Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things
Carolyn Mackler
Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Carolyn Mackler
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.
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About This Book
Virginia Shreves is one of the most honest characters you’ll ever meet—she’s funny, real, and not afraid to show her flaws. She’s struggling with how she sees herself in a family that seems perfect, but one call turns her world upside down, forcing her to face truths that matter. What will Virginia discover about herself when everything she thought is challenged?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel explores themes of self-perception, family dynamics, and personal growth through the eyes of Virginia, a girl dealing with body image issues and complex family relationships. It includes sensitive topics such as child and alcohol abuse, eating disorders, physical injury, and hospital scenes, making it suitable for mature readers within the 9-12 age range who can handle emotionally challenging content. Parents should be prepared to discuss these issues and support children processing the book’s heavier themes.
Why we rated Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things 11IE
Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things is written at a Level 6 reading level across 288 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things as 11IE ("Intense — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Intense" range — intense conflict including peril, frightening scenes, or emotionally heavy themes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, physical peril, social complexity, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Child Abuse, Alcohol Abuse, Eating Disorder, Physical Injury, Hospital Scene.
Thematically, Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things explores family, coming of age, self-discovery, assertiveness, and body image — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about family, coming of age, self-discovery.
Maybe not for
- ! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
- ! Children younger than 9-12 — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11IE — Intense — EmotionalHeavy themes explored in depth. War, death, abuse addressed directly.
Content Flags
Was our "Intense" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781681197982
- Pages
- 288
- Publisher
- Walker
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction