A review by kandicez
The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler
3.0
3 1/2 stars, but since that's not an option, I'll go with three.
I have a 15 year old daughter, so try to read anything she is currently reading and also anything that might appeal to her. I liked this one. It wasn't preachy, and although it was clearly YA, it was also pretty realistic.
Virginia is an overweight child in an otherwise "perfect" family. Her family is not openly abusive about her weight but it's definitely the elephant in the room. Because Gin has dealt with feeling a little "less than" her whole life, her self-esteem is very low and when her perfect, older brother gets into some trouble she really begins to feel it. Despite his disappointing behavior Gin's family still treat him like the Golden Boy they always have. So unfair.
I liked the voice used to tell the story, and as I said, it rang fairly true to me. What I found most disturbing was the fact that Gin's mother is an adolescent psychologist but doesn't see the signs of apathy and depression in her daughter. I guess that's probably realistic as well, but certainly sad.
I cringed a bit at Gin's small acts of defiance, such as an eyebrow piercing and dying her hair "Pimpin' Purple", but these are small things in the scheme of life and listening to Gin tell the tale made me realize how much little things like that can mean to a teenager. Doesn't mean I won't freak out if my daughter pierces her face, but I may freak out a little less.
I have a 15 year old daughter, so try to read anything she is currently reading and also anything that might appeal to her. I liked this one. It wasn't preachy, and although it was clearly YA, it was also pretty realistic.
Virginia is an overweight child in an otherwise "perfect" family. Her family is not openly abusive about her weight but it's definitely the elephant in the room. Because Gin has dealt with feeling a little "less than" her whole life, her self-esteem is very low and when her perfect, older brother gets into some trouble she really begins to feel it. Despite his disappointing behavior Gin's family still treat him like the Golden Boy they always have. So unfair.
I liked the voice used to tell the story, and as I said, it rang fairly true to me. What I found most disturbing was the fact that Gin's mother is an adolescent psychologist but doesn't see the signs of apathy and depression in her daughter. I guess that's probably realistic as well, but certainly sad.
I cringed a bit at Gin's small acts of defiance, such as an eyebrow piercing and dying her hair "Pimpin' Purple", but these are small things in the scheme of life and listening to Gin tell the tale made me realize how much little things like that can mean to a teenager. Doesn't mean I won't freak out if my daughter pierces her face, but I may freak out a little less.