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12th out of 1,753 books
—
1,538 voters
The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things
Fifteen-year-old Virginia Shreves has a larger-than-average body and a plus-size inferiority complex, especially when she compares herself to her slim, brilliant, picture-perfect family. But that’s before a shocking phone call — and a horrifying allegation — about her rugby-star brother changes everything. With irreverent humor and surprising gravity, Carolyn Mackler creat...more
Paperback, 244 pages
Published
June 14th 2005
by Candlewick Press
(first published July 14th 2003)
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I am not sure how I feel about this one. I even slept on it before reviewing it. On one hand, it is a good teen book (Why, it's a Printz Honor!). On the other, why does every fat girl protagonist have to be so darn pathetic? There must be some sort of checklist authors use for an overweight novel:
* Fat Girl's best friend has moved away over the summer leaving Fat Girl all alone (subsequently Fat Girl spends lunch eating Twinkies in some remote part of the school)
* Fat Girl has a super skinny mom...more
* Fat Girl's best friend has moved away over the summer leaving Fat Girl all alone (subsequently Fat Girl spends lunch eating Twinkies in some remote part of the school)
* Fat Girl has a super skinny mom...more
Realistic characters. Well written. Virginia could be someone you actually know. Virginia could even be you. Anyone who's ever been given a variation of the criticism, "You could be pretty if..." and anyone who was "chubby" in high school and looked down on for it will be able to greatly empathize with Virginia.
One thing that struck a note of reality with me was Virginia's mother. I used to teach and had a student who transferred to my school a couple of months into the school year. She was in...more
One thing that struck a note of reality with me was Virginia's mother. I used to teach and had a student who transferred to my school a couple of months into the school year. She was in...more
Sep 03, 2011
Tatiana
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Tatiana by:
banned books list
An "issue" book which is too simplistic and life lessons-ridden to be enjoyed at my advanced age. I want something that can surprise me. And Printz Honor? And on the top of the banned books list? WHY? Is this about those second base scenes? Or there is more to come?
9 likes · like · see review
Virginia is a big girl, both in size and personality. As the youngest sibling of three in an accomplished, attractive and brunette family, Virginia feels out of place with her blonde hair, voluptuous figure, and unconventional likes. Convinced she must have been switched at birth, Gin has difficulty relating to anyone in her family, though she is fairly close to her older sister and idolizes her older brother, Byron. Nevertheless, Gin feels inferior to her perceived perfect family. Her mother’s...more
6 likes · like · see review
I LOVED this book in high school. I remember reading it repetitively because I just adored the main character, Virginia Shreves. I remember relating to her so, so well and supporting her over and over, always urging her on. I was her biggest fan. More often than not, I found myself wishing for what she wished for, dreaming of what she dreamt, and hoping and believing in her, because if everything could turn out okay for Virginia, it could turn out for me, too.
Mostly, I remember thinking that we...more
Mostly, I remember thinking that we...more
11 likes · like · see review
The thing I hate about most realistic teen fiction, especially those attempting to tackle "issues," like self-esteem and body image, and so forth, is that the characters always experience some profound transformation within in the span of a few months, and everything gets wrapped up and tied with a nice little bow by the end of the book. This book was no exception to the rule.
Our heroine, Virginia, is a misfit teen who hides from the world by immersing herself in the Internet, movies & pop...more
Our heroine, Virginia, is a misfit teen who hides from the world by immersing herself in the Internet, movies & pop...more
Apr 11, 2009
Wendy
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommended to Wendy by:
Melody
Shelves:
printz-winners-and-honors
Mixed feelings for several different reasons, but overall I liked this very much and read it in one sitting. Just to touch on one: if the narrator really ate as much as the book claims, and exercised that little, she'd be a lot larger than the book says she is. It annoyed me that the doctor specifically mentioned her not being "obese"--I can see how being somewhat overweight would make her feel like she stood out in her thin family, but it wouldn't be enough for other people to notice her as bei...more
2 likes · like · see review
This book starts with a girl named Virginia Shreves. She lives just like all the girls do but what's impact her is her weight. She isn't much aliker her family members who seem always skinny and proud. Her mom persuades her to loose weight and talk to docter about her weight but she never convinced. In additon, she has her beloved one, Froggy and obey "Girl Code of Conduct." in order to stay relationship with Froggy unceasingly. Life gets difficult for Virginia when she got a phone call from he...more
Nov 30, 2010
Valerie
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommended to Valerie by:
loved the title
Shelves:
cypresslibrary,
borrowed-from-me
I read this because of the title. It turned out to be good teen fiction, so I kept it for the schools only library, which is the back of my classroom.
