The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things

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

Genre: Chick Lit

Reading Level/Interest Age: 14-17

Reader's Annotation: Virginia Shreves is fat, which wouldn't be such a big deal if the rest of her family were not so perfect. Or at least that's what Virginia thinks until the older brother she worships is convicted of date rape and suspended from Columbia University.

Author: Mackler was born in Manhattan on Friday, July 13, 1973, but moved at an early age to Brockport, NY, a small village in western New York State that is the setting for many of her novels and stories. She currently lives in Manhattan, which she loves, with her husband and young son.

Plot Summary: Virginia Shreves has a larger-than-average body and a plus-sized inferiority complex. She lives on the Web, snarfs junk food, and obeys a 'Fat Girl Code of Conduct.' Her best friend and stuttering soul mate, Shannon, has moved to Walla Walla, Washington. Froggy Welsh the Fourth has succeeded in getting his hands up Virginia's shirt, but she lives in fear he'll look underneath.

Then there are the other Shreves. Mom is an exercise fiend and a successful adolescent psychologist. Dad, when not jet-setting, or golfing in Connecticut, ogles skinny women on TV. Older siblings Anais and Byron are slim, brilliant, and impossible to live up to.

Delete Virginia, and the Shreves are a picture-perfect family . . . until a phone call changes everything." (jacket flap)

Critical Evaluation: At first, this novel seemed like a typical Chick Lit offering. Virginia’s fumbling encounters with Froggy Welsh IV are amusing, as are her overly self-critical responses to them. Additionally, her self-consciousness about her weight, appearance, and popularity took me to familiar territory after reading several Chick Lit novels. Consequently, I was not at all sure what to think when Virginia began to exhibit systems of self-mutilation or self-harmful behavior. She even discusses a classmate’s bulimia as something that gives her sympathy for and connection to the other girl. This turn of events was disturbing, to say the least, but Mackler handles it well. She gives us a novel that deals with serious issues, but she maintains a light-hearted tone throughout that keeps these issues from depressing us or weighing us down. Instead of spiraling out of control, Virginia discovers ways to express her feelings that are healthy instead of harmful, and there is an insinuation that her choices, although strongly resisted at first, may be part of healing her family as well as herself. This approach can give teens an option for how they can have a positive effect on their world rather than just reacting to it.

Curriculum Ties:

Book Talk Ideas:
• focus on relationship with Froggy
• read the Fat Girl's Code of Conduct
• focus on Virginia's relationship with her parents, with her brother

Challenge Issues: focus on appearance instead of character, ridicule of teachers and adults, rebellious teen, sexual situations and content, bulimia and other psychological issues explored

Challenge Defense:
• Be familiar with context of issues
• Explain library selection policies
• Provide reviews of the book from reputable sources
• Explain library challenge procedures
• Offer challenge form

Why was this text included in this project? Read as part of Chick Lit genre presentation for LIBR 265.