The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things
Carolyn Mackler
ISBN 1844282937
304 pages
Walker Books, 2006
Genre: Humor; Chick Lit; Contemporary Life
Readers Annotation
Overweight teen Virginia has always tried extra hard to win the affections of her picture-perfect family, but when an incident shows that they're not so perfect after all, she decides to live life on her own terms.
Plot Summary
Virginia's best friend Shannon has moved across the country--from Manhattan to Walla Walla--and now that her older sister has joined the Peace Corps and her older brother has started at Columbia, her parents have more time to obsess over her. While she's played the role of the dutiful daughter, they've mostly ignored her in favor of her flashier--and thinner--older siblings. Now, though, her mother--a therapist famous for her advice on how to relate to teens and a former fat girl herself--is convinced that all of Virginia's problems would go away if she just dropped a few dress sizes. Her father, who is quite vocal about how attractive he finds thin women's bodies, goes along with the plan.
Virginia is glad to be finally getting some attention from her parents, so she goes along with their wishes. But when her brother is kicked out of Columbia, she's forced to reexamine her family dynamics. Thrust once again into the background, Virginia finds comfort in food. But she also realizes that her family has some serious communication problems and that she's through living life on anyone's terms but her own. She makes some changes that force her parents--and her classmates--to take a look at her and see the real Virginia for the first time.
Critical Evaluation
The Earth... was a genuinely funny, uplifting look at how a teenage girl learns to love and accept herself. I thought Mackler's portrayal of Virginia's family was wonderful. In the beginning, Virginia is so desperate to be included as an equal member in her family that's she's willing to overlook a lot of egregiously bad treatment on the part of her brother and her parents. But as she starts to examine their behavior, she realizes that she deserves a lot better. Certain things like her older sister's decision to join the Peace Corps make a lot of sense once Virginia's parents have shown their true colors; when Virginia's sister writes her a letter at the end of the book, it's nearly as cathartic for the reader as it is for Virginia. We know that she'll be OK.
The decision to have Virginia's best friend move away for the year was a smart choice, too. Virginia is forced into a position as outsider at her school, so she's forced to take a good look at the social dynamics at play. At first, we accept Virginia's conclusion that the popular kids will only talk to other popular kids, etc., but eventually we realize--as Virginia's beloved teacher Mrs. Crowley already has--that Virginia has chosen her isolation. A supporting cast of characters, including the eccentric Alyssa and the blond, bland cheerleader Brie, who has problems of her own, fill out the cast nicely.
Teenager girls will be rooting at Virginia's transformation; it puts an emotional context to the typical teenage rebellion. It may inspire them to shake things up a little themselves!
About the Author
Carolyn Mackler has written four young adult novels. The strong feminist undertone to The Earth.... may be explained by the fact that Mackler started out her career as an intern for Ms. magazine. She confesses that in high school she never quite fit in, which may have inspired the character of Virginia.
Curriculum Ties
The book could be used to talk about families and self-acceptance.
Booktalking Ideas
1. Write the booktalk in the form of the lists that Virginia uses.
2. Talk about Virginia as compared to her family--why does she feel like such an outcast?
3. Talk about Virginia as compared to her classmates--why does she feel like such an outcast?
Reading Interest/Level
Because of a few more adult themes, this book is probably most appropriate for high schoolers. SLJ and Booklist both recommend it for grades 7-10, and while junior high students would probably enjoy and relate to it, librarians should be aware of some potentially controversial material.
Challenge Issues
This book has been one of the most challenged books in recent years. Virginia uses some strong language at times in the book. Her older brother is found guilty of date-raping a fellow students. Virginia self-injures herself when she's feeling particularly unhappy. Masturbation is mentioned several times in the book. Virginia gets drunk on New Year's Eve.
If the book were to be challenged, the librarian should familiarize herself with the library's selection policy and be able to explain and defend it to the challenger. She could point to the book's positive reviews, as well as its status as a Printz Honor Book, as proof of its worth.