3 likes · like · see review
While this book had a positive message, it was kind of hard to find underneath all the sleaziness and profanity. I just don't see why people can't write uplifting, inspirational books without tossing in so much filth. And what's more is that we applaud these books and give them awards. This book is a Printz Honor and I thought that it had the potential to be good, but it chose not to. There were several questionable scenes and content that make it something I wouldn't recommend.
I was disappoint...more
I was disappoint...more
6 likes · like · see review
First of all, I love the title. It is actually the title of something in the book - you'll have to read it to see. I was excited to read this for two reasons (beyond the title): One is that it has been popular with our high schoolers. Yes, a book that many have actually checked out and read on their own. The only other big one I can think of like that was the Divinci Code a few years ago. Second, I got to meet Carolyn Mackler at the ALA conference in Reno. I didn't know what she looked like, an...more
3 likes · like · see review
The Earth, My Butt, and other Big Round things. By Carolyn Mackler. This book has 256 books and was published June 14, 2005. This book by far has been my favorite book I ever read. Its realistic and Carolyn Mackler is good at explaining all her emotions throughout the book, so you can imagine it yourself. I gave this book a 5 star because it was outstanding ! Keep up the good work, next I want to read "You are so not invited to my Bahmitzvah."
Vigrina is a girl who is unsuecure about her wieght. She also feels like she is does not belong to the family. Her sister and her mom had a perfect body. Every girls thinks her brother is a hotie. Virgina was thinking aren't im suppose to be like them? Viginia feels pressured by her her family, but mostly her mom to make her lose weight. Since Vigina is unsuecure about her weight she doesn't date boys in fact she has a set of rules that fat girls shouldn't do. Virgina has always thought of her b...more
Virginia Shreves is certain that she was accidentally switched at birth. That’s the only way she can account for the differences between her and her parents and two older siblings. She’s sure that somewhere in the Tri-State area there’s an obese, blond-haired, pop-culture-loving family wondering why they have a slim, brown-haired, and culturally enlightened daughter. Because that’s what Virginia knows she is. Fat.
Being fat is a huge handicap for Virginia. She can’t make her weekly make-out tryst...more
Being fat is a huge handicap for Virginia. She can’t make her weekly make-out tryst...more
Virginia is convinced she’s been switched —the rest of her family is thin, beautiful and good at anything they do. She also is struggling with her best friend being gone (only for a year, but still), a boy who seems to like her (and she’s not sure why) and a family that doesn’t have time for her anymore (especially her brother). Her world crashes when her brother commits date rape, and Ginny realizes how much she had put him on a pedestal. Suddenly Virginia sees everyone in a new light: she real...more
Loved it. I once went on a trip with nothing but this book and I never got tired of it. I feel like it really touches on the teen issues--I've never had any weight issues, but I could fully sympathize with Virginia. Her mother is an exercise freak trying to distance herself from the days of her fat teenagerhood, her father whistles whenever he sees a skinny woman, her sister is effortlessly gorgeous, and her brother is a "built-like-a-Greek-God rugby star." Sometimes you can tell she feels like...more
I read this book when I was 15 and it changed my life. I don't think many people can say that about a lot of books but for me this was one of the books that made me who I am today.
