The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things (Virginia Shreves, #1) in Lit. Block Fall 2008

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Aug 22, 2008 Kim Valentine rated it liked it · review of another edition

This book was on the banned book list. Banned for sexual content, being anti-family, offensive language and being unsuited to age group. From a review of the book I quote: "The story is of an overweight girl with very low self-esteem and a selfish family. Gradually, she learns to love herself and to see her family's flaws and thrive in spite of them. It's an empowering book-- for overweight people, for teens, for females, for most readers. Virginia even dabbles in self-mutilation to deal with th This book was on the banned book list. Banned for sexual content, being anti-family, offensive language and being unsuited to age group. From a review of the book I quote: "The story is of an overweight girl with very low self-esteem and a selfish family. Gradually, she learns to love herself and to see her family's flaws and thrive in spite of them. It's an empowering book-- for overweight people, for teens, for females, for most readers. Virginia even dabbles in self-mutilation to deal with the pain she feels about being a fat girl in world where being thin is in. A valuable book for any girl with body image issues and for peers who might not be understanding and accepting of people of all sizes." I thought the review would help me remember this book and how to recommend it to others. I thought the book was well written because I could feel the emotions. The sexuality, bad language, self mutilation were things I would rather not read about. The book was well written and very realistic. I am still shocked by bad language and feel sex is for marriage only. I would not ban the book but it should be rated and students should be given a choice of what to read. The book was helpful in giving me an understanding of girls with eating disorders. Not only is the main character overweight but the girls who make fun of her are anorexic and bulimic. This book deals with a lot of family issues and self esteem issues.

Awards: 2004 Michael L. Printz Honor Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature from the American Library Association
Genre: Realistic Fiction / Therapeutic Fiction
Grades: 7-12

Activities:

1. This would be a good book to start a Mother/Daughter Book Club. This would be a good way to deal with the language and sexual content that caused this book to be banned. This would also be a good way to involve parents and students in reading.
2. P.O.V. Point of View. How would this story be written from the mother's point of view or from the boyfriends point of view. Have the students get in groups and discuss then present the story in a different point of view.
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Aug 21, 2008 Tahira Hamilton rated it it was amazing

This is a great Bibliotherapy book for any teen to read, particularly if your a girl. Virgina, the main character in the book, is a chubby girl who comes from a "perfict" family. Virgina is struggling in high school because her best friend moved away and everyone makes fun of her for her size. It isn't untill a very shocking event takes place with in her family that Virgina starts to get her own voice and own confidence. I would highly recomend this book to any girl ith body imiage problems.
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Lit. Block Fall 2008