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A review by rachcannoli
The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler
4.0
This book really grew on me. At first it's a bit whiny and her family are truly unconscionable, but then again the main character is supposed to be 15 so I suppose that makes sense. My rating would really be more of a 3.5, but I relate so hard to Virginia that the book hit me hard in a lot of places it won't with everyone. I can unfortunately say, with experience, that this book is pretty accurate to what it's like being overweight, especially when young and no one else really looks the way you do. The important people, like Shannon, won't even blink twice. They see you for who you are and while they're not blind to your size, they don't care because it's not important, just another fact about one of their fav people. Boys don't really care, they either like you or they don't, as shown in this and I absolutely adore Froggy and am so happy Virginia has some positive energy in her life.
My problem with this book is it tries to do WAY too much without really giving it time. I think it handles the big issues with the main character really well: parents not understanding and being overbearing about her weight when they mean well but just come off as assholes, having to deal with changes like friends not being there or siblings moving on so you lose that support system, and figuring out who you are as a person not just who others perceive you. But the big issue they don't really tackle well is her brother and what he did. I like his actions affecting Virginia and the concept of someone you think so highly of not being who you thought, but we never really see any moments of Byron being a good brother (at least in Virginia's eyes) to her or even doing anything great. He's kind of the worst from the beginning so it's not surprising to me when the scandal erupts. I also feel like they don't give him enough consequences and don't really cover it well. I know the story is about Virginia so it mainly matters how it affects her, but I still think they could have fleshed it out a lot more.
I also wish there was a bit more of Virginia finding herself and more happy moments at the end. It does leave off in a really positive light and I have hope for a bright future for Virginia, especially college where she's bound to find her niche even more and truly blossom. But so much is dedicated to Virginia feeling less than, I would have loved a bit more scenes of how she's going to be all right and has found herself while realizing not to care so much about what other people, especially her parents, think of her.
Overall, I enjoyed the book a lot more than I thought I would. It was a bit paint by numbers fat girl YA novel, but had some interesting bits and too real moments that kept me engaged. I recommend to anyone, but specifically for any girl who's struggling at a younger age about their size or how they look, it's important to know you're not alone and that things will get better, just have to learn a bit of self love, the hardest but most rewarding thing of all.
My problem with this book is it tries to do WAY too much without really giving it time. I think it handles the big issues with the main character really well: parents not understanding and being overbearing about her weight when they mean well but just come off as assholes, having to deal with changes like friends not being there or siblings moving on so you lose that support system, and figuring out who you are as a person not just who others perceive you. But the big issue they don't really tackle well is her brother and what he did. I like his actions affecting Virginia and the concept of someone you think so highly of not being who you thought, but we never really see any moments of Byron being a good brother (at least in Virginia's eyes) to her or even doing anything great. He's kind of the worst from the beginning so it's not surprising to me when the scandal erupts. I also feel like they don't give him enough consequences and don't really cover it well. I know the story is about Virginia so it mainly matters how it affects her, but I still think they could have fleshed it out a lot more.
I also wish there was a bit more of Virginia finding herself and more happy moments at the end. It does leave off in a really positive light and I have hope for a bright future for Virginia, especially college where she's bound to find her niche even more and truly blossom. But so much is dedicated to Virginia feeling less than, I would have loved a bit more scenes of how she's going to be all right and has found herself while realizing not to care so much about what other people, especially her parents, think of her.
Overall, I enjoyed the book a lot more than I thought I would. It was a bit paint by numbers fat girl YA novel, but had some interesting bits and too real moments that kept me engaged. I recommend to anyone, but specifically for any girl who's struggling at a younger age about their size or how they look, it's important to know you're not alone and that things will get better, just have to learn a bit of self love, the hardest but most rewarding thing of all.