Extra Large
by Tyler Page; illus. by the author
Middle School    First Second    208 pp.
3/25    9781250851574    $22.99
Paper ed.  9781250851567    $14.99
e-book ed.  9781250422767    $9.99

In Button Pusher (rev. 5/22), Tyler gained weight as a side effect of taking Ritalin for his ADHD. In this companion graphic memoir, Page explores the intersection of body image, bullying, and masculinity during his middle school years. Tyler wins an extra-large T-shirt at a racetrack and, while it fits initially, he starts to notice that his pants no longer do. Then his father decides to lose weight and insists the entire family “start eating a little better” and exercise more regularly. Dad’s more-extreme no-sugar diet raises questions for Tyler (“my dad had reached his goal weight…But did losing thirty pounds make him healthier?”). Meanwhile, middle school remains an emotional minefield. Tyler is increasingly insecure about his body; and as his friends mercilessly ridicule other students with pranks and name-calling, it’s only a matter of time before they turn on him. Fortunately, this coincides with a change in bus routes, allowing him to befriend a few other students who allow him to be himself. These positive friendships coincide with the cumulative effects of his healthier habits, providing a good measure of self-acceptance, not to mention closure to the narrative. 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.

From the ">May/June 2025 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.