Starting out, I wasn't really interested in the story line, but soon enough, it won me over. I was hooked and read it all in one sitting (2.5 hours). I like the way the serious issues (boy-girl sexual relationships, family relationships, self-esteem, and date rape) were mixed into a fun read about an NYC girl's sophomore year.

I first read this book as a kid. I was enduring middle school, barely. Most of my time was spent in the library, sometimes reading an entire book in a day. There was no friend group that seemed to really want me around so I tried to make myself scarce. To take up the least amount of space possible. I had a bigger body than most of the students and I tried to hide that with several layers of clothing, and a hoodie—even in the +100 degree weather. Already kids were calling me plump, I remember one boy told me I would be pretty if I wasn’t fat.

This book felt like someone could read my mind. The Fat Girl Code of Conduct, the students and family making hurtful comments, wanting to be invisible, and desperately trying to find a way out of gym class.

I’m currently reading a lot of middle grade books, it brings me joy and feels healing. It’s also nice to return to the books that sparked my love of reading. Needless to say, finding this book again was beyond exciting.

Reading this book as an adult hit so much harder. I felt like it broke my heart every other sentence. It saddens me that I related so much to Virginia’s story as a kid and that I can still relate to her now, as a 32 year old woman.

Virginia’s evolution is so fun and empowering to experience. It certainly inspires me to continue my path towards true self love. Anyway, 5 stars forever.

This was pretty good until the middle when that magical thing happens (that sometimes does in books but not in real life) where all of a sudden the main character fixes her life and everything is way better. Um... that would be nice. I would recommend this to kids if it didn't do that. But I feel that books like this give false impressions about how hard it is (not as easy as they make it seem) to get yourself out of certain tendencies. I have mixed feelings about this book.

4/5 stars!

I finished this so long ago. I cannot believe it has taken me so long to gush about this amazing book. I thoroughly truly enjoyed this book and I recommend it to every little pre-teen (and anyone older) out there.

As a young woman who has been "bigger" and "plus-sized" their whole life I have purposely stayed away from books with plus-sized women as MCs that touch on the struggles of growing up and being plus size in society. This has been for my own mental health, because I didn't know how I would handle it. (This is why I was so freaking excited for Leah on the Offbeat because plus size MC with the plot not focused on it!) Anyway, my choice to read this book was a big step, but I am so glad I did it.

Virginia felt every single emotion I felt growing up. All these feelings I had were put onto paper in this character who was really nothing like me. I cried this whole book and most of it was just this empathy I had never experienced before. It wasn't sad or happy, just good and I think that's what made me truly love this book so much.

Despite that aspect of this book I also loved the plot and characters. So many different things were touched on and I think it was all done pretty well. I found myself wanting the author to dive more into some topics and that is why I ended up knocking off a star, because sometimes it seemed all over the place. But also I will come back to this review after I read the sequel to see if I still feel the same way.

In conclusion, I'm really into this book and I'm super pumped to read the sequel.

I really didn't expect to love this book so much. Definitely binge worthy, and it came into my life at such a perfect moment. Wow.

And btw, I love how the author wrote this book over a decade ago but republished and updated it into a more modern version in 2018. This kind of book (body image / tumultuous parents-daughter relationships / non consensual advances) never goes out of style. Which is actually pretty damn painful.

Title: The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things
Author: Carolyn Mackler
Format: E-book (Kindle Edition)
Read: July 15-17
Rating: 5/5
Recommend: OMG Yes!

Summary: Virginia Shreves is fifteen. She is larger-than-average, and has the plus-size inferiority complex to go with. Her best friend has moved to Walla Walla, Washington (as far from NYC as you can get) and she's just gotten to second base with Froggy Welsh the Fourth (yeah, that's his real name). There are moments of light-heartedness, and moments of seriousness that will take your breath away.

Review: This book has appeared numerous times on the American Library Association's banned/challenged book list for a variety of reasons, most of which are 'unsuitable to age group,' however that is a load of crap.

Find me one teenage girl who is the 'fat girl' and tell me she doesn't have self-esteem issues. I know, I was that teenage girl. I was the 'fat girl,' 'the nerd,' and pretty much anything else you could call me. No, my life was not as tragic as Virginia's is, but I still dealt with my fair share of weight bashing from my peers, I had the places that I could 'hide' when I didn't want to be seen, that sort of thing. It took me ages to finally accept myself, accept who I was, and learn what -I- had to do to change things.

After Virginia's brother, Byron, falls from grace and comes home from Columbia for a semester. Things are tense and at the most a failed attempt to be 'picture perfect' in the Shreves household. A trip to Seattle and other life changing events continue to open up Virginia's eyes until she is completely (or as close to completely) at ease with herself. There is a happy ending, and purple hair, and an eyebrown piercing, and even a forbidden public display of affection (that goes against the Fat Girl Code of Conduct!).

All in all, this is a very well written story of every overweight teenage girl who strives to 'fit in' in high school and fill a role that was originally carved out by their older siblings in a picture-perfect family.

I recommend this to anyone who has ever had self-esteem issues for weight, or whatever other reason, and ultimately needed to learn to be true to themselves no matter what others may think of them.

I almost gave up on this one but I am glad I stuck it out. The ending was quite abrupt and I wish it had been flushed out a bit more.

3.5 stars.

I rated this a 5/5 because I am in love with this book. I'm not, however, blind to the problems. I do have some problems with serious issues not being addressed fully or resolved fully. Otherwise, this book was fantastic. I devoured it and I found it very empowering.