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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
This was a really quick and easy read. I appreciated the story line and how it addressed the issues, however I wish they had been addressed in a more serious matter. There were touches and mentions of eating disorders, self harm and a huge theme of sexual assault and they all seemed to be secondary to the overall story of the main character finding herself. Which, was huge, but left more to be desired. I would say anyone who reads this book should be prepared to manage on their own any feelings that come forward.
Yup, I finished this in a day.
It was such a pleasant mixture of easy reading and a decent plot line with well rounded characters that I couldn't put it down.
It also provided some pretty concrete life lessons that for any teenager going through some angst would be a god send.
It was such a pleasant mixture of easy reading and a decent plot line with well rounded characters that I couldn't put it down.
It also provided some pretty concrete life lessons that for any teenager going through some angst would be a god send.
Because I enjoyed Tangled so much, I decided to check out another of Mackler's books.
In this story, Virginia, the main character, struggles with a variety of issues facing teens today. From her body image, to grades, and even some guy trouble. Virginia copes with things in a manner of ways that are both healthy and unhealthy and I think this book is good at showing how we can get sucked into unhealthy behavior when we are dealing with things and how we should look for healthy alternatives. There were a couple of times when her unhealthy coping mechanisms were a little scary, so I was glad the author showed her learning that they were not ok and alternatives to get the same results.
I love how this book showed that even doctors don't focus on weight as a number, but rather the overall health of each person. Body image is a very serious issue for teens, especially female teens, and it's important that we teach them to be healthy, but also to love themselves and how no two people have the same body type.
The hardest hitting issue shown in this book deals with idolizing a sibling and then finding out that they are not as perfect as you always thought. I don't want to give away what the sibling did, but I think the way that the author handled the situation was both good and bad. I wish we had gotten more of a sense of closure, I guess. However, I did think that Virginia facing things head on as she did and not sugar coating things, was impressive.
I didn't realize when I started this book that it wasn't a stand alone. I am looking forward to finding and reading the sequel.
In this story, Virginia, the main character, struggles with a variety of issues facing teens today. From her body image, to grades, and even some guy trouble. Virginia copes with things in a manner of ways that are both healthy and unhealthy and I think this book is good at showing how we can get sucked into unhealthy behavior when we are dealing with things and how we should look for healthy alternatives. There were a couple of times when her unhealthy coping mechanisms were a little scary, so I was glad the author showed her learning that they were not ok and alternatives to get the same results.
I love how this book showed that even doctors don't focus on weight as a number, but rather the overall health of each person. Body image is a very serious issue for teens, especially female teens, and it's important that we teach them to be healthy, but also to love themselves and how no two people have the same body type.
The hardest hitting issue shown in this book deals with idolizing a sibling and then finding out that they are not as perfect as you always thought. I don't want to give away what the sibling did, but I think the way that the author handled the situation was both good and bad. I wish we had gotten more of a sense of closure, I guess. However, I did think that Virginia facing things head on as she did and not sugar coating things, was impressive.
I didn't realize when I started this book that it wasn't a stand alone. I am looking forward to finding and reading the sequel.
Love love love this. Wish I had read it when I was in middle/high school.
Summary
This is a YA contemporary about Virginia. Virginia is the chubby girl in her family. She is the youngest of her 2 siblings. Her mum is a therapist (?) and preaches communication with her clients but fails to implement this with her own family. Virgina's sister joined the peace corps to get away from the family and her brother is the golden child as he plays sports and has good looks. And Virginia is left to her own device. At the start of the book she is introverted, doesn't put herself out there and hides her body with baggy clothes but an event happens within her family which changes her perspective on life as she knows it.
Thoughts
This is difficult to review. The progression of the story is phenomenal. Our protagonist, Virginia has some of the most amazing character development I’ve ever read. However getting there was extremely hard for me to read personally.
If you have had issues with weight and if that is a topic that is triggering to you then I was would suggest not reading this book.
