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Fat Boy vs. the Cheerleaders
It's geeks versus jocks in an epic battle of the beverages! From "one of the most real, honest, and still funny male voices to come around in a while" (YALSA) comes a brand-new cast of quirky characters, pitting fat boy Gabe against the high school cheerleading team in a battle over control of the school's soda machine. The war is ON! Never have the stakes been so high. Never have the trenches been so deep. Never has one soda vending machine been so vital. When the high school cheerleading team takes over the machine's funds previously collected by the pep band, Gabe will not stand for it. Something must be done.
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First published January 1, 2014
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About the author
Geoff Herbach
17 books226 followersI am the author of the YA title, Stupid Fast (June 2011 from Sourcebooks Fire). I also wrote The Miracle Letters of T. Rimberg, a Novel from Three Rivers Press. When I'm not writing books, I'm writing for Radio Happy Hour or developing ridiculous musical bits.
When I'm not writing, I'm teaching writing at Minnesota State, Mankato, which means I write a lot of comments about writing on student writing.
Writing a lot of writing and reading about writing and writing on reading.
When I'm not writing, I'm teaching writing at Minnesota State, Mankato, which means I write a lot of comments about writing on student writing.
Writing a lot of writing and reading about writing and writing on reading.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 297 reviews
March 12, 2019
I'm sorry, but this was just not a good book. The characters were boring stereotypes and there was nothing about Gabe that made me want to cheer for him. He was rude, inconsiderate, and kind of dull as a person. Also, the whole set-up where he's being interviewed by a "Mr. R" who never speaks just didn't work as a format. Having Gabe ask questions to confirm things Mr. R said just for the sake of not adding Mr. R's dialogue felt silly and annoying. I'm just so sick of books that categorize people as jerky cheerleaders and fat, jokey nerds. High school isn't anything like that in real life, and putting people into such small boxes is a cheap way to get a laugh. And just so everyone knows, a boy who is incredibly overweight does not lose weight and work himself up to running two miles in ONE WEEK. That is just not how the body works. Anyway, this book was up for a Lincoln Book Award this year, and I don't understand that at all. It is just not worth reading.
May 12, 2014
May 6, 2014
Honestville, Minnesota
The following transcript is a verbatim interview with an educator when he was brought into the Truth Police Headquarters for questioning after sharing a review of Geoff Herbach’s Fat Boy vs the Cheerleaders with his students thought to be inconsistent with society’s view of young people. This transcript is respectfully submitted as further evidence that young people are complex, interesting, brave, and not easily defined.
Here’s the truth, Officer Honesty. I can’t believe that’s your real name, by the way. Honest. I was an athlete and a nerd in high school, and by my senior year I was totally comfortable in that role. Yeah, no thanks on the donut, but yes, my friends and teachers played a huge role in my dual nerd/jock development. It took my freshman English teacher nearly a year to indirectly convince me the two identities could coexist and someday thrive. He said something around the lines of, “In five years no one will care what group you were in, but they will remember whether or not you were kind. Be kind and make lots of friends.” I did my best to live this advice out, and now I try to pay it forward to the next generation on a daily basis.
Generalizations about how one defines high school students still dominate the market. In doing so, I often wonder how this impacts a young person’s ability to truly see themselves for who they are and not who society expects them to be. Really? Don’t always believe everything you watch on TV, sir.
Geoff Herbach’s Fat Boy vs The Cheerleaders? What about it? Oh, the review I shared with my students. Yeah Officer Honesty, it was that good, and yes, I love that it takes place in my home state of Minnesota. Huh? Are you saying you think the title of the book points to the very generalizations I stand up against, sir? Officer Honesty, are you judging the book by its cool pop can cover, or have you actually read it? If that’s the case, please let me continue sir, and I’ll explain.
Like I told my students, I like this story on many levels, but most importantly I love that good and evil exist in both the jock|cheerleader camp and well as with the nerd|band kids camp. The cliques and friendships in this book are imperfect. The revenge is both wrongheaded and messy, but individual characters also break expectations and boldly march to their own drum, tuba, cheer, or football scholarship.
I tell my students all the time that each day we craft a personal history and when you add up the days eventually some sort of legacy is born. Life is too short not to look for the good in people, sir.
