Me and Fat Glenda

Fat Glenda #1

by Lila Perl

Sara Mayberry is bored with life in the staid community of Havenhurst until she meets Fat Glenda

Genres: Young Adult, Family, Kids, Realistic Fiction, Friendship, Fiction, Childrens

160 pages, Paperback

First published September 14, 1974

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This title was so familiar to me I was sure I'd read it at least once, but apparently not because it all seemed new to me. I have to say-it seemed a bit strange to me-a big mysterious buildup, not sure who to trust, and then seemed to end too quickly, leaving me to still feel distrustful of Glenda.
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[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review also appears on my blog, Read-at-Home Mom.

Me and Fat Glenda is another vintage kids' book recently resurrected by Lizzie Skurnick Books. Main character Sara moves with her unconventional parents from California to a Long Island suburb, where their free-spirited ways are decidedly not welcome. The neighbors take issue with Sara's father's backyard junk sculpture, her mother's decision to paint her bedroom ceiling black, and the family's vehicle, a used garbage truck. Glenda, an overweight girl in the neighborhood, takes an instant interest in Sara, and the two form a tentative friendship, despite warnings from their classmates that Glenda is a "squealer" and not to be trusted. As the weeks go by, however, as Sara and those around her are victimized by pranks, she begins to wonder whether Glenda has a sinister side after all.

This book is a great example of the kinds of friendship stories I loved during my upper elementary years. Sara and Glenda are both so well-developed that it is really difficult to decide the true nature of their friendship, and at times, it is easy to empathize with both girls. Perl does a nice job of creating a believable supporting cast as well, including a persnickety girl and mischievous boy who contribute their opinions to Sara's ever-changing view of Glenda. The differences between the two girls' families also nicely highlight the contrast between the conservative Long Islanders and the liberal Californians. The "there goes the neighborhood" attitude of Glenda's mother is annoyingly true to the reaction of many suburban communities to the arrival of outsiders, and adds realism to the story.

My only disappointment with this book is that the suspenseful build-up that occurs throughout the story leads to a wholly unsatisfying ending. Halloween arrives, a few pranks are played, and then everything seems to be resolved in the minds of the characters even though it does not feel that way at all for the reader. The big "secret" about Glenda turns out to be something very minor, which doesn't match the other cruel acts that some of the characters attributed to her. It was nice to see the characters change their minds about Glenda, but I didn't see any evidence to convince the reader to suddenly trust her, which was too bad.

Me and Fat Glenda reminds me of a few other vintage books I have read, including The Afternoon of the Elves by Janet Taylor Lisle, Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley and Me, Elizabeth by E.L. Konigsburg, and Blubber by Judy Blume. It's a must-read for nostalgic adults, and it might grab the interest of middle school girls who like realistic friendship stories that keep the focus away from boys and romance.

[Deana Carpenter · Rating 4 out of 5]

i read this in the 4th grade. i still LOVE it. it's kooky, it's strange. it's funny and plain easy to read. it's been fun reading it to my little girl.

[Tanesha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another one of those books from my childhood/pre-teen years that I fondly recall reading over and over...

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a reread from childhood. My mom used to follow me around the library as I filled a huge bag with books; she picked this one out because she thought the title was funny, and because she wanted to get the hell home. I also read the second one, where Glenda loses a bunch of weight using one old weird trick (sensible diet and exercise).

There is a lot going on here, but mostly it's a story about Sara, a girl caught between her weird Berkeley family and her new straitlaced Long Island suburb, and also between her weird friend Glenda and everyone else at school. Sara is so busy peacemaking that she doesn't have much time to develop much of a personality of her own. The plot is pretty thin, but I liked that Sara stays friends with Glenda even though it wasn't socially advantageous, and that Glenda is a good friend despite being weird and kind of annoying. 2.5 stars.

[Erin Reidy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have to say this was book was a big downer, I was expecting more from it! I love the plot! It's what made me interested in the book, but 40 pages later I hate all the characters! I think the worst part was the parents! I would always get mad at them when the narrator talked about them! They didn't even care about their daughter's thoughts! I wish the word choice was a bit strong so it can paint more of a picture. I also feel that the book was making it seem like being fat is bad/wrong. You should be happy the way you are! One thing I did like is that the main character (narrator) stayed positive almost all of the story. I would read this as a quick read or for a 4th grader who won't go into deep with the text.

Sorry if you think I am being rude, but I just wanted to share my opinion like everyone else on Goodreads :)

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

i read this book when i was in elementary school, and remember thinking how strange it was that the narrator (who was supposed to be a new friend of glenda's) seemed to be fairly disloyal to glenda. i think i was spoken to more by the differences between the opposite income brackets of the two families than any aesthetic discord.

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as a kid and it has stayed with me. Especially the follow-up book. It is kind of hard to find books like this today written about normal kids doing normal things! Lila Perl does a great job taking you into the lives of young teens and making it fun.

[Laurah · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is pretty boring for such a sensational title.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm glad that this book was reprinted, I'd read about it on the Shelf Discovery blog & was hoping to find it one day.

It was good, but man do I wish I had read this when I was 9 years old!

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

an oldie but goodie that I seemed to have missed when it first came out and when the kids were younger

[Ed Aycock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed it as a young reader. Loved it in middle age.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an odd one at times, but it kept my attention enough to want to read more in the series.

[Amelia Kolb · Rating 3 out of 5]

While there were some serious concerns with some aspects of this book, (casual racism from Glenda’s mother and clear fatphobic solutions at the end of the book), this story is overall a fun, cute story of friendship that touches on being an outsider and navigating conflict. The buildup of the history/conflict between Glenda and Rodney keeps the reader engaged. I also personally appreciated the oddness and quirkiness of the characters.

SPOILER Ahead:

My biggest contention with the book was the solution at the end. Sara couldn’t promise that she would stick around forever to provide Glenda with friendship, but she would at least be around for the next year. That way Glenda wouldn’t be sad and eat so much. Sara also suggested Glenda take on the same raw food diet as her (Sara’s) parents to make her thin. Once Glenda became thin, she wouldn’t have any trouble making friends if Sara had to move away from the town. This solution is probably not the best messaging today for young people. I guess in 1972, considering fatness in this way was more acceptable.

[Daphne · Rating 4 out of 5]

An old favorite, although it’s hard to say why. Some of the themes have not aged well. But now I want to make alphabet burgers, paint a black ceiling, and wear leotards. I also was hoping this was a different book, but maybe it’s the sequel I’m thinking of.

[Karen Melk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had so many memories of reading and re-reading this novel when I was growing up ……. Reading it now, as an adult, was kind of shocking………body-shaming plays a huge part in this book - I didn’t remember it that way! Glad to have re-read it but won’t need to do so again.

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t remember much except I loved it. I read it a lot when I was 9 and 10.

[Jennifer Hoey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a chubby girl can make you really insecure and it is nice to have a non-judgemental friend. Great story!

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know I adored this book when I was younger, and I was so happy to be able to read it again (thank you again Open Library). Strangely enough, it wasn't all what I remembered, except the alphabet burgers. I really think my memory combined it with a few other books.

Also, I'm a bit surprised that I didn't realize how similiar it was to both Blubber and Nothing's Fair in the 5th Grade.

It was fun to read again, although I don't like the fact that the way to make everyone like Glenda in the end is to make her lose weight.

[Wileyoneone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book-in my library

[Kelly]

Okay but the ending is horrible. I blew through this in no time, quite enjoying it, until suddenly we can sold Fat Glenda's fatness by raw foods and eating better and counting calories.