I think this book set out what it intended to do. It showed the journey of a girl who lacked confidence and self respect turn into a young women who is adventurous, full of spirit and someone who can finally stand up for herself.
But in saying all that this was really hard to read. Virginia’s parents reminded me of my own. When I was on the heavy side I was constantly told and berated by my family that I needed to lose weight. I never felt good enough. And when they told me those things it made me eat more. So this book was very triggering to me. I was so close to DNFing this but I told a friend about this book and she told me that it gets better. So I pushed through. While I’m happy with the ending. It doesn’t take away how angry this book made me feel and while it’s amazing that a book can make you feel those emotions I don’t want to feel that type of anger while reading.
Which makes this a difficult book to recommend. So if talk about weight is not something that triggers you then by all means I think you might enjoy this. But if you have had any history where you have felt pressure to change your body to make other people happy, I can’t say this will be an easy read. But well done to this author for writing on a difficult topic. And I do think it was done with a lot of integrity.
Representation
Plus Size, POC
Content Warning
Fat Shaming, Suicidal Thoughts, Eating Disorder, Rape, Self Harm, Underage Drinking
This is a YA contemporary about Virginia. Virginia is the chubby girl in her family. She is the youngest of her 2 siblings. Her mum is a therapist (?) and preaches communication with her clients but fails to implement this with her own family. Virgina's sister joined the peace corps to get away from the family and her brother is the golden child as he plays sports and has good looks. And Virginia is left to her own device. At the start of the book she is introverted, doesn't put herself out there and hides her body with baggy clothes but an event happens within her family which changes her perspective on life as she knows it.
Thoughts
This is difficult to review. The progression of the story is phenomenal. Our protagonist, Virginia has some of the most amazing character development I’ve ever read. However getting there was extremely hard for me to read personally.
If you have had issues with weight and if that is a topic that is triggering to you then I was would suggest not reading this book.
I think this book set out what it intended to do. It showed the journey of a girl who lacked confidence and self respect turn into a young women who is adventurous, full of spirit and someone who can finally stand up for herself.
But in saying all that this was really hard to read. Virginia’s parents reminded me of my own. When I was on the heavy side I was constantly told and berated by my family that I needed to lose weight. I never felt good enough. And when they told me those things it made me eat more. So this book was very triggering to me. I was so close to DNFing this but I told a friend about this book and she told me that it gets better. So I pushed through. While I’m happy with the ending. It doesn’t take away how angry this book made me feel and while it’s amazing that a book can make you feel those emotions I don’t want to feel that type of anger while reading.
Which makes this a difficult book to recommend. So if talk about weight is not something that triggers you then by all means I think you might enjoy this. But if you have had any history where you have felt pressure to change your body to make other people happy, I can’t say this will be an easy read. But well done to this author for writing on a difficult topic. And I do think it was done with a lot of integrity.
Representation
Plus Size, POC
Content Warning
Fat Shaming, Suicidal Thoughts, Eating Disorder, Rape, Self Harm, Underage Drinking
This book features a kick-ass heroine who finally figures out how to have confidence in her own body. This is unlike any other YA that I've read.
The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler is a frustrating but heartwarming story about a girl in high school that is struggling to get comfortable in her own skin while navigating the both the tricky world of high school and some very difficult family situations.
This was one of my favorite books in high school. In fact, when I finished reading this for the first time, I immediately put it in the hands of one of my classmates. I made such a fuss about this book, that it soon made the rounds through our high school. Granted, it was a small school, so making the rounds didn't take too long. I was just so excited to share it!
Finally, 10 years later... I've finally reread it and it was just as enjoyable the second time around!
The very first sentence of this book is: Froggy Welsh the Forth is trying to get up my shirt. What a funny line to begin with; I love it!
I adore this book. It's one that I wish was on required reading lists, but I know that would never happen. It just covers so many really important and difficult topics such as struggles with body image, self harm, fat shaming, eating disorders, date rape, tricky family dynamics, and others. All things that high schoolers should be talking about rather than brushing aside or trying to cover up.
