Module 15 - The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things

Summary:

This is the story of an overweight and self conscious teenager.  The main character Virginia, Ginny for short, feels that the people in her life do not understand her.  She especially feels like her parents are unsupportive of the issues that she is dealing with.  She is locked in a world of being told she is not thin enough or she doesn’t dress the way that she is supposed to.  Her mom is actually a psychologist and is constantly comparing Ginny to other girls and body types.  This is particularly hurtful to her.  The most painful thing that Ginny deals with is growing up with what she calls perfect siblings.  Her older sister is working with the peace corps and then going to attend medical school.  And then her brother Byron is idolized by so many that no one could ever think ill of him.  However, Ginny begins to see her friends and family in a much different light after she learns things about her brother and a possible date rape incident.  She begins to realize that she is her own person and that there is so much more than just being known as the fat girl.  She does become a bit wild and leaves town to go see her friend that moved away and changes her physical appearance dramatically.  The important thing is that Ginny grows up and finds out that you don’t have to be perfect to be happy and that it is okay to change yourself if it is for the right reasons.


APA Reference: 


Mackler, C. (2003). The earth, my butt, and other big round things. Cambridge, MA:  Candlewick Press.

My Impressions:

I couldn’t have thought of a better title to go with this book.  I thought that this book had a very interesting and happy twist to a sad story.  I know that many people can identify with Ginny.  So many young girls feel terribly insecure about their looks.  There are no shortage of advertisements and people to remind you that you aren’t skinny, aren’t flawless and aren’t beautiful.  I know that I could have identified with Ginny immediately.  I appreciate how Ginny eventually uses these negative things to lift her up instead of knock her down.  It was much easier when she began to see those around her for what they truly were.  It is important to remember that no one is perfect and you should never feel less than anyone.    

Professional Reviews:

Horn Book Magazine Review

(Middle School, High School)

"You can tell that Ani is angry, but at the same time she's also funny and strong and sassy." Though she's talking about punk folksinger Ani DiFranco, fifteen-year-old Virginia could easily be describing herself. Unfortunately, Virginia buries her anger (toward her picture-perfect but dysfunctional family) and is unable to see herself as anything but a fat girl who's kind of smart.  When her brother Byron, whom she worships, is found guilty of date rape, Virginia finally begins to acknowledge what her older sister Anais has tried to tell her:  that Byron and their parents are far from perfect. Virginia's transition from an insecure girl desperate for her family's approval to a confident young woman might be a little messagey, but it's believable, and she doesn't do it on her own. Support comes from her best friend, from a teacher with eating-disorder experience, from a doctor who stresses health not weight and recommends channeling anger through kick-boxing, and even from the college student her brother assaulted. Readers will cheer Virginia on when she tells her father not to comment on her weight loss ("my body [is] just not yours to discuss"); tells her brother he's "an asshole for date-raping someone"' ignores clothing advice from her appearance-obsessed mother (who recommends "strategic layers and camouflaging colors") and buys a sexy purple dress instead; and realizes that the guy she's been making out with behind closed doors actually wants to kiss her in public. Mackler does a fine job introducing girls to a very coll chick with a little meat on her bones.

Brabander, J. M. (2003). The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things. Horn Book Magazine, 79(5), 614-615.

Library Uses:

        a.  This might be an interesting book to use for a health lesson.  Not only physical health but emotional health as well. 

          b.  It would also be a good idea to incorporate social issues such as stereotyping and bias advertising using this story.