Fat Kid Rules The World

Title: Fat Kid Rules the World

Author: K.L. Going

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: Difficulties Making and Keeping Friends, Substance abuse, parent-child relationships

Year of Publication: 2003

Publisher & Location: Penguin Putnam

ISBN#: 0-399-23990-1

Target Age Level: middle school, high school

# of Pages: 187

Quality of Illustrations: none

Brief Summary: Seventeen-year-old Troy Billings is six-foot-one and weights three hundred pounds. He has no friends. His dad is ashamed of him. His mom died. His brother is embarrassed by him. He sees no reason for living. Standing along the subway tracks, he is contemplating ending his life when a filthy, scrawny homeless person begins speaking to him. The homeless guy is none other than the legendary Curt McCrae, the best punk rock guitarist in the city. Curt saves Troy’s life; then, for reasons that Troy cannot possibly understand begins an unusual friendship. Curt insists that Troy become the new drummer in his band. There’s just one problem: Troy doesn’t play the drums.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book: Graphic language

Post Reading Activities: Discuss reasons that people stereotype and refuse to be friends with others. This book talks extensively about how Troy feels about being obese and how he feels others view him. This book could be used to discuss those stereotypes and the hardships it places on people dealing with the crisis of obesity. This book also highlights prescription drug abuse which could be discussed with a reader in an effort to understand the addition.