Fifteen-year-old Virginia Shreves has a larger-than-average body and a plus-size inferiority complex, especially when she compares herself to her slim, brilliant, picture-perfect family. But that's before a shocking phone call - and a horrifying allegation - about her rugby-star brother changes everything. With irreverent humor and surprising gravity, Carolyn Mackler creates an endearingly blunt heroine who speaks to every teen who struggles with family expectations, and proves that the most impressive achievement is to be true to yourself.


My review
I read The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things in one sitting. I laughed, I cried, I cringed, I ranted and above all, I wanted to give Virginia a hug.

Shannon, Virginia's best friend, has had to move away. Navigating high school can be difficult at the best of times, but being forced to do this without your best friend is like swimming against the tide in shark infested waters... Crushes, kisses, misunderstandings and family drama, to name but a few everyday problems, should be analysed in depth with said best friend. Virginia has to face everything alone and her pain is evident and heartbreaking.

Virginia is an honest and believable narrator and her growth throughout is a joy to watch. The secondary characters in this story are brilliantly written too. From Froggy, the cute and nerdy sort of boyfriend, to Virginia's well-meaning but distant parents, from the kind and nuturing teacher Ms Crowley to the bitchy Queen Bee Brie, who may be fighting demons of her own, everyone has their role to play in our protagonist's journey.

One of the things I loved about this story is that the battle Virginia has to face isn't with her weight, or her looks, but with her self esteem. Learning to love yourself is one of life's hardest lessons. Whenever she looks in the mirror she sees her unhappiness staring back at her and she doesn't know how to fix it. Her Fat Girl Code of Conduct broke my heart; as a species, we humans are so unkind to ourselves.

Now on to her family, we have emotionally absent parents, an older sister Anais who is in the Peace Corps and an idolised older brother Byron who falls from grace with an almighty bang. When Virginia finally stops seeing Byron through rose tinted glasses I cheered! He obviously deserves a place in the inner ring of the Seventh Circle of Hell. However, his story is an honest depiction of how crimes like his are seen and often dealt with all over the world.

Awkward, funny, heartbreaking and honest, The Earth, My Butt, and other Big Round Things is an emotional and powerful story, and Virginia is a character who will stay with you long after you finish reading the last page.
review posted on my blog too
http://annasadventuresinbookland.blogspot.com/2018/04/blog-tour-earth-my-butt-and-other-big_13.html

This was an enjoyable read with a likeable main character, that at the same time deals with some really difficult subjects with sensitivity and humour.

I really rooted for Virginia as a character and I found her authentic and relatable. Her struggles with self-image and family relationships were described in a believable, honest way. Some scenes were difficult to read, and I appreciated that this book didn't shy away from issues that affect real teenagers and adults. There is also a good balance of lighter, funnier moments and the plot is ultimately uplifting.

I enjoy reading YA books about families, especially when the parents are present and active as characters. Virginia's relationship with her family caused drama and heartbreak that felt very realistic, but left me with hope by the end of the story.

Virginia's friendship with Shannon provided some light relief, even though Virginia was worried about the new long-distance aspect of their friendship. Their friendship reminded me a lot of what it felt like to be a teenager and I loved Shannon's family too! I also enjoyed the romantic storyline, and found that it was sweet and engaging without detracting from Virginia's journey as a character.

My favourite thing about this book was that it could tackle such serious matters and also leave me with happy feelings and a positive message about self-image and personal growth.

Balancing heart-warming with heart-wrenching, comedy with drama, and light-and-fluffy with dark, this YA read has it all.

Virginia is a normal, confused adolescent. She’s not thin, not stunning, and not perfect like the rest of her family. She’s also missing her best friend, has to deal with nastiness at school, and is struggling with weight and boy problems. But when her family start to fall apart, she realises that she may be the most perfect one of them all…

The language was bubbly but transfixing, the plot heavy but deftly and lightly dealt with, and the whole package superb. Pace, reality, laughs, and interest all woven into a wonderful book. Highly recommended.