One: the earth, my butt, and other big round things

Mackler, Carolyn. The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things. Somerville, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press, 2003. Electronic Book

Annotation:
Virginia Sherves is a teenage girl that just wants to fit in; with her family and her peers from school. She struggles to keep up with her diet after learning that her brother had been kicked out of school. She starts to think things differently after a trip and eyebrow piercing.

Justification for Nomination:
The beginning of this book didn't have me intrigued and wanting more. But, I decided to take a different approach and continue reading the book despite all that, and was very pleased with the outcome and glad that I finished it. The transition from beginning to end was very fast, but it fitted perfectly, as it didn't drag on. It started out with Virginia making out with a boy she went to school with, to her sister giving her the “sex talk” before leaving for peace corp. Eventually, the story settled in and Carolyn Mackler was able to express what teenagers are feeling and how they do things.

The problem started with getting a phone call from her brother’s university about him being accused for date-rape then to her mom wanting her to see a doctor about her weight problem. Virginia struggles with the idea that her brother would have done something so inappropriate and had difficulty facing him. Her mom tells her that they would just have to go on with their lives as if it weren't such a big deal. Before the news, Virginia’s mom had put her on a diet in order to lose weight. Her mom was afraid she wouldn't be happy with herself or fit in because her mom had had the same problem as a teen. She later felt like she was unfairly treated since her parents didn't allow her to take a trip to visit her friend but rebelled and bought her own ticket instead. After her trip, she starts to change and see the real side of things.

Carolyn Mackler was able to example what it was like, and how it is like, to be a teenage girl, who was overweight, and always had her parents over her shoulder, constantly reminding her that she needed to lose weight to feel better about herself. I think that the story finishes off perfectly, as she was able to express herself the way she wanted to, without having her mother’s input, or having her mother tell her what looks better on her.

The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things is a book about coming into terms with oneself and life lessons. It’s about building a relationship with your parents, so they know what you’re up to and what you’re thinking, and give you hope that they do worry about you. As well as being able to accept yourself for who you are.

Genre: Printz Honor Award | Banned | Coming of Age