Module 15 My Earth, My But, and other Big Round Things

Summary: Virginia is the youngest sibling of three in a very smart, attractive, perfect family.  She feels like because of her size, she doesn't fit in and sometimes wonders if she was switched at birth.  She even resorts to hurting herself because of the anger she has towards herself and develops a life guide that she titles "The Fat Girls Code of Conduct."

Mackler, C. (2003). The earth, my butt, and other big round things. Cambridge: Candlewick Press.

My Impressions: When I first started reading this book, I honestly thought it was very stereotypical of how the "chubby" girl is so unhappy with herself and she has to transform herself in order to be happy.  After I finished the book and gave it more thought, I realized that the reason it felt so stereotypical is because some of today's teenage girls are having to deal with these issues of self esteem and self image, thus making this book very relatable to teens. I liked that the author let Virginia's character transform her attitude instead of her weight and finally find some happiness.

Professional Review:

"You can tell that Ani is angry, but at the same time she's also funny and strong and sassy." Though she's talking about punk folksinger Ani DiFranco, fifteen-year-old Virginia could easily be describing herself. Unfortunately, Virginia buries her anger (toward her picture-perfect but dysfunctional family) and is unable to see herself as anything but a fat girl who's kind of smart. When her brother Byron, whom she worships, is found guilty of date rape, Virginia finally begins to acknowledge what her older sister Anais has tried to tell her: that Byron and their parents are far from perfect. Virginia's transition from an insecure girl desperate for her family's approval to a confident young woman might be a little messagey, but it's believable, and she doesn't do it on her own. Support comes from her best friend, from a teacher with eating-disorder experience, from a doctor who stresses health not weight and recommends channeling anger through kick-boxing, and even from the college student her brother assaulted. Readers will cheer Virginia on when she tells her father not to comment on her weight loss ("my body [is] just not yours to discuss"); tells her brother he's "an asshole for date-raping someone"; ignores clothing advice from her appearance-obsessed mother (who recommends "strategic layers and camouflaging colors") and buys a sexy purple dress instead; and realizes that the guy she's been making out with behind closed doors actually wants to kiss her in public. Mackler does a fine job introducing girls to a very cool chick with a little meat on her bones.

[Review of The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things]. (2003, September/October).
Horn Book. Retrieved from http://www.hbook.com/magazine/reviews/single/sep03

Library Use: This book could be used as a book talk for teenage girls dealing with
today's pressures and issues to try to fit the mold that society has set for them.