A review by pagesofpins
The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler

3.0

3.5 stars. What this YA novel does extremely well is voice. Virginia is a believable character as a teen girl who cracks up a little too easily, is curious about guys, and would really like herself if she wasn't constantly hearing from other girls, family members and cruel jokes on TV that she's fat and doesn't deserve to take up space in the universe. When the older brother she worships is convicted of date rape, she starts to rethink how people in her life talk about women, and how her family doesn't talk about anything full stop. There are some positive adults here (her favorite teacher, her feminist sister and her health-not-weight doctor) and some that never change (her appearances obsessed mother and misogynist brother), but I was surprised by how her relationship with her dad evolved. I also appreciated that her physical transformation was changing her clothes and hair to what she likes rather than losing a bunch of weight (she does shed her stress pounds, but stays in plus size territory).

The 2003 book has been revamped for 2017 (you can change up to 30% of a book and still keep the Printz) and on one level it works, but on another Virginia seems like a pre-#metoo teen who suddenly has Netflix.

Older teen book--some casual fooling around, rape references and language.