That’s why I love this book. Gabe, the overweight, pop drinking protagonist, is imperfect, but brave enough to exist outside of the societal boundaries placed upon him. That goes for RC III and a few other characters as this humorous tale develops too, sir. In the end this book is about how kids have the power to bravely stand up for themselves and others. To stand tall in the spotlight of their peers and choose stage left instead of stage right. It makes a difference, sir.
Read the book and then you’ll see.
Thank you to Sourcebooks for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review also posted on my blog: http://misterdreads.wordpress.com/201...
Honestville, Minnesota
The following transcript is a verbatim interview with an educator when he was brought into the Truth Police Headquarters for questioning after sharing a review of Geoff Herbach’s Fat Boy vs the Cheerleaders with his students thought to be inconsistent with society’s view of young people. This transcript is respectfully submitted as further evidence that young people are complex, interesting, brave, and not easily defined.
Here’s the truth, Officer Honesty. I can’t believe that’s your real name, by the way. Honest. I was an athlete and a nerd in high school, and by my senior year I was totally comfortable in that role. Yeah, no thanks on the donut, but yes, my friends and teachers played a huge role in my dual nerd/jock development. It took my freshman English teacher nearly a year to indirectly convince me the two identities could coexist and someday thrive. He said something around the lines of, “In five years no one will care what group you were in, but they will remember whether or not you were kind. Be kind and make lots of friends.” I did my best to live this advice out, and now I try to pay it forward to the next generation on a daily basis.
Generalizations about how one defines high school students still dominate the market. In doing so, I often wonder how this impacts a young person’s ability to truly see themselves for who they are and not who society expects them to be. Really? Don’t always believe everything you watch on TV, sir.
Geoff Herbach’s Fat Boy vs The Cheerleaders? What about it? Oh, the review I shared with my students. Yeah Officer Honesty, it was that good, and yes, I love that it takes place in my home state of Minnesota. Huh? Are you saying you think the title of the book points to the very generalizations I stand up against, sir? Officer Honesty, are you judging the book by its cool pop can cover, or have you actually read it? If that’s the case, please let me continue sir, and I’ll explain.
Like I told my students, I like this story on many levels, but most importantly I love that good and evil exist in both the jock|cheerleader camp and well as with the nerd|band kids camp. The cliques and friendships in this book are imperfect. The revenge is both wrongheaded and messy, but individual characters also break expectations and boldly march to their own drum, tuba, cheer, or football scholarship.
I tell my students all the time that each day we craft a personal history and when you add up the days eventually some sort of legacy is born. Life is too short not to look for the good in people, sir.
That’s why I love this book. Gabe, the overweight, pop drinking protagonist, is imperfect, but brave enough to exist outside of the societal boundaries placed upon him. That goes for RC III and a few other characters as this humorous tale develops too, sir. In the end this book is about how kids have the power to bravely stand up for themselves and others. To stand tall in the spotlight of their peers and choose stage left instead of stage right. It makes a difference, sir.
Read the book and then you’ll see.
Thank you to Sourcebooks for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review also posted on my blog: http://misterdreads.wordpress.com/201...
November 12, 2019
I listened to the audio book and loved it. Had a great time as Gabe discusses his exploits trying to regain the pop machine money for the marching band after it was stolen by the new dance team. I liked the first person narrative and Gabe's growth as a person. It was worth my time.
