Extra Large
All right, everyone, we’re going to have to talk about…
…growing up.
Extra Large acts as a kind of memoir of the author, though the note at the end of the story indicates that it is not a beat-by-beat retelling of his childhood. While on vacation, Tyler wins a shirt at a state fair. The vendor explains he only has extra large sizes left. Too ecstatic about his victory to really worry, Tyler accepts the shirt. It starts out too large on him, and as the story goes on, he finds that it also eventually becomes too small.
Tyler’s life in middle school is disrupted by the complex relationship he has with how he looks. Inevitable, really, but no less jarring for young people. On top of that, he’s really entering the age where you start forming your individual identity, and unfortunately, that can mean sometimes taking cues from social pressures. Tyler doesn’t always act true to what he really feels and thinks is right, but it is in the interest of self-preservation. These things can seem really important in those early teen years, and I bet a lot of young people would be able to see themselves in this story. It’s a collision of body image, self-esteem, health, and bonding at one of the most confusing times in a person’s life.
What I found most relatable about this comic is that it shows the reader how these sorts of opinions about ourselves and behaviors are formed. Tyler didn’t suddenly wake up and think he was too fat or too big or too anything. It started with how his clothes seemed to fit, how his parents viewed and talked bout food and diet, what the bullies at school called him. And these things keep coming up over time; these are not pivotal moments in Tyler’s life, necessarily, so much as they are ongoing events. Like waves that repeatedly shape rock, these events repeatedly shape Tyler’s opinion on himself and others. Despite the conflict coming from several different sources, the story is not convoluted at all. It’s an easy read with depth, if you seek it out.
The illustrations really lean into the look of a 1990s American cartoon. We’re talking bold colors, hard outlines, and those weird little geometric shapes that you saw on plastic cups and fast food wrappers. If you grew up watching the likes of Pepper Ann or Recess, you’ll get the vibe. There are also no visibly obvious signs that Tyler’s weight changes over time, a detail that I appreciate as weight gain can sometimes seem invisible.
I know some readers might be sensitive to subjects like dieting, weight loss/gain, bullying, and related subjects. The narrative mainly focuses on Tyler’s day-to-day school and social life, but I do think people should be aware that these themes are present.
The best element of the overall story is that Tyler realizes what makes him feel good about who he is as a person, and it has nothing to do with his weight. That higher self-esteem does, however, make him want to act in ways that align with his values, which begets more happiness for himself and others.
Extra Large
By Tyler Page
Macmillan First Second, 2025
ISBN: 9781250851567
Company Age Rating:Â 8-12
NFNT Age Recommendation: Middle Grade (7-11), Tween (10-13)