Selection Criteria
The book was selected as a Printz Honor Book.
Showing posts with label humor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label humor. Show all posts
Monday, November 9, 2009
Sunday, November 8, 2009
ttyl by Lauren Myracle
ttyl
Lauren Myracle
ISBN 978-0-8109-8788-3
209 pages;
Amulet Books, 2004
Genre: Epistolary; Contemporary Life; Humor;
Readers Annotation
Three best friends rely on their friendship for support during their sophomore year, in this story told exclusively through their IM logs.
Plot Summary
Cute, boy-crazy Angela, tough, sarcastic Maddie, and responsible, thoughtful Zoe are a trio of best friends who call themselves the Winsome Threesome. As they enter their sophomore year, they vow to remain as close as ever. Maddie counts down the days until she can get her driver's license. She starts the year complaining to her friends about Jana, the school's queen bee mean girl, but ends up forming a friendship with her. Angela and Zoe, though, suspect Jana may be more interested in Maddie's license and car than Maddie herself. Zoe joins the Christian fellowship. Her growing friendship with Mr. H., its faculty sponsor (and her English teacher), worries her friends, though Zoe swears his interest in her is strictly professional. Angela crushes hard on a series of boys; she's convinced each one is "the one," though her friends have seen her repeat the pattern often enough not to take her too seriously.
Will the Winsome Threesome remain as close as ever, or will they grow apart as their lives start to take them in different directions?
Critical Evaluation
I was a bit skeptical about how the book's structure would work--the story is told exclusively through the logs of their IM sessions--but I actually really enjoyed how the story unfolded. In their IMs, the girls talk about incidents at school, the TV shows they're watching, funny things that happened at work, mean things their parents said, the online quizzes they're taking. These small details, which might not make it into a more traditionally structured novel, work to give the reader a more intimate view of what these girls' lives really look like.
While the girls do occasionallyy join a group chat session, mostly they talk one-on-one. This also helps us get a more well-rounded view of the girls and their friendship because they interact in slightly different ways with the other two. And, just as often happens in real life, at times the trio is threatened when one girl feels that the other two are ganging up on her. This format also brings up the issue of the unreliable narrator; sometimes one girl lies to another, and sometimes the other girls (and reader) see the truth of a situation before the girl involved does.
It's a quick, breezy, satisfying read--a great book to recommend to reluctant readers.
Other Books in the Series
ttfn (2007)
l8r, g8r (2008)
About the Author
Lauren Myracle is a best-selling, often-praised and honored author whose works have also been frequently challenged. Besides the "IM" series, she is best known for Kissing Kate, a romance involving two girls, and Rhymes with Bitches, about a group of high school mean girls. Both books have been frequently challenged for their content, though they were also included a collection of best books for teens.
Curriculum Ties
This novel could be used as an example of non-traditional storytelling, a modern take on the epistolary novel.
Booktalking Ideas
1. Talk about the book's structure, explaining how it gives the reader an intimate peek in their lives.
2. Talk about Maddie's relationship with Jana. Why she does she jump at the chance to be her friend, even though she knows she's mean?
3. Talk about Zoe's budding friendship with Mr. H. Should a teacher be friends with a student?
Reading Interest/Level
Though the book's take on friendships, relationships, and navigating social territory would appeal to both junior high and high school students, some potentially controversial content makes it more appropriate for older teens.
Challenge Issues
The book does contain some strong language, though it's used sparingly and realistically. Mr. H is clearly trying to seduce Zoe, which has huge challenge potential. Also, Maddie attends a frat party, where she gets drunk and is egged on to take off her top and do a striptease for the guys at the party, who throw money at her.
If the book were challenged, the librarian should read the book and point out that none of these incidents are portrayed in a flattering light. The librarian should be explain to explain and defend the library's collection policy to the challenger, pointing to ttyl's many positive reviews, including a starred review in SLJ, and its huge popularity with teen readers as proof of its worth.
