Does This Book Make Me Look Fat?

From the Publisher

"This star-studded collection tackles a popular topic—body image—with humor, sensitivity, and creativity.  An entertaining essay (unfortunately placed given the intended audience) by Daniel Pinkwater on what it’s like to be a fat, middle-aged man starts the collection.  This rocky start will quickly be forgiven with Megan McCafferty’s story narrated by a pair of skinny jeans.  Other highlights are Matt de la Peña’s wrenching story of a young man coming to terms with his sister’s devastating eating disorder, and Sarra Manning’s feisty protagonist, who helps a co-worker find her own style and later faces her own body issues.  The focus on living in one’s body as a teenager or young woman extends the appeal for women college aged and older.  An appendix lists body-positive Web sites, books, and music.  While only two entries overtly feature minority characters, the variety of body issues is diverse enough that anyone can relate: too short, too fat, too busty, too flat, eating too much, eating too little.  All convey the importance of loving one’s self, regardless of one’s shape."—Booklist
"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."-School Library Journal "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."—Publishers Weekly 

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.)

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VOYA - Dawn Talbott

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

Children's Literature - Sue Poduska

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)