Big Fat Disaster

Big Fat Disaster

Big Fat Disaster by Beth Fehlbaum, ISBN 978-1440570483, Merit Press 2014

Plot Summary:

Colby Denton lives in Texas with her mother, Sonya, a former Miss Texas, her two sisters, Rachel and Drew, and her father, Reese. Her mother is known for her beauty and Colby’s two sisters have inherited their mother’s good looks. Reese is a former college football player and, as much as she hates it, Colby takes after him. She has struggle with her weight since she was a child, and her mother and sisters are constantly chiding her for how much she eats. Reese is running for the Senate. At a campaign gathering, Colby finds a picture of her father kissing another woman. The family soon unravels when everyone learns that Reese has been carrying on an affair and has funded that relationship using money donated by his campaign supporters. Sonya is forced out of their community and moves Colby and her sisters to a small town in
East Texas with Reese’s estranged sister, Leah, and her son, Ryan. Colby deals with weight issues, insecurity, and bullying and she learns how one decision can affect not only her life, but those of everyone who surround her.

Critical Evaluation:

Fehlbaum effectively uses humor to make Colby come alive for readers. Colby is a fully formed character, but I have to take issue with some of the other characters in the story. Colby’s father is pretty much absent after the first part of the book, so his character is never really developed. Colby’s mother and sisters, however, play a major part in the story and each only has one or two redeeming qualities. I struggle with just how awful they are to Colby. I’m sure Fehlbaum’s intention was to create a narrative where the reader is wholly on Colby’s side, but to do so by making her family so mean cheapens the relationships in the book. The friends that Colby makes are known as weirdos in the school, and the story seems determined to prove that skinny, pretty people are awful and overweight or otherwise unattractive people are the only ones with any character. This stereotype can be quite common in young adults, but I think the author has a responsibility to show that a person’s outer self does not always have to determine what their inner self is like, especially given that our protagonist is not a traditionally pretty girl. I did like that not everything in the story was wrapped up neatly. Colby lied and I like that, even as the main character, she was forced to face the consequences and guilt.

Reader’s Annotation:

When Colby and her family move to a small town, she’s more miserable than ever. Can trying to overcome her misery make other’s lives even worse?

Information about the Author:

From the author’s website:

Beth Fehlbaum is the author of Big Fat Disaster and The Patience Trilogy (Courage, Hope, and Truth). You can find her online at http:www.bethfehlbaumbooks.com, http://www.uncommonya.com, on Facebook, and on https://twitter.com/bethfehlbaum.   

Genre:

Teen Fiction, Coming of age, Family drama

Curriculum Ties:                   

Eating disorders, mental illness, family issues, suicide

Challenge Issues:

This book could be challenged for language and teen suicide.

Creating a Defense:

• Make sure you have thorough knowledge of the library’s selection policy as well as a copy on hand. Your insight as well as pointing out specific portions of the policy will be helpful in discussion with the patron.
• Always have the library Bill of Rights close to show the patron your library’s commitment to providing all kinds of information.
• Have some reveiws on hand, both good and bad, from respected sources like YALSA or Amazon so both you and the patron can gain an understanding of both sides of the issue.
• Make sure you’re familiar with the books that might be challenged. Be prepared to discuss the book’s intended audience, its educational significance, purpose, and also some alternative titles to read.
• Don’t get defensive. The librarian can’t take the challenge personally and either party getting upset will cause the discussion to devolve into a fight.
• LISTEN. Even if you don’t agree with the patron, their views are as valid as yours and should be respected.

Reading Level:

Grades 9-12

Booktalking Ideas:

How do you deal with your insecurities? Have you ever felt like an outsider at school? Have you or anyone you know ever had suicidal thoughts?

Why is the material included?:

Despite my lack of enjoyment, this is a quick and easy read and most teenagers deal with bullying and negative self image from time to time, so there’s a lot that they could get out of the story.

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