, but she finds the ability to speak up for herself. However, this is a dream as a Victorian-era girl would never have the opportunities Alice got in Wonderland. If this was Andrews's Adventures in Wonderland it is likely that the story would be so different. "Andrew" or another A named male would have possibly dreamt of a wonderland void of responsibilities, not adventure.

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Victorian Era Gender Roles has been a much-discussed subject even in literature. According to Susan Kent, men possessed the capacity for reason, action, aggression, independence, and self-interest [thus belonging to the public sphere].

Women inhabited a separate, private sphere, one suitable for the so-called inherent qualities of femininity: emotion, passivity, submission, dependence, and selflessness, all derived, it was claimed insistently, from women's sexual and reproductive organization. Also read Women's education in the Victorian age

Inequality in Gender Roles

Victorian Era was not characterized by equality between man and woman, but by the apparent difference between them. The late 19th century from 1837-1901 is famous as the Victorian era in England.

This was the era of Queen Victoria's reign in England. The gender roles in Victorian age can be understood from the varied roles ascribed to the two genders, the male, and the female.

The patriarchic system was the norm and women usually led a more secluded, private life. Men, on the other hand, possessed all kinds of freedom. The man was naturally the head of the family and the guardian of family members. He was the protector and the lord. He was strong, brave and hard-working.

Women were shy, weak and emotional compared to men. She was supposed to be pure and quiet. Feelings such as anger or impatience were never expected out of them. She was never aggressive. The concept of ideal women was extremely important. She was pure and clean.

Women were not assigned responsible jobs in general. She was to give birth to children and look after the house. They could neither vote nor sue. Women could not also own property. Women had no legal say. The property of a married woman went to her husband even if the marriage ended up in a divorce.

It was the responsibility of the women to secure happiness at home whereas the men were to protect and guard the household and its members. Organizing and instructing the servants was another job for the females. Both men and women were discouraged from using cosmetics or undergarments. However, restrictions on women were severe because their bodies were held to be pure.

Being a prostitute meant being unclean in the Victorian era. This was an excuse for the husband to end the marriage with his wife. Women could not have sex with any other men except their husband. However, this rule did not apply to men. Men were held superior in all spheres of life. Many women were treated as a necessity for men.

Women were discouraged from remaining unmarried. This was because she needed protection as she was weak and pure. A married woman was completely under the guidance and supervision of her husband. Motherhood was an achievement in the life of women, but only formally. Mothers had to be submissive and meek.

The highest job that women could hold was that of a teacher while men were given freedom to choose what they wanted to do. Not only processes such as industrialization, but also feministic movements of those times helped women to come out to the scene. Later, as time passed, women occupied the equal status as that of men.

Victorian men Gender Roles

Victorian men wanted women to possess lady-like feminine qualities as well as innocence; otherwise, they would not be of marriage potential. This expectation men had for women resulted in women preparing for marriage and it gave women no freedom.

Victorian men's desires pressurised women to be the ideal Victorian woman that society wanted them to be. If a woman did not meet the expectations of the Victorian male, she would end up spouseless.

Just as men expected few things of an ideal Victorian women, the women and the rest of society had expectations for the ideal Victorian man.

Being an ideal Victorian man involved detaching oneself from the home and its feminine comforts and achieving 'a level of material success in the wider world.

This included 'the recognition of manhood by one's peers". This meant that Victorian men not only had to gain women's respect before marriage, but also had to impress the rest of society and their male gender. Men also had social pressures because their peers scrutinized their success. However, this was nowhere what the Female gender faced.

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Gender Roles of Victorian Era for Men and Women

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Victorian Era Gender Roles has been a much-discussed subject even in literature. According to Susan Kent, men possessed the capacity for reason, action, aggression, independence, and self-interest [thus belonging to the public sphere]. Women inhabited a separate, private sphere, one suitable for the so-called inherent qualities of femininity: emotion, passivity, submission, dependence, and selflessness, all derived, it was claimed insistently, from women's sexual and reproductive organization.

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What I Imagine Josie To Have Been Like In Her Youth...

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What I Imagine Josie To Have Been Like In Her Youth...

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Josie is such a cool and free-spirited woman. I couldn't help but wonder what she was like in her youth so I made this mood board collage. I picture her reading and painting in her leisure time as well as walking along the beach with her cousin Beatrice. In her youth, Josie was most likely the effortless, artistic woman that would likely be a social media influencer. We see from Hollis's first description of Josie that even in her old age she was stunning, "I did blink then, of course, I did. Anyone getting a first look at Josie Cahill would do the same. It wasn't just that she was movie star beautiful, or that she was wearing a blue dress made of filmy stuff that floated around her, and rings on eight of her fingers"(Page 9). Josie is illustrious and beautiful as she ages so it is likely she was the same in her youth. I would love a book on the adventures of young Josie Cahill.

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Beige Minimalist Mood Board Photo Collage Your Story

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The Promotion of the Novel Toward Foster Kids & Adoptive Families

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The Promotion of the Novel Toward Foster Kids & Adoptive Families

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Upon doing my research I uncovered an adoption center website that has a section promoting the novel. The website has a staff review that states that Pictures of Hollis Woods is "A beautiful story reminding us of how complicated it is for our children to love and trust that they are home". While this may be true, I find it alarming an adoption center would place this book as a resource for children in the foster care system. While it may be a good resource for families to understand the thought process of a child in the foster care system I disagree with the adoption center's use of the book. I believe it opens up a world of questions for children in the foster care system and adults would need to be prepared with a variety of clarifications for children that this model is not realistic for all. However, this website gave me a new perspective as I do think families adopting a child could benefit from seeing Hollis's perspective and internal thoughts.

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Pictures of Hollis Woods - wifostercareandadoption.org

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Hollis Woods is the place where a baby was abandoned is the baby’s name is an artist is now a twelve-year-old girl who’s been in so many foster homes she […]

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A point of frustration that comes with Pictures of Hollis Woods for me was the lack of images. The imagery worked wonders to be descriptive and thorough, yet the "pictures" without a picture felt unfulfilling. I think at a collegiate level we are typically inclined to respond better to imagery, yet the lack of the picture was a letdown. The lack of image could have been rewarding as readers get to imagine the pictures to be what they want them to be, but then the addition of the movie discredits that. Are the pictures omitted because Giff wants us to imagine them for ourselves? To let children in similar situations see themselves in the pictures? If that were the case then why make the book into a movie? I personally feel that the movie was unnecessary in relation to the images being omitted from the book. The lack of image in the book led my imagination to run wild and then I was disappointed seeing the movie portrayal, as I'm sure many other readers were as well.

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One of the main points of frustration in the novel for me surrounded Abby. While Abby has a positive storyline with a happy ending (like all of the other characters) the sweeping away of the injustices that involved her really annoyed me. Particularly when Simon discussed the segregation still prevalent in Atlanta, "The south county late bus doesn’t leave for another fifteen minutes, and then it’s another hour until Abby gets home. She and most of the other black kids spend more time commuting to school each day than I do in a week. Atlanta is so weirdly segregated, and no one ever talks about it". Abby has to wake up earlier to arrive on time for school and spend hours of her day commuting, yet it is barely addressed why after this scene. Albertalli had a wonderful opportunity to advocate and bring awareness to the black community in Atlanta but instead, she gave one line and brushed over the issue. Ideally, she should have allowed Abby to speak about the effects of this segregation instead of having a white man speak from his perspective and leaving it at that. Furthermore, Simons's "compassion" isn't too deep-rooted as he later makes a comment about Abby's special privilege when the teacher says nothing about her being late to class. It's plausible that this is just another example of Simons's ignorance as the teacher is probably aware of the segregation in Atlanta and wants to accommodate black students who have a long morning commute.

