Jemima Small Versus the Universe
Summary:
Jemima Small is funny, intelligent, knows lots of interesting facts, and is a deep thinker. But despite this, Jemima is often unhappy. Her very name makes her feel self-conscious, especially when bullies use it to point out that she is not small at all. To make matters worse, she is selected for a special healthy lifestyle group at school, which draws the bullies’ attention to her even more. There are also many people who know Jemima is special, unique, and worth far more than her physical appearance. Jemima’s story is one focused on how important it is for young people to not be afraid to take up space in the world.
Edited by: Dublin City University
Comment:
Jemima is a sharp and intelligent character who insightfully unpacks society’s focus on the visible, and how bodies are measured against a very narrow social ideal, particularly the bodies of young teenagers. Significantly, the discriminatory and hurtful words and actions of adults are emphasised as much as those of her peers, beginning with the first comments by adults on her body at age eight. Bullying and discrimination by peers is nonetheless a central issue in the novel, and Jemima’s experience of this is keenly detailed in various scenarios. The stigma attached to the healthy lifestyle club is confronted, as are the feelings Jemima regularly experiences around what she sees as others’ policing of her eating and food choices. However, Jemima’s experience of this club also provides wisdom: though the children learn about the nutrients in food, weight loss is not the focus of the club and exercise is focused on how the body feels rather than its potential to shape or shrink the body. The importance of unwavering support of family is underlined throughout.