Many of the characters in the book are so lovely and so realistic! I absolutely love Virginia and I really enjoyed watching her transform into her true (and happy!) self. Froggy was also lovely, especially on the last page! And the scene of him trying to act out crawling under a bed during French class will always make me chuckle.
The relationship between Virginia and Froggy was also very realistic. I remember really pulling for them when I first read this book, and it was the same the second time around.
Shannon, Virginia's best friend, and her parents were a refreshingly fun family to read about, especially compared to what Virginia was dealing with back home. The chapters in Seattle are some of my favorites in the book!
Another couple of characters that need shout-outs is Dr. Love and Mrs Crowley.
I really liked that Dr. Love really drove home the health aspect of things, and how the way a body looks isn't everything. I was so sad when Virginia let her mother into the room after her exam, so I was very glad that she had another scene with the doctor alone later on.
Mrs Crowley was so good for Virginia and helped steer her in the right direction with her body image. I remember really appreciating her gentle methods when I first read this. She wasn't too pushy with trying to get Virginia comfortable with her body image, she let her get there on her own by simply sharing things about her own life. I wish Virginia had been more patient with Mrs Crowley, because I feel like there could have been more to learn from that relationship.
Was some of this book a bit harsh? Absolutely.
The way that "being fat" is brought up time and time again was more difficult for me to read this time around. However, I also remember so clearly the first time I read this, that rather than focusing in on the language, I focused in on the main point; how hard we all are on ourselves when it comes to body image.
We're absolutely rotten! Far too often we think of ourselves as too this, or too that. We obsess over losing weight, toning up, gaining weight, and so on, and so on. We're so obsessed with the way we look, that we let it affect other aspects of our lives...
My favorite passages:
It’s not like Froggy Welsh the Fourth is a huge catch. First of all, there’s his name. Not a nickname for Frank or Frederick or even Frog. I’m still shocked that his great-great-grandparents named a son Froggy. But what astounds me to no end is that three subsequent generations decided to follow suit.
It’s probably time to write a list. That’s what I do whenever I’m overwhelmed and confused. It’s not like I figure out any huge answers, but I always feel better after my thoughts are in writing.
I can spend an entire evening memorizing irregular verbs, but when I wake up the next morning, it’s like they’ve leaked out of my brain and onto my pillow.
If some people’s faces are open books, Mom’s is one of those leather-bound diaries with a lock in the front and a long-lost key.
She has the whitest teeth I have ever seen in my entire life, like a row of peppermint Chiclets.
My final thoughts:
An all around great read! I would highly recommend this one, especially to high schoolers. But of course I would also caution readers about the difficult topics it covers.
This was one of my favorite books in high school. In fact, when I finished reading this for the first time, I immediately put it in the hands of one of my classmates. I made such a fuss about this book, that it soon made the rounds through our high school. Granted, it was a small school, so making the rounds didn't take too long. I was just so excited to share it!
Finally, 10 years later... I've finally reread it and it was just as enjoyable the second time around!
The very first sentence of this book is: Froggy Welsh the Forth is trying to get up my shirt. What a funny line to begin with; I love it!
I adore this book. It's one that I wish was on required reading lists, but I know that would never happen. It just covers so many really important and difficult topics such as struggles with body image, self harm, fat shaming, eating disorders, date rape, tricky family dynamics, and others. All things that high schoolers should be talking about rather than brushing aside or trying to cover up.
Many of the characters in the book are so lovely and so realistic! I absolutely love Virginia and I really enjoyed watching her transform into her true (and happy!) self. Froggy was also lovely, especially on the last page! And the scene of him trying to act out crawling under a bed during French class will always make me chuckle.
The relationship between Virginia and Froggy was also very realistic. I remember really pulling for them when I first read this book, and it was the same the second time around.
Shannon, Virginia's best friend, and her parents were a refreshingly fun family to read about, especially compared to what Virginia was dealing with back home. The chapters in Seattle are some of my favorites in the book!