At the time I was overweight and I had always been thin (not skinny) until I started high school so my mother, who was and still is beautiful and has a perfect body in my opinion, freaked out and started making me go on diets and my father was sometimes very mean even now, 8 years later, I can't believe some of the thi...more
At the time I was overweight and I had always been thin (not skinny) until I started high school so my mother, who was and still is beautiful and has a perfect body in my opinion, freaked out and started making me go on diets and my father was sometimes very mean even now, 8 years later, I can't believe some of the thi...more
Feb 09, 2013
Jenni French
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Shelves:
age-5-grades-9-12,
genre-contemporary-fiction
I started out not liking this book. Virginia is bossed around by her "perfect" family; she has no friends; she eats to comfort herself. Her mother is an adolescent psychologist and should, therefore, be a great mom to a teenager, but she's way too concerned about the family's image to be a real parent. And Virginia has NO backbone. I only kept reading because 1) I was in the car, listening to the audio version on a longish commute to work, and 2) the narrator is excellent. I mean, really excelle...more
"The Earth, My Butt and other big round things," was a really interesting book about trying and not giving up. Virginia Shreves, a teenager with workaholic parents that aren't always at home, mist learn to live on her own. She was different than her family members. Her siblings were tall and skinny while Virginia was chubby. Life is hard for Virginia, as she gets made fun of due to her weight and popularity in school. Virginia's brother was a popular, handsome boy that graduated high school a y...more
Virginia Shreves’s world is one of appearances. Her mother is an esteemed adolescent psychologist who doesn’t know how to talk to her own children. Her debate-champion, rugby-hero brother is suspended from college and her parents turn a blind eye. Virginia tries to get their attention with her academic accomplishments, but the only thing they seem to notice is her weight. School is an equal nightmare. There is a boy; but who would want to be seen with a fat girl? Her best friend has moved across...more
Virginia is an overweight tenth grade high school student. Like all teenage girls she wishes she was thinner and she wishes she could have a boyfriend who loves and accepts her. And it’s not always easy for her to have parents and siblings who are overachievers. Virginia gets teased a lot and sometimes they make her feel like she doesn’t fit in with the rest of the family. Because of this, she overeats constantly. Food is the ultimate comfort…whenever she is lonely or depressed, food cheers her...more
The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things is a great story, that in some way or another any teenage girl can relate to. Virginia Shreves is a fifth-teen year old girl that like many has an adventure with Froggy Welsh the Fourth. Her best friend moves to Seattle for the entire sophomore year. Froggy was a very handsome guy, popular, sort of a class clown. Every Monday Froggy would go to Virginia's before his trombone class. They weren't in a relationship, they just goofed around. The Shreves...more
I recommend this book to anyone.
This book is about a girl called Virgina Shreves who is "fat" (society's terms of fat), and wants to lose weight. She is trying very hard to please her parents and hasn't got a voice. She describes herself as one of the less popular girls in the school.
In the toilets she hears the schools most popular girl, Brie (yes like the cheese), say that she would rather die than be as "fat" as Virgina.
To make matters worst her brother is found guilty of date rape, and her...more
This book is about a girl called Virgina Shreves who is "fat" (society's terms of fat), and wants to lose weight. She is trying very hard to please her parents and hasn't got a voice. She describes herself as one of the less popular girls in the school.
In the toilets she hears the schools most popular girl, Brie (yes like the cheese), say that she would rather die than be as "fat" as Virgina.
To make matters worst her brother is found guilty of date rape, and her...more
Dec 26, 2012
Katie G
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
2012-book-list,
favorites
I read this book in about five hours. I was hooked from the beginning and couldn't put it down until I finished it. This is exactly the sort of book that I'm trying to write. I just hope that mine ends up half as awesome as this one. As a formerly fat teenager (and currently fat adult), I could definitely relate to Virginia. Yes, she complains a lot, but that's what you do when you're a teenager - especially a fat teenager with no friends and a guy you like but are afraid to be seen with in publ...more
I usually make lists when I do Goodreads reviews so Virginia Shreves and I would get along great.
1. I've been devouring realistic fiction lately and since I work with teens all of the time (teen coordinator at the public library and church youth leader,) I appreciated the discussions of body type, self hate, self mutilation, relationships, etc. I think every girl should read this book.
