Does This Book Make Me Look Fat?

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Overview

How often do you find yourself looking in the mirror? And smiling at what you see? More likely, you're thinking what you see is: Fat, Ugly, Skinny, Round, Stacked or Flat, Bad or Good. From reality television to tabloid headlines, we're all surrounded by weight and discussion of weight. In this collection, a stellar lineup of YA writers sound off on body image., self-esteem, diets, eating disorders, boys, fashion magazines, and why trying on jeans is a bad experience for everyone. There are eight powerful short stories and six moving personal essays from authors whose works include two New York Times bestsellers, a Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and a Printz Honor; an appendix offers book, movie, and music recommendations. (And in case you're still wondering, No this book does not make you look fat.)

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

Fourteen authors and artists weigh in on body image in a thoughtfully edited anthology. Walsh (Not Like I'm Jealous or Anything: The Jealousy Book) calls on males (Daniel Pinkwater, Barry Lyga), cartoonists (Lauren R. Weinstein) and writers best known for their work for adults (Wendy Shanker), as well as prominent female YA novelists (Ellen Hopkins, Carolyn Mackler). A number of the entries are autobiographical, offering predictable if affirming statements on topics the same contributors have considered more imaginatively in fiction; the more memorable are short stories, as in Jaclyn Moriarty's surreal tale about teens coping with a teacher who delivers very mixed messages about their inner beauty. Lists of relevant books, movies, songs and Web sites are welcome extras. Ages 12-up. (Dec.)

VOYA

Walsh compiles a great selection of personal stories, essays, and even a comic and poem that relate to a wide variety of issues people have with their bodies. The feature that makes this book great is its assortment. There are humorous stories, such as How to Tame a Wild Booty, in which an African American girl goes through stages of trying to cover, get rid of, camouflage, and finally accept her large backside. Some Girls are Bigger Than Others finds a teen beauty, who is working in an ice cream shop for the summer, taking on the task of making her coworker into a more presentable "boy-getter." There are also sad narratives such as Alterations, which tells of one woman's struggle to overcome an eating disorder, and Last Red Light Before We Get There, which is one young boy's touching account of the impact his sister's eating disorder is having on the family, including his fear that he has contributed to her illness. There are stories written from the perspectives of both genders. There are selections about adolescents, young adults, and middle-aged characters. There is even an incredibly entertaining account written from the point of view of a mirror in a dressing room of a trendy clothing store. Each piece is unique and touching. The selections deal with people who think their body is too big, too small, too round, or too flat. There is something that will resound with almost any reader. Reviewer: Dawn Talbott

More Reviews (3) Fewer Reviews

Children's Literature

In this delightful book about body image, fourteen essays and short stories explore societal and personal attitudes. From anorexia to compulsive eating, the authors are sometimes serious, sometimes funny. Each article speaks directly to the emotions many teenagers experience today. Particularly poignant is "Alterations" by Eireann Corrigan, about an anorexic seeking the balance to fit into her wedding gown without losing sight of her health. Barry Lyga tells his "The Mating Habits of Whales" through the illustrations of Jeff Dillon. They make some good points. Ellen Hopkins elects to tell "Pretty, Hungry" through a series of blank verses. Funny, yet touching is Coe Booth's story, "How to Tame a Wild Booty," about a teenage girl learning to live with and love the contours of her body. The book makes a valuable contribution to the fight for a healthier population. In addition to the fourteen articles, the editor compiled lists of books, music, and websites for further exploration. "No, this book does not make you look fat." Reviewer: Sue Poduska

School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up

This is a well-intentioned book of essays and short stories by a diverse group of young adult authors including Barry Lyga and Ellen Hopkins. The selections are pretty evenly divided between fiction and personal essay; however, all touch on the concept of body image (defined here in terms of weight). Two stories, by Sarra Manning and Coe Booth, distinguish themselves by not addressing body image in these terms, focusing instead on breast and butt size, respectively. Although three of the selections feature male subjects, it is clear that the collection anticipates a female readership. While Daniel Pinkwater's and Lyga's contributions are what seem to be personal essays about the authors' own thoughts on weight, Matt de la Peña's short story is told from the perspective of an older brother dealing with his sister's anorexia. The collection concludes with a list of recommended reading and viewing, a list of songs entitled "Big Girls Don't Cry," and an unannotated list of Web sites, some of which promote healthy body images for teens, others of which are commercial sites featuring plus-size clothing. From the selections to the recommendations, it is clear that this book is attempting to advance self-acceptance; however, the limited breadth of the stories, and the dubious commercial/public service nature of the webliography result in a mixed message.-Amy S. Pattee, Simmons College, Boston

Kirkus Reviews

A theme anthology is sometimes forgiven artistic paleness if it's strong or striking in subject matter, but this underwhelming collection carries only a weak narrative thrust. Each chapter addresses, in some way, insecurity or oppression due to body type. Fiction and memoir alternate uneasily with each other, never quite meshing. Most chapters are fine individually, competently portraying body anxiety and dissatisfaction, but there's no particular power to the sum total. While many chapters acknowledge the harsh cultural pressures that render positive body image a challenge for almost everyone, there's no underlying or overarching condemnation of such pressures. Two stories shine as literature-Jaclyn Moriarty's "The Day Before Waterlily Arrived" and Ellen Hopkins's "Pretty, Hungry"-and Coe Booth's "How to Tame a Wild Booty" is empowering. Overall, however, this volume is more likely simply to keep readers company in their insecurity than to help them conquer it. (Anthology. 11 & up)

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780547014968
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication date: 12/29/2008
Pages: 208
Sales rank: 1,252,114
Age range: 12 years
Product dimensions: 8.48 (w) x 5.72 (h) x 0.67 (d)

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TeensReadToo

Posted December 30, 2008

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Reviewed by Breanna F. for TeensReadToo.com

With fourteen stories and personal essays written by popular authors such as Sara Zarr, Carolyn Mackler, Ellen Hopkins, and more, this book is quite amazing. The stories all focus on the weight and body image issues that most everyone has at one point in their life.

Whether it's feeling overweight or thinking you're too skinny, how you feel that your breasts are either way too small or way too big, everyone has issues with their bodies.

Not much else I can really say about this book. I actually loved each and every one of the stories, and that really surprised me. I thought at least one or two of them I probably wouldn't end up liking.

I'd recommend DOES THIS BOOK MAKE ME LOOK FAT? to anyone who has issues with their body and even to people who don't. Every single story is just written so well. I didn't want to finish the last one when I got to it.

The only thing wrong with this book: it should have been longer!

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Does This Book Make Me Look Fat?

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Editorial Reviews

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VOYA

Children's Literature

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Reviewed by Breanna F. for TeensReadToo.com