Another couple of characters that need shout-outs is Dr. Love and Mrs Crowley.
I really liked that Dr. Love really drove home the health aspect of things, and how the way a body looks isn't everything. I was so sad when Virginia let her mother into the room after her exam, so I was very glad that she had another scene with the doctor alone later on.
Mrs Crowley was so good for Virginia and helped steer her in the right direction with her body image. I remember really appreciating her gentle methods when I first read this. She wasn't too pushy with trying to get Virginia comfortable with her body image, she let her get there on her own by simply sharing things about her own life. I wish Virginia had been more patient with Mrs Crowley, because I feel like there could have been more to learn from that relationship.
Was some of this book a bit harsh? Absolutely.
The way that "being fat" is brought up time and time again was more difficult for me to read this time around. However, I also remember so clearly the first time I read this, that rather than focusing in on the language, I focused in on the main point; how hard we all are on ourselves when it comes to body image.
We're absolutely rotten! Far too often we think of ourselves as too this, or too that. We obsess over losing weight, toning up, gaining weight, and so on, and so on. We're so obsessed with the way we look, that we let it affect other aspects of our lives...
My favorite passages:
It’s not like Froggy Welsh the Fourth is a huge catch. First of all, there’s his name. Not a nickname for Frank or Frederick or even Frog. I’m still shocked that his great-great-grandparents named a son Froggy. But what astounds me to no end is that three subsequent generations decided to follow suit.
It’s probably time to write a list. That’s what I do whenever I’m overwhelmed and confused. It’s not like I figure out any huge answers, but I always feel better after my thoughts are in writing.
I can spend an entire evening memorizing irregular verbs, but when I wake up the next morning, it’s like they’ve leaked out of my brain and onto my pillow.
If some people’s faces are open books, Mom’s is one of those leather-bound diaries with a lock in the front and a long-lost key.
She has the whitest teeth I have ever seen in my entire life, like a row of peppermint Chiclets.
My final thoughts:
An all around great read! I would highly recommend this one, especially to high schoolers. But of course I would also caution readers about the difficult topics it covers.
I googled a list of banned or challenged books for a reading challenge and found this at random, but I really, really liked it. I read some reviews that criticized it as formulaic, but I didn't find that at all. I like the way body-shaming is placed as something that is done by people who have their own issues, and the doctor character is fantastic - this is the kind of doctor I hope my daughter would have if she ever wanted to talk weight loss. It's very frank about adolescent sexuality and rape culture also. Really well done.
Another YA book with a silly, embarrassing title that 'hides' a wonderful story. It just feels so real and true-to-life--a life that's not very easy or happy. But it's done so well and though some of the secondary characters are AWFUL, it's still kind of heartwarming to root for Virginia as she discovers and embraces herself.
Full review at http://yannabe.com/2010/01/09/review-the-earth-my-butt/
Summary: 15-year-old Virginia is fat. Her mother judges her, her father judges her, and everyone at her Manhattan private school judges her. Except for a boy named Froggy.
Review: Virginia is a girl whose spunk inspires you to root for her. The story interested me enough to keep reading, but in the end I didn’t love the book.
This is another case where a character’s young voice wasn’t my thing. I’m considering going back to plot all my book ratings against the main character’s age to see if I find a trend. Any excuse for another spreadsheet!
I also want to try another book by this author—one with an older protagonist—and see if I connect with it better. Any suggestions?
Summary: 15-year-old Virginia is fat. Her mother judges her, her father judges her, and everyone at her Manhattan private school judges her. Except for a boy named Froggy.
Review: Virginia is a girl whose spunk inspires you to root for her. The story interested me enough to keep reading, but in the end I didn’t love the book.
This is another case where a character’s young voice wasn’t my thing. I’m considering going back to plot all my book ratings against the main character’s age to see if I find a trend. Any excuse for another spreadsheet!
I also want to try another book by this author—one with an older protagonist—and see if I connect with it better. Any suggestions?