Does This Book Make Me Look Fat?: Stories About Loving -- and Loathing -- Your Body [Hardcover]

Marissa Walsh (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 29, 2008

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

From School Library Journal

Grade 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
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

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. Grades 7-12. --Heather Booth

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Clarion Books (December 29, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0547014961
• ISBN-13: 978-0547014968
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,219,295 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, December 30, 2008

By 

TeensReadToo "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Does This Book Make Me Look Fat?: Stories About Loving -- and Loathing -- Your Body (Hardcover)

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!

Reviewed by: Breanna F.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great title, Great book!, February 4, 2009

By 

Kate Whitfield "Author of The Empowered Gal's... (www.empoweredgal.com) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Does This Book Make Me Look Fat?: Stories About Loving -- and Loathing -- Your Body (Hardcover)

The title is amazing, and the essays and stories inside don't disappoint either. Very well written, honest and relevent. I enjoyed the variety of topics covered, there is definitely something for everyone to relate to.

Kate Whitfield, author of The Empowered Gal's 9 Life Lessons: Keys, Tips, Strategies, Advice & Everything You Need to Know to be a Confident, Successful, in Control Gal