Book Review: The earth, my butt and other big round things!

4/5 stars!

CAUTION: SPOILERS AHEAD!

TRIGGER WARNINGS: Eating disorder, sexual violence, suicidal thoughts, self harm

The plot really started after the first 100 pages.

This book has been updated since it was first published in 2003, little details like the characters texting now rather than emailing. I love that these changes have been made because this story is a very important one.

We follow Virginia as she comes to terms with something happening in her family that flips everything on its head. It's not fully detailed because we are seeing life from Virginia's perspective and she doesn't know all of the details. The event is horrendous but the victim has hope and seems to rather be a survivor. She represents the readers who have also been through a traumatic event but have come through it. This book also shows that both families involved are still very human.

I do wonder though, whether it's only American students that eat their lunch alone in a bathroom stall. I have never experienced this happening before - let me know in the comments if you did this and aren't from America.

The food police are the worst!

I disliked Virginia's friendship with Shannon. She always seemed to have an excuse for not calling or texting V. I also disliked the school bully, obviously, Brie. However, there is something going on with her and V doesn't support her even though she is probably the only person questioning it.

V's Mum can't use the word 'fat' and I wonder if this has anything to do with her childhood that was hinted at. Anais could be a great sister but she is in Africa throughout the entire book so she doesn't have a big role to play. Maybe she will be more present in the second. I hope.

I loved Alyssa. She is going to be a great friend for V and this feels like a great set up for the second book. I also loved Mrs Crowley who was the only supportive adult that V interacted with. Dr Love seemed to point her in the right direction.