Extra Large - by Tyler Page

Book Synopsis

Tyler Page returns with a touching middle grade memoir about a boy dealing with Button Pusher weight gain, bullying, and gendered expectations all while starting a new school year.

It's the start of a new school year for Tyler, and with it comes brand-new problems. There are new bullies, new rules, and Tyler's starting to have a new understanding of his body. In the gym locker room, he notices how his body's soft curves contrast with the thin frames and toned muscles of the other boys. And on TV, it seems like someone who looks like Tyler never gets the girl. But is being thin the same thing as being healthy? What's wrong with being fat, anyway? When his dad forces the Page family to start dieting, Tyler discovers the difference between building a body that conforms to society's expectations and one that actually feels good to live in.

Review Quotes

"Sunny full-color illustrations imbue the graphic novel with the nostalgic vibe of a Saturday morning cartoon, while lighthearted and insightful storytelling brings the narrative to a tidy close." -Publishers Weekly

"This coming-of-age memoir addresses body image in males, a topic not often found in middle school books, making it a solid purchase for libraries to fill that gap." -- School Library Journal

"With its nonjudgmental and empathic approach, Extra Large might even get a certain population of lapsed bookworms reading again." -- Shelf Awareness

"In this semiautobiographical follow up to Button Pusher, Page compassionately explores the changes many tweens face. His colorful, expressive cartoon style effectively evokes the emotional realities of his characters. Middle-school readers who are looking for a boy-centered read-alike for Shannon Hale's Real Friends series will find what they're looking for here." -- Booklist

"The visual appeal of the art is strong with bright colors, effective panel layouts, and the occasional use of white space. In his author's note, Page says he slightly rearranged and reshaped the events and characters in this story; nevertheless, the emotional truth resonates." -- Horn Book Magazine

About the Author

Tyler Page is an Eisner-nominated cartoonist and educator. He has worked with a mix of national and international clients and publishers, in addition to publishing books of his own. Tyler lives in Minneapolis, MN with his wife, author/illustrator Cori Doerrfeld, and their two very blonde children. His book Raised on Ritalin was called "essential reading for medical students and those involved in helping address the challenges of ADHD" by the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.