The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things

This was a tough read for me. Not because it wasn’t good, but because it reminded me of how deeply raw it felt to be a teen. The lack of control you have over everything from your world to your body. So much of being a teen is holding your head up out of the churning waves and hoping for the calm spots. Seeing Virginia slowly take claim over her own thoughts and fears and future was a victory.

Tackling tough topics like body hatred, bullying, self harm, date rape, and isolation the author wades through those dark spots without apology or easy endings and isn’t afraid to make you feel it all.

The biggest win for me in this read was that Virginia was faced with challenges she could solve on her own and those she couldn’t and seeing her realize that was a lesson relevant for everyone of every age.

The author rewrote this novel to fit the current world - adding technology and whatnot to make this story more accessible for young adults of today. That being said, the writing itself is definitely fluent as well. It's a quick read, but not a light one in the slightest.

A whole array of heavy topics are touched upon, most of them anything but easy to swallow. There's mention of a side character having committed date rape, there's self harm, there's fat-phobia in abundance, with bullying and eating disorders to top if all off. Definitely no easy subjects but such important ones for teenagers to read about. Especially since a whole lot of us find/found ourselves struggling with our body image at some point in our lives.

The way Virginia struggles with herself, with how others might or might not view her, with the clothing choices she has to make, the way she avoids mirrors... So many small and big things that spoke to me and.. actually got me emotional because some memories are better left buried, but I couldn't help thinking about them since Virginia went through some of the exact same things. This book touched me in a way I expected it to, but alas..

It also touched me in a way I didn't want it to and actually made me quite angry and mad and frustrated all at the same time. Which isn't that weird, since I'm pregnant? But it felt like more than just hormones - which is what makes it even worse.

Virginia's parents? Absolutely horrible. I honestly wish nobody has parents like that. They focus on her weight more than on her actual person. Everything revolves around Virginia having to lose weight, to the point of not taking her out for fancy dinners and parties because.. obviously she wouldn't add to the "perfect image of a perfect family" they want to show the world. I was horrified.

The focus on weight and how fat she looks instead of focusing on her health? Like.. Okay, we know those things are connected, but it comes across way differently if you're concerned about your kid's health instead of weight. There's a difference right there and I loved the doctor in this book for pointing that out. Do not focus on weight, focus on body image. It's something that'll stick with me, I'm sure.

As for Virginia herself.. She sometimes gave me an icky feeling as well. I could connect with her on multiple levels, like I said earlier, but there are also instances where she does, says and thinks things that simply should've been challenged. I feel like the author should've tried to challenge certain thoughts and actions more.

Last and worst - for me personally since I'm a survivor - is the date rape I mentioned earlier. Said rapist pretty much gets away with what they've done and I still cannot get over that. They even got rewarded in some ways - multiple ways. Simply thinking about it, weeks after finishing this book, still angers me in close to no time at all. I just.. Ugh..

Can you see why I had such a hard time writing this review? It's not like there aren't any positive things, but the negatives are.. huge and jump out at me the moment I think about this book. This could be so much more than what it is but unfortunately it's not.

2/5

I absolutely loved this book, I could just identify with this main character so so much. This author has done a great job of getting all those feelings we keep way down deep inside and putting them onto the page. Virginia is at a pivotal moment in her life and everything seems to be crashing down around her. It says so much about her as a strong lead character that she still manages to assert her own personality throughout the story despite everything that is thrown her way at the same time as having all the other problems that teenagers have to deal with.

I think the fact that this book is set in New York means that the main character can be very independent and can go out and do things without anyone else in her life finding out. Had she grown up in a smaller town she would've been recognised at every turn and would not have had life changing thoughts when walking thirty blocks to go and visit her brother.

There is a definite theme of family here. We have the notion that families aren't always as happy as they seem on the outside, that sometimes families let you down but that also they are our first loves and really do have our backs. Having said that, I really did hate the parents in this book, I wanted to jump into the pages and shake them.

There is some awesome sounding fashion in this novel. If you are plus size then you will definitely recognise some of the fashion dramas that Virginia goes through but you will also be envious of her style. I loved the different ways she chose to rebel against her parents and the ways she knew when to hold back. There is also some romance in this novel. We get to hear Virginia's take on how fat girls ought to behave when they think there might be a chance at love. The notion of secret sex, being someones 'something special' behind closed doors but keeping that relationship a secret from the other people in high school!

I just thought this author did a great job of covering what its like to be a teenager AND a girl AND fat and all the issues that come with that at the same time as finding your identity in a family that are quite frankly trying at the best of times.

As anticipated!