A fifth-grade student, Mathéo is passionate about swimming. He excels in competitions and dreams of the Quebec Games. How do you imagine it? Slender and muscular? This is not the case.
Mathéo is fat. “I really wanted to show that yes, it is possible to be fat and to be athletic at a competitive level”, declares Pierre-Alexandre Bonin, about the main character of his new novel, Mathéo against the grain.
The hero, named captain of his school’s swim team, never cared about his weight. “For me, being fat is something descriptive, like having red hair, being left-handed or having blue eyes, like. It does not prevent me from doing anything “, can we read in this novel intended for 12 years and over.
During the first competition of the year, however, Mathéo’s confidence was shaken. An opponent will mock his body. The hurtful comment will affect the young swimmer’s athletic performance, academic performance, mood, relationships with others, and self-image.
“I wanted to show that sometimes a remark like that can have a major impact on a person in all spheres of their life,” explains Pierre-Alexandre Bonin.
“A lot of times, we’ll say, ‘It’s just a joke.’ No, it’s not just a joke. It’s mean. It hurts, ”adds the author.
He knows something about it. He himself has already received derogatory comments about his weight. An example ? He recounts an incident at university: “I was late for a class. I climbed the stairs two steps at a time. […] There’s two guys who came by and they said, “Run, you need it. It will do you good.” Seriously ? Why say that? What does it give them as a feeling of satisfaction to these people? »
Open chat
With Mathéo against the grainthe author, who was partly inspired by his adolescence to write this fictional story, wishes to open the discussion on the bullying experienced by fat people.
“Children’s literature seems to me the most appropriate vehicle to convey this message, because during adolescence, that is where self-esteem is built. This is where fatphobia and bullying in all its forms […] do the most damage,” believes the author of some twenty children’s books.
If I can make a teenager understand that it’s not the number that appears on the scale that determines his value as a human being, I’ll have done my job with this novel.
Pierre-Alexandre Bonin
In his view, many prejudices must be deconstructed. “A fat body is not a sick body. It is not a lazy body. It is a body that can allow you to do many things. »
In the public sphere, more and more voices, especially women, are denouncing fatphobia. Pierre-Alexandre Bonin wanted to join “this fight which is just beginning”.
“It’s really with the writing of Mathéo against the grain that I realized that I had something to say on the subject and that I wanted to take a stand. […] I hope to have animations in the schools around Matheo to speak directly to young people. I hope the teachers will read it and have it read. There is material to open the discussion in class in a healthy and constructive way. »
Fatphobia is the most socially accepted form of stigma because it is often discussed from a public health perspective.
Pierre-Alexandre Bonin
Under the guise of solicitude, people give themselves the right to make comments, notes Pierre-Alexandre Bonin. “People will say, ‘We’re worried about your health.’ […] Why are you particularly worried about my health? Because I’m fat. It’s full of prejudice. »
To those who allow themselves remarks, he advises them this: “Stop commenting. Our bodies are not public property or property. […] Keep your thoughts to yourself. »
And to teenagers who live with grossophobia, he wishes to send them this message: “We have the right to accept and love ourselves as we are. »
Pierre-Alexandre Bonin will participate in the round table “All our bodies are perfect” at the Salon du livre de Montréal, this Wednesday, at 11:15 a.m. He will also be in signing sessions on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.
Mathéo against the grain
Pierre-Alexandre Bonin
Hurtubise
From 12 years old