Earth My Butt And Other Round Things

by Carolyn Mackler

Virginia Shreves has a "larger-than-average" body and a medium-sized inferiority complex. Her mum is an exercise fiend, her dad whistles at skinny women, and her siblings are gorgeous, clever, and impossible to live up to. They're all people Virginia thinks the world of. In fact, Virginia thinks the world of everyone but herself. Then, a phone call changes everything...

• ISBN10: 1844282937
• ISBN13: 9781844282937
• Publish Date: 3 July 2006 (first published 3 February 2003)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 11 March 2011
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Walker Books Ltd
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 304
• Language: English

Reviews

[Angie]

I am Virginia Shreves. She's smart, has braces, a secret hook-up buddy, and a body that's considered too large by society standards. The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things is her journey from hiding herself to becoming the young woman she wants to be whether that's fat or thin, as long as she's doing what she loves. Virginia's family is perfect, so she feels like she doesn't fit. It doesn't help that her mother is constantly making snide comments about her body and weight, and her father is always pointing out the skinny women on TV as attractive. It isn't really until her older brother makes a seemingly harmless comment about her clothes, that Virginia decides to take matters into her own hands. Then her perfect brother does something despicable, and Virginia begins to question everything.

The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things was adorable and real and sometimes sad, but overall very hopeful and honest. I could total relate to Virginia as she struggles with her weight and body image. Like her, I feel okay about my body and want to be accepted for how I am, but we're both constantly told our bodies are not acceptable because they're too big. Unlike Virginia, I never resulted to crash dieting and self harm. Both of these are brief periods in her life, but they're handled very respectfully. Virginia ultimately realizes that these things aren't helpful, sustainable, and leave her feeling empty. She needs new ways of coping with her situation and becoming a healthier (and maybe thinner) version of herself.

The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things is quite short, so if I say much more, you won't even need to read the book! But you totally should! I loved how the author handled the issues of body image and weight. She made it very clear through the use of a physician that health is more important than weight, but also didn't demonize dieting and exercise. I also like how she handled the crime that Virginia's brother committed. It would have been easy to make it completely blow up, but it doesn't always go that way in real life, so I liked that. Overall, I just really enjoyed this portrayal of a teen girl dealing with life's problems and figuring out who she wants to be.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.

[Jo]

Virginia Shreves has a "larger-than-average" body and a medium-sized inferiority complex. Her mum is an exercise fiend, her dad whistles at skinny women, and her siblings are gorgeous, clever, and impossible to live up to. They're all people Virginia thinks the world of. In fact, Virginia thinks the world of everyone but herself. Then, a phone call changes everything... From Amazon UK

I was really surprised with the route The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things took. I've read a few books about being over weight now, and each there are similar themes - comfort eating, remarks from peers, pressure from family. This book has all those elements, plus more. The phone call mentioned in the blurb leads to a huge change for everyone in the family, and it's not directly anything to do with Virginia herself, but it effects her like everyone else.

Virginia is a big girl in an otherwise slim, beautiful, "perfect" family. Her parents adore their two older children, but Virginia feels like they're disappointed with her, the family's one flaw. I cannot tell you how mad Virginia's mother made me! An adolescent psychologist who deals with teen problems on a regular basis, she should know how to approach things with Virginia. But for wanting a perfect family, the slightest remark is belittling to Virginia. Her mother is a hypocrital cow, and I really disliked her.

'Mom has a hard time talking about my body. Her shrink side wants to reassure me that I'm fine the way I am, accept myself, all that self-esteem stuff. But her Mom side wants me to be thin and perfect, like the rest of the Shreves. The end result is she can barely say the word "fat" around me. She uses euphemisms such as "heavy" and "like I used to be."' (p45)

With her self-esteem pretty low anyway, this doesn't help. Nor does the words and actions of most other people she comes across. You can just feel her sadness pour through the pages.

'Not fat fat. More like chubby.
Enough so I'm picked last in gym for any activity has anything to do with running, climbing ropes, or propelling oneself over a horse. Enough so I've hears people refer to me as plump, as if being lickened to a vine-ripe tomato is some kind of compliment. Enough so family friends, upon comparing me to my skinny siblings, raise their eyebrows as high as McDonald's golden arches.' (p24)

'"Virginia Shreves," says Briar, crcking up. "That chubby girl."
"No way!" Brie shrieks. "I never knew they were related."
"Of course they are," says Briar. "It's not like Shreves is a common name."
I bite down hard on the insides of my cheeks. That chubby girl.
After a moment Brie says, "All I can say is, if I were that fat, I'd kill myself."' (p36)

'Dad piks a bit of cashew nut out of his teeth. "You've got a great face, Ginny. Think how prettier you could be if you lost twenty or thirty pounds."
I feel as if I've been punched in the stomach. I've always known Dad was absent on the day they handed out tact. And I've always known Dad was a fan of thin women. But he never said it so bluntly - that I'm not tha attractive the way I am.' (p83)

It's just really so sad, and how she deals with her feelings is just heart breaking. Then the phone call comes. I won't spoil the story, but it's the beginning of Virginia realising her family isn't as perfect as she's always thought, or as her Mom has tried to pretend. The pressure to please everyone else slowly lifts off her shoulders. With the help of a few brilliant people - Mrs Crowley, her best mate Shannon, Dr Love - Virginia's attitude changes. It's not about size, it's about being healthy and happy.

Watching Virginia along her journey is sometimes painful, but it's so amazing to see her come through the other side stronger! This is another book where the main character comes to a positive ending through her own doing, rather than with help from diets and make-up, or from guys. It's wonderful! More books like this please! This really is a great story! I really recommend it!

From Once Upon a Bookcase - YA book blog