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jaz_gets_literary's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book was so close to my loved experience as a child. It pulls on my heart strings and I totally understood every single thing Malaya went through. I wanted to hug her, be there for her to talk to, be her real friend, be everything that she didn’t have and neither did I growing up. The author wrote the crap out of this book because she had me ready to stand up and fight every adult for Malaya lol. While most of the adults figured things out and changed, that one person had me hot until the end of the book. We need to square up lmao. But the fact that the fact reminds me of someone in my family just hurts more. I’m so glad Malaya figures things out when she does because it took me way longer to get to that place. Every lil big Black girl should read this book. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Possible spoilers pertaining to a couple of the content warnings < the child/ adult relationship is between the main female character when she is 16/17 and adult male. It’s not a relationship it’s one scene between the two of them.amiegold's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Big girl is a beautiful story about a young black girl growing up in Harlem in a body that is not universally accepted in the 90s. I think any girl who grew up in the 90s can relate to the hyper scrutiny on young girls bodies. But this book takes that experience and multiplies it by 10. As a morbidly obese young girl, everyone is constantly trying to shame her into being more healthy and losing weight.
As the story unfolds, Malaya begins to learn to love herself and find motivation outside of the shame that is constantly thrust upon her. I love seeing her come into her own and become such a strong, inspiring character. I also love the setting in Harlem and the way the author portrayed gentrification there. Beautiful and important story!
As the story unfolds, Malaya begins to learn to love herself and find motivation outside of the shame that is constantly thrust upon her. I love seeing her come into her own and become such a strong, inspiring character. I also love the setting in Harlem and the way the author portrayed gentrification there. Beautiful and important story!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Fatphobia, and Racism
skudiklier's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I kind of expected more from this to be honest, but it was still pretty good. I don't really have anything to say about it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Grief, Fatphobia, Body shaming, and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content, Child abuse, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Child death and Domestic abuse
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