GENRE: Fiction
HONORS: Michael L. Printz Award for Honor Book
American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults
Pennsylvania School Librarians Association Young Adult Top Forty Title
REVIEW: Body image and self-confidence are the main themes in this story, which features Virgina AKA "Ginny" who is wide and round in every place. Unfortunately, she is raised in a family that bears no resemblance to here in appearance, ambition, and social status. Unfortunately, her parents are shallow and even though they want the 'best' for Ginny, they are not in her best interests. The book is thoughtfully written where her parents are not the superior voice in her self-image, even though they try hard to be. An English teacher, her out of town best friend, and talented make-out buddy named "Froggy" do see her potential, and are her outlets of fulfillment outside of her household. The side plot of her once idolized older brother's "date rape" also shows how ignorant her family is, even though they appear 'perfect'. Teens will like this book for obvious reasons of self- empowerment and a varying perspective from other books where the skinny girls reign supreme.
OPINION: This book was an engrossing read, and the author was successful in conveying the feeling of being overweight and self conscious. She did not have to result to portraying attitudes that were condescending to achieve this. Virgina was able to cope through writing and the book highlights that with some confidence, she would be able to overcome her feelings of guilt without downing a bag of Dorritos.
IDEAS: High school themes. Recommended for freshman ed! (maybe)
No comments:
Post a Comment