The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things

Carolyn Mackler. 2003. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press. 256 pages. ISBN 0-7636-1958-2

Plot Annotation: Virginia is a plus size heroine; the “imperfect” member of the “perfect” family. Her problems with self-esteem are related to her struggles with her weight. In coming to grips with the imperfections within her own family, (who aren’t perfect after all) she slowly comes to accept and love who she is in her own right.

Critical evaluation: This is a good story of being overweight in a society that values thin people most. Virginia’s family is the epitome of society in this respect—Mom has conquered her formerly overweight body and everyone else is naturally thin. Virginia’s weight makes her the outsider in her own family, as well as in school and in society in general. As the story progresses the reader gets to watch Virginia slowly becoming empowered and developing self-esteem. Some aspects are a little too pat and happen a little too easily, but overall Virginia is a likeable and believable heroine.

Reader’s Annotation: As Virginia comes to realize her perfect family members are not so perfect after all, she also realizes that she is not as “imperfect” as she had thought.

About the author: Carolyn Mackler is the author of five books for young adults. She has also written a number of articles for magazines. She grew up in western New York where she began writing at an early age, starting a newspaper when she was four. She felt she was a misfit in junior high and looked to reading to make her feel less alone. She graduated from Vassar University where she majored in art history. She struggled through several jobs before she landed an internship with Ms. Magazine. She began writing articles for Ms. and other magazines, but realized what she really wanted to do was to write a young adult novel. In 1999 she sold her first book, Love and other four letter words. Her latest young adult novel is entitled Tangled. You can visit her website at http://carolynmackler.com/Carolyn-Mackler-Home-Page.asp


Genre: Realistic fiction

Curriculum ties: Some discussion of eating disorders and body image that could be relevant.

Booktalking ideas: What’s it like to be the “fat one” in a family of perfect people?

Reading Level/Interest Age: Grades 7 – 10.

Challenge issues: There is talk about sex; Virginia allows a boy to “grope” her thinking it’s the only way she’ll get any male attention, and there is some discussion of date rape.

Why chosen: I think this book does a good job talking about weight and body-image issues. It is also a Printz honor book.