paula danziger The Cat Ate My Gymsuit
Blogwide disclaimer: I am NOT a qualified reviewer of books or anything else reviewed in this blog except for cupcakes. But children’s books and YA novels are my passion and I’m writing about them because I want some feedback and/or I want to share with you great books or things that should be a part of your life, too.
Having just finished Paula Danziger's The Cat Ate My Gymsuit I can’t BELIEVE I didn’t read this when I was going through my own Marcy Lewis (the main character) phase—an overweight, quiet girl in junior high with a domineering father. Originally written in 1974, this book has hardly aged—or so I suspect.
So much of CAMG reminded me of my everyday battles at that age—but Marcy (her voice is fantastically authentic) was finding an inner strength and taking part in an outer rage that I didn’t know I had the right to have. I felt so uncommon and alone then. No books ‘fit’ what was going on with me and my family. It would have been great to read something empowering that didn’t involve escaping into fantasy books—if only I’d had Paula and Marcy in 1989!
A reviewer on Amazon wrote “In 2006, this book would be counterproductive for young and older women.” I agree Marcy’s mom seems especially weak, but it only helps to underline the outrage girls today should feel for themselves and their mothers in such relationships. If they are baffled by such dynamics today I hope that means they’ll nip in the bud any similarly skewed relationships they find themselves a part of.
How is this book received today? We are back to the same political battle of having our government involved in a war the public has mixed feelings about. How are kids treating the idea of patriotic dissent in CAMG and do they see the book’s relevance in America today?
Are the “mes” of today finding any solace in Marcy’s transformation? Are domineering fathers and cowtowing mothers a thing of the past? Where are overweight girls finding support? If it is usually a symptom of a bigger issue are they getting more help these days?
No! I haven’t read any Amber Brown yet. I will. I’ll get through all of Paula’s books.
Paula passed away in 2004 and there is still an outpouring of remembrance in the children’s book community. I’m sorry I never got to meet her, she sure seems like a firecracker.
