The Earth, My Butt, & Other Big Round Things (2003) (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit see section history

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Summary edit see section history

Characters/People edit see section history

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• Virginia Shreves: The kick-butt leading lady that deals with the world, which seems to be working against her at all costs. She's 'fat.' She eats when she's upset. She idolizes her brother until 'it' happens. She has low self-esteem. She likes eating, watching TV, reading magazines. She's the oddball of the family. She's blonde and has braces and is very like-able.
• Froggy Welsh IV: Froggy is Virgina's makeout partner. He's smart and very good with computers. He plays the trombone. Virgina and Froggy aren't exactly friends or boyfriend-girlfriend.
• Shannon: Virgina's best friend. She's small and catlike with red hair and freckles. She stutters and is shy. She has a great sense of humor, but most people don't let her show it. She has geeky but fun and crazy parents that write books on things like onions and shoelaces. She is currently living in Walla Walla, Washington.
• Byron Shreves: Virginia's brother. Virginia and her family idolize Byron. He's got a body like a Greek god. He's smart and funny. And he's super hot. He's popular and is a sophomore at Columbia University.
• Anaïs Shreves: Virginia's sister, who is in the Peace Corps. She is against men liking women for their bodies and is very thin herself.
• Spiegel: Add a description of this character.
• Alyssa Wu: Goes to Virginia's school. She knits because she always has to be doing something with her hands.
• Ginny: The main character - this is her nickname.
• Annie Mils: The girl who pressed charges against Byron.
• Teri
• Dr. Phyllis Shreves: Virginia's mother, an adolescent psychologist. She used to be "fat" but changed her ways, and is totally obsessed with staying fit.
• Virginia: This characters name is Virginia she is a girl who is insecure about herself because she is different. She does not obey her mother nor father. She only listens to her heart.
• Nina Malloy: Shannon's crazy and funny mom.
• Liam Newman: Shannon's crazy and funny dad.
• Mademoiselle Kiefer: Virginia's French teacher who favors Bri and is nasty to Virginia.
• Annie Mills
• Mrs Myers
• Tisha
• Krishna: A college student that is in charge of the computer cluster at Virginia's school.
• Mr. Moony: Virginia's math teacher. He has been at the school for as long as anyone can remember, and he always sings songs that include someone's name in it.
• Dr. Love: Virginia's physician. He's very mellow.
• Brie Newhart: The queen of the Bri's.
• Brinna Livingston: Bri's second in command.
• Briar Schwartz: Bri's third in command.
• Ms. Crowley: A teacher at Virginia's school who teaches her new things and is always there for her. She's also 'fat'.

Quotes edit see section history

• “‘When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe.”

• “I think people can choose to be victims or they can choose to be empowered and to carry on. That’s what I want. To be empowered.”

  Annie

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• I’m tired of always hiding what’s going on and acting like things are OK even when they aren’t.

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• ‘When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe.’”

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• Diet Tip #1: Whenever you’re hungry, chug a bottle of Poland Spring to fill your stomach.

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• Dad and I both love the Yankees, though for different reasons. He wants to see them make it to the World Series. I want to bear their children.

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• Diet Tip #2: Allow each bite to linger in your mouth for as long as humanly possible.

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• The Red Tent, which is about biblical stories retold from the perspective of women.

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• Diet Tip #3: If you feel the need to feed, grab some polish; by the time your nails have dried, the craving will have subsided.

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• Diet Tip #4: Find creative ways to exercise undesirable body parts.

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• I think people can choose to be victims or they can choose to be empowered and to carry on. That’s what I want. To be empowered.”

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• “I thought at last that it was time to roll up the crumpled skin of the day, with its arguments and its impressions and its anger and its laughter, and cast it into the hedge.”

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Setting & Locations edit see section history

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• Seattle: Where Shannon invites Virginia for Thanksgiving
• New York
• Walla Walla Washington: Where Shannon moves to.
• New York City: Where Virginia lives
• Walla Walla
• Connecticut
• Aula
• Columbia
• Paris
• Central Park
• Virginia Street

First Sentence edit see section history

Table of Contents edit see section history

Series & Lists edit see section history

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Carolyn Mackler (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Awards edit see section history

• Michael L. Printz Award (Finalist, 2004, Honor Book)
• ALA Best Book for Young Adults (2004, #9)

Notes for Parents edit see section history

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Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Teens › Social Issues › Dating & Intimacy › Fiction
• Books › Teens › Social Issues › Being a Teen
• Books › Literature & Fiction › Contemporary

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