2. Speaking of every girl: I think every girl in the world has went through the "mom and dressing room self hat...more
1. I've been devouring realistic fiction lately and since I work with teens all of the time (teen coordinator at the public library and church youth leader,) I appreciated the discussions of body type, self hate, self mutilation, relationships, etc. I think every girl should read this book.
2. Speaking of every girl: I think every girl in the world has went through the "mom and dressing room self hat...more
What got me to pick up the book was the title. It's cute, it's fun, it packs punch. Then I read the blurb on the inside and thought it looked good enough to give a shot.
Overall, the book was good. I've read a hundred books more enjoyable to read, though. I like that the author tried to address a realistic issue with teens. I applaud her attempt. But I don't think she succeeded.
I didn't connect with the MC at all or to her struggle. She was unlikable throughout the book. She complained, she whin...more
Overall, the book was good. I've read a hundred books more enjoyable to read, though. I like that the author tried to address a realistic issue with teens. I applaud her attempt. But I don't think she succeeded.
I didn't connect with the MC at all or to her struggle. She was unlikable throughout the book. She complained, she whin...more
This book was a little jumpy. I wasn't ever really sure where it was headed and at some points in the story where I was probably supposed to have been thrown for a loop with twists and turns, I just ended up being confused for a little while. I couldn't really tell what the PURPOSE was; whether I was supposed to be focusing more on Virginia's personal issues with her body, or her problems with her family, or her issues with this boy at school. I guess in the end it was collectively her journey t...more
Carolyn Mackler’s Printz award-winning book is the story of Virginia Shreve, a New York city teenager who has a larger than average body and smaller than average self-esteem. Told through Virginia’s reliable first-person narrative and her emails with her best friend, Virginia’s emotional journey takes her from isolated good girl through family struggles to a place of acceptance and strong personal identity. Readers can’t help but root for Virginia, who struggles with parental and peer disapprova...more
This book exceeded my expectations by a small bit. I was hoping for a "life lessons" type of book to help remind myself of those simple truths it's so easy to forget, and this book did just that! I say that it exceeded them a bit because i was surprised at how happy i felt after reading it. I am a twenty-something with self esteem issues that will probably never go away. It was really nice to read about someone else struggling with life (especially being surrounded by so many perfect friends)! A...more
I though that The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things was a great book! I understood all of the key concepts and took out a lot from it. This is one of my favorite books ever! In the book, Virginia Shreves is an overweight, self-conscious sophomore at a private high school in Manhattan. She has a make out buddy, Froggy Welsh the Fourth, and she doesn't want him to see her fat. Early in the novel, she doesn't really know how she feels about Froggy, but later she starts to see herself in a...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading as a YA | 1 | 5 | Mar 02, 2013 07:50am | |
| ????? | 9 | 68 | Jul 10, 2012 09:07pm | |
| can anyone relate | 2 | 25 | Dec 02, 2011 12:58pm | |
| Wild Things: YA G...: The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things | 2 | 19 | Sep 08, 2010 06:13pm |
Carolyn graduated from Vassar College. When her book The Earth My Butt and Other Big Round Things was named as one of ALAs Top Ten Banned Books of 2006, Carolyn became an advocate against banning books. She lives with her husband and son in New York City.
More about Carolyn Mackler...
Share This Book
“Never underestimate yourself”
—
71 people liked it
“The Fat Girl Code of Conduct:
1. Any sexual activity is a secret. No public displays of affection.
2. Don’t discuss your weight with him.
3. Go further than skinny girls. If you can’t sell him on your body, you’d better overcompensate with sexual perks.
4. Never, ever, ever, ever, ever push the relationship thing. ”
—
39 people liked it
More quotes…
1. Any sexual activity is a secret. No public displays of affection.
2. Don’t discuss your weight with him.
3. Go further than skinny girls. If you can’t sell him on your body, you’d better overcompensate with sexual perks.
4. Never, ever, ever, ever, ever push the relationship thing. ”
Nov 20, 2012 03:41pm
Mar 02, 2013 07:17am