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Book Summary: Fifteen-year-old Virginia Shreves is an average teenager in an above average family. She lives in a Manhattan penthouse with her psychologist mother and software executive father. Her older siblings are both thin, athletic, and smart. Her sister has just graduated from college and left for the Peace Corps, while her brother is a sophomore at Columbia. Meanwhile, Virginia is smart, into creative writing, and overweight. She constantly feels as though she doesn't fit into the family mold. Sophomore year is tough so far, as Virginia's best friend has moved to Washington state, Virginia has begun crash-dieting, and she has a weekly fool-around session with Froggy Welsh the Fourth, a sort-of friend from school, whom Virginia is sure only wants to be with her in secret. The biggest blow of all comes when Byron (her brother) is suspended from Columbia for date rape. Virginia can't stop thinking about what he did to the girl and how she is coping, while her family just wants to sweep it all under the rug. Finally, after a visit to Washington, some help from a teacher and a doctor, and a few kickboxing classes, Virginia learns to communicate better with her father, stand up to her mother and brother, and that her opinion of herself is really the only one that counts. In the end, she makes new friends, goes public with Froggy, and starts a web zine at school.
APA Reference:
Mackler, C. (2003). The earth, my butt, and other big, round things. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press.
Impressions: I loved this book until I got near the end. I appreciated the realness of it, how it feels not to be what you think everyone wants you to be, finding yourself among the chaos and negativity, and the way the author didn't shy away from real life experiences, like teenagers fooling around, cursing, hurting themselves, etc. (even date rape), although these were not overdone and were important to the story not just included for shock value or to make the book seem edgy. The ending bothered me because it tied all the conflicts up too neatly, was way too optimistic and rosy, and was just too perfect too quickly. After a story that is dark, yet playful and hopeful at the same time, the after-school special ending was not what I wanted. I do think it was important for Virginia to come to grips with her body issues and find healthier ways to deal with her family, it was just too much. To me, it was like, "I'm 15 and I have all these problems, but I start standing up for myself, and then my life gets perfect." Standing up for oneself is a great lesson, but it doesn't mean everything is magically resolved and we can ride off into the sunset. Let's not kid ourselves or teenage girls. Also, the date rape thing was a little far-fetched. I realize this book was published in 2003, and date rape wasn't in the news as much then as it is now. But I'm still not sure Byron would have been allowed to return to Columbia after a few weeks, or that he wouldn't have been prosecuted by the law. That part of the story was a little glossed over for me. However, I did enjoy reading the book, and I think Virginia is a relatable, flawed role model in a story where the message is to love yourself, and everything will be okay.
Professional Review (from Horn Book Guide):
"When Virginia's brother, whom she worships, is found guilty of date rape, she finally begins to acknowledge her picture-perfect family's dysfunctions. An insecure girl desperate for the approval of her weight- and appearance-obsessed family, Virgina believably transforms into a confident young woman. Mackler does a fine job introducing girls to a very cool chick with a little meat on her bones."
"Mackler, Carolyn. The earth, my butt, and other big, round things [Review of the book, The earth, my butt, and other big, round things by C. Mackler". (2004). Horn Book Guide, 15(1), 112.
Library Uses: This is a great book for empowering girls. I would include it in a display or collection of books having to do with female empowerment, body image, overcoming eating disorders, or self confidence. Perhaps a collection of these types of books could be featured during Body Awareness Month (February) or, unofficially, the library could choose a period of time to focus on self-esteem and empowerment, where this book could be featured along with others, and the librarian could plan activities and guest speakers all focused on self-empowerment. I think the book would also be a great pick for a teen book club because it would open up discussion on body image, insecurities in general, and difficult family issues. It could open up discussion on date rape, which has been in a lot of headlines in the past couple of years, but I would not use this book specifically for that purpose (I would choose another to target that topic) because I do not believe the consequences for the date rape in this story are realistic (from the outside world, not the rich family - plenty of rich families would probably do just what the Shreves did). However, maybe that's a topic for discussion too: what are and what should be the consequences for such a crime?