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I originally was attempting to find a concrete source on the origins of the Homo Sapien Agenda but stumbled upon this video. Apparently, Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda is a part of a universe. The Upside of Unrequited and Leah on the Offbeat also being in the series. I had never heard of other of these books before. The Upside of Unrequited tells the story of Abby's twin cousins and Leah on the Offbeat is the story of the end of the Creekwood kid's Senior year told from Leah's perspective. I can't help but wonder why the other two books aren't as popular. Is it because they are the second and third in the series, or is it because these are female stories? If Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda could be made into a movie and be granted a spin-off Hulu show (Love, Victor) then why can't these stories be told as well? Especially since Simon and Bram came back for Love, Victor. Why can't other characters' storylines get involved? Abby could share her perspective on what it's like to be a marginalized woman in a segregated city and Leah could shed light on unrequited love. It seems like a pity to not utilize such strong female characters and give them proper recognition.

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Becky Albertalli Explains the Simonverse! | Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

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Throughout the novel, Simon struggles with labels and identity. He knows he is gay but he has issues with figuring out how he wants to be portrayed and who he is as an individual, much like all other teenagers. Simon is complex and much more than his sexuality, even when others try to reduce him to that. He is theatrical, experiencing love for the first time, finding himself, unique, and most importantly free. There are a variety of ways to discuss Simon as Simon without reducing him to his sexuality or belittling who he is. Even though Albertalli falls into stereotypes, such as having Abby state Simon is different because of his inclination to wear eyeliner and flirt with men, does not mean readers have to as well. I think doing this mirror portrait activity with students is a wonderful way to teach that a person's sexuality is a part of their identity but not the whole identity. Showing his unique interests is another way to battle stereotypes and break the belief that a gay man has to be feminine. Simon is so much more complex than even Albertalli gives him credit for.

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The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

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The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

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Why Rowdy Holds The Most Valuable Lesson For Teachers

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Why Rowdy Holds The Most Valuable Lesson For Teachers

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Upon reading The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, I felt myself growing rather inclined toward Rowdy. I thought about him a lot and my heart hurt for him. Rowdy is the student all educators can relate to and feel for. He is the one without a strong support system, the one deprived of love and struggle. He is the bully who bullies in response to the pain because he never learned any other ways to handle his struggles. Rowdy broke my heart and opened my eyes. It hurt me that Rowdy didn't have a micro or macro system strong enough to help him. Rowdy appealed to me as a future educator as a reminder of the range of students I will have. Rowdy is bright and ambitious, but he turns toward rage and fighting as a means of survival. While it is arguable Junior took a dual sense of fighting and flighting by attending school in Rearden and still fighting with bullies on the reservation, Rowdy only know how to fight. He will likely fight until there is no fight left in him, but the lack of support will never allow him to flee from the situation and relocate to safety. As educators, we should learn from Rowdy. I  appreciate his boyish charm and inclination to comic books. While I don't promote violence I can still commend the resilience that is unique to him. He keeps fighting more than a child should ever have to.

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The Sad Reality For Native American Students

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The Sad Reality For Native American Students

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To say this book was eye-opening for me is an understatement. Not only did I know little to nothing about reservation life, but I had no clue how hard it was for Native American students to receive an equal education. Federally funded schools have little resources and a lack of technology and materials, yet they are still heavily restricted in what they can teach students. Teach for America reported in this article that, "Since the 1970s, tribes have advocated passionately for their rights as sovereign nations to control and operate their own schools and teach their languages and culture—to be as accountable to their tribal nations as to states and the federal government." This is heartbreaking and disgusting. Why can't tribes teach students about their culture while still being American citizens? If America is a "melting pot", then students should be able to learn about their culture in full. After everything was taken from Native Americans, it is disgusting we cannot provide for them the bare minimum of quality education. It also does not go unnoticed by me that Teach for America is lacking in implications for teachers to help and ways we can support students of Native American heritage's background.

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Why are Native Students Being Left Behind? | Teach For America

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The federal government is poised to grant more control of Native schools to their tribal nations. Could it work?