Selection Criteria
ttyl was named a Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers. It was also included in Anita Silvey's book 500 Best Books for Teens.
Lauren Myracle
ISBN 978-0-8109-8788-3
209 pages;
Amulet Books, 2004
Genre: Epistolary; Contemporary Life; Humor;
Readers Annotation
Three best friends rely on their friendship for support during their sophomore year, in this story told exclusively through their IM logs.
Plot Summary
Cute, boy-crazy Angela, tough, sarcastic Maddie, and responsible, thoughtful Zoe are a trio of best friends who call themselves the Winsome Threesome. As they enter their sophomore year, they vow to remain as close as ever. Maddie counts down the days until she can get her driver's license. She starts the year complaining to her friends about Jana, the school's queen bee mean girl, but ends up forming a friendship with her. Angela and Zoe, though, suspect Jana may be more interested in Maddie's license and car than Maddie herself. Zoe joins the Christian fellowship. Her growing friendship with Mr. H., its faculty sponsor (and her English teacher), worries her friends, though Zoe swears his interest in her is strictly professional. Angela crushes hard on a series of boys; she's convinced each one is "the one," though her friends have seen her repeat the pattern often enough not to take her too seriously.
Will the Winsome Threesome remain as close as ever, or will they grow apart as their lives start to take them in different directions?
Critical Evaluation
I was a bit skeptical about how the book's structure would work--the story is told exclusively through the logs of their IM sessions--but I actually really enjoyed how the story unfolded. In their IMs, the girls talk about incidents at school, the TV shows they're watching, funny things that happened at work, mean things their parents said, the online quizzes they're taking. These small details, which might not make it into a more traditionally structured novel, work to give the reader a more intimate view of what these girls' lives really look like.
While the girls do occasionallyy join a group chat session, mostly they talk one-on-one. This also helps us get a more well-rounded view of the girls and their friendship because they interact in slightly different ways with the other two. And, just as often happens in real life, at times the trio is threatened when one girl feels that the other two are ganging up on her. This format also brings up the issue of the unreliable narrator; sometimes one girl lies to another, and sometimes the other girls (and reader) see the truth of a situation before the girl involved does.
It's a quick, breezy, satisfying read--a great book to recommend to reluctant readers.
Other Books in the Series
ttfn (2007)
l8r, g8r (2008)
About the Author
Lauren Myracle is a best-selling, often-praised and honored author whose works have also been frequently challenged. Besides the "IM" series, she is best known for Kissing Kate, a romance involving two girls, and Rhymes with Bitches, about a group of high school mean girls. Both books have been frequently challenged for their content, though they were also included a collection of best books for teens.
Curriculum Ties
This novel could be used as an example of non-traditional storytelling, a modern take on the epistolary novel.
Booktalking Ideas
1. Talk about the book's structure, explaining how it gives the reader an intimate peek in their lives.
2. Talk about Maddie's relationship with Jana. Why she does she jump at the chance to be her friend, even though she knows she's mean?
3. Talk about Zoe's budding friendship with Mr. H. Should a teacher be friends with a student?
Reading Interest/Level
Though the book's take on friendships, relationships, and navigating social territory would appeal to both junior high and high school students, some potentially controversial content makes it more appropriate for older teens.
Challenge Issues
The book does contain some strong language, though it's used sparingly and realistically. Mr. H is clearly trying to seduce Zoe, which has huge challenge potential. Also, Maddie attends a frat party, where she gets drunk and is egged on to take off her top and do a striptease for the guys at the party, who throw money at her.
If the book were challenged, the librarian should read the book and point out that none of these incidents are portrayed in a flattering light. The librarian should be explain to explain and defend the library's collection policy to the challenger, pointing to ttyl's many positive reviews, including a starred review in SLJ, and its huge popularity with teen readers as proof of its worth.
Selection Criteria
ttyl was named a Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers. It was also included in Anita Silvey's book 500 Best Books for Teens.
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