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Junior from The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian and Charlie from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory double one another in a variety of ways. Most obviously, both are from low socioeconomic backgrounds. The two young boys are also of similar ages and rely on their families, specifically their Grandparents for comfort and words of advice. The major difference between the two tales is that Charlie's is fantastical while Junior's is painstakingly realistic. The ends of both books are completely distinct as Charlie ends up in flourishing, becoming the new owner of the Chocolate factory whereas Junior's story ends on an average day with his reconciliation with Rowdy. Charlie and Junior are both depicted as heroic for their struggles, however, Junior is the one to persevere and work hard to make it out of the reservation. Charlie is simply polite and has a world of opportunities granted to him, meanwhile, Junior has to literally fight for his life to receive a quality education and opportunities. It is no coincidence that the white character is the one to end up successful without having to try to do so. Junior works a thousand times harder than Charlie and will most likely have to keep doing so for the rest of his life. Even though Charlie's story was fantastical it mirrors real life in that white men never have to work as hard as any marginalized person to receive the best opportunities.

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An interesting parallel I noticed was between Augustus and Ellie. As earlier discussed, Augustus was made fun of for his weight, much like Ellie. It didn't appear Augustus let this discussion bother him, this could be cultural because his weight symbolized wealth. Or, it could have been gendered. While both characters are characterized by their weight at the hands of other characters, Augustus does not appear to be as mindful of this. This is likely because boys are not reduced to their appearance but girls are. Young girls are made to be extremely mindful of what they weigh. Scales and the media are pushed in their face as society stresses the way girls should look. Whereas boys do not face the same societal stress. There is no ideal model for boys but rather a range. Being heavy as a boy relates to being strong and masculine, yet when girls are heavy they are seen as unfeminine. Thus, even when faced with the same "issue" the situation is more difficult for the girl because of the societal stressors in place.

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Reading this book made me curious about starfish and what they stand for. Don'tmondaymysunday.com reported that the "Starfish Symbolism: The star as well as the starfish are seen as celestial symbols. They represent infinite divine love. In addition to love, the starfish also holds characteristics such as guidance, vigilance, inspiration, brilliance, and intuition". This is the most beautiful description of Ellie and her resilience. Ellie is full of love and perseverance. She is so smart, kind, and compassionate. She embodies the starfish in that she withholds many more traits than can reach the eye. Traits that relay her excellence and the beauty that she exudes both internally and externally.

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Continuing our love of sea creatures is the Starfish. The meaning behind the starfish is one that relates to so many of as we travel our path in life.
Feeling the Flow - Loving the Vibe
Starfish Symbolism:

The star as well as the starfish are seen as celestial symbols. They represent infinite divine love. In addition to love, the starfish also holds characteristics such as guidance, vigilance, inspiration, brilliance and intuition.

The starfish spirit animal teaches you to cure yourself over time, fill up the void, and replace it with something better. It symbolizes regeneration, renewal, and self-sustainability.

When you call on your starfish spirit animal and totem you move through life doing most things in your own unique way. You trust your instincts and have the innate ability to discern new possibilities and opportunities. You have the ability to follow your inner voice and heart to achieve your goals and desires. You have a tendency to see things either as black or white, up or down, right or wrong and occasionally will judge others with this criteria rather than recognizing that all things are usually balanced somewhere in the middle.

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Starfish symbolism, totem, and spirit animal meaning - Endless Weekend

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The starfish relates to so many of us as we travel our path in life. Feeling the Flow Loving the Vibe Starfish Symbolism: The star and the starfish are seen as celestial symbols. They represent infinite divine love. The starfish holds characteristics such as guidance, vigilance, inspiration, brilliance and intuition.

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Something I found very interesting about Starfish is the fact that the book has a nuclear family, something we really only saw in Simon. However, the nuclear family model is so different than what readers are used too. In Starfish, the ideal family dynamic is disastrous. The Mother and the brother are bullies and the father and sister are at best, bystanders. They are mainly silent allies that add to Ellie's pain. While someone like Hollis may see Ellie's family and want to be a part of it, the external image is so different from the internal reality. Much like Ellie. And Simon. And Junior. And many other characters we have studied. Starfish was the perfect ending novel as it relayed a message we have been dancing around all semester. Sometimes things and people are not what they seem. Think Wonka's con artist image or Alice's journey down the rabbit hole. In children's literature there should always be preparation to expect the unexpected and to remember nothing and nobody is always how they appear to be.