May 10, 2017
Fat Bot VS the Cheerleaders is a book about a fat boy named, Gabriel Johnson. At Minnekota Highschool, he is known as chunk, sausages, fudge balls, butter balls, cake balls, etc. Whenever someone says one of those names to him, he laughs about it on the outside but on the inside, it really hurts his feelings. He barely has any family, one dad because of divorce, and a grandpa who doesn't have enough money to own a house. Gabe has 2 good friends; Justin and Camille. Gabe knew them for awhile. He is in the marching band of the high school and he plays the trombone. His teacher, Mr. Shaver, is a really good band teacher and very nice. So one day, Gabe and others went to his band class, and Mr. Shaver wasn't there. So everybody in the class patiently waited and see if he would come in, but Mr. Shaver didn't come in. Gabe started to think, Maybe Mr. Shaver is sick. Maybe the marching band is losing its funding for next year. Gabe kept on thinking about that. Then he lost patience and said to everybody, "I have totally and completely had enough of this! This means war!" Then the bell rang. In the Summer, he figured out that the band is actually losing its funding for next year and Gabe needed to put a stop to it. At that time, Gabe was going on a diet so people can stop making fun of him and also not feel horrible almost all the time. Gabe wasn't friends with Justin anymore. The reason was because Justin grew a lot of muscle and all the girls started to like him, he turned into a jock that is a jerk. He started to figure out why the marching band was losing the funding for next year. He figured out that it was all because of the cheerleaders, the teacher took all of the money so the cheerleaders get more of an experience of cheerleading. By the way, he works at this place called, Dante's Donuts, so he can make a little bit of money. Later in the Summer, he says to everyone that is in the marching band on FaceBook to come over at the school at 2:15 pm and sneak in the school with their instruments. They were close to where the cheerleaders were practicing. All of a sudden, they all start playing the instruments and the cheerleader teacher hears it and gets really mad. A kid actually got it all on video. Some kids in the band had giant water balloons and threw them at the teacher and the cheerleaders. Then the principal comes to it and gets really mad. Gabe said to him, "We need marching band back!!!" Someone in the band throws a giant water balloon at the principal. He fuses. The principal thought about that marching band and its funds and he agreed to put a stop to the cheerleaders hogging all of the money. Justin heard about it so he started acting less like a jerk and was his best friend again. After that action, Gabe and the marching band stood on stage where over 5000 people are watching. The story ends.
What I liked about Fat Boy VS the Cheerleaders was that there was a lot of action, and revenge.
What I disliked about Fat Boy VS the Cheerleaders was that the story went through too slowly.
The book made me feel mad that the dumb cheerleaders and the teacher hogged all of the money.
I recommend this book to people that like non-cheesy romance, comedy, and people who are above the age 10, because of the language (cussing), and to understand what's happening.
Fat Boy VS the Cheerleaders is a book I cannot compare to another book, it's a one of a kind.
What I liked about Fat Boy VS the Cheerleaders was that there was a lot of action, and revenge.
What I disliked about Fat Boy VS the Cheerleaders was that the story went through too slowly.
The book made me feel mad that the dumb cheerleaders and the teacher hogged all of the money.
I recommend this book to people that like non-cheesy romance, comedy, and people who are above the age 10, because of the language (cussing), and to understand what's happening.
Fat Boy VS the Cheerleaders is a book I cannot compare to another book, it's a one of a kind.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2025
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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December 24, 20180.5/5 How is this nominated for an award? I read the first 15-30 pages and then skimmed the rest. Don’t waste your time on this.
March 6, 2017
Irritated to find out that this book was originally published under a different title and that I had already purchased it for the library. Light-weight YA.
June 26, 2018
This book was silly but a quick read & I finished it in three days. Despite the cliche battle between the popular cheerleaders & jocks vs. the band geeks, it was rewarding to watch Gabe figure out his identity and choose to come to terms with himself and his weight. In the past, he had always used humor as a defense, but he makes new friends that accept & take him seriously. I really enjoyed his relationship with his grandpa and their workouts together; I would certainly recommend this book to high school boys and would compare it to Swim the Fly.
May 10, 2017
Fat boy vs the Cheerleaders is an awesome book and I would definitely recommend it to you if you have not read it.
One of the things that I like about it is that by the end of the book he learns that he and other people should not be judged for their appearance. because in the beginning of the book he was being bulled and he went alone with it and tried to laugh at himself but by the end he was standing up for himself and wasn't letting anybody bully him, this made him more of a leader and he was expressing himself. Overall this made him a more confident and happy person. Another thing that I like about the book and what I liked about Gabe (the main character) was he looked at people in the best way possible for example when Mr. Shaver got arrested Gabe didn't judge him because of that he only remember the good times with Mr. Shaver. The final reason why I like the book is because the whole book is revolved around this one small problem but since they all cared so much about it they made the problem in our minds seem big it was almost like you were in the book.
One of the things that I like about it is that by the end of the book he learns that he and other people should not be judged for their appearance. because in the beginning of the book he was being bulled and he went alone with it and tried to laugh at himself but by the end he was standing up for himself and wasn't letting anybody bully him, this made him more of a leader and he was expressing himself. Overall this made him a more confident and happy person. Another thing that I like about the book and what I liked about Gabe (the main character) was he looked at people in the best way possible for example when Mr. Shaver got arrested Gabe didn't judge him because of that he only remember the good times with Mr. Shaver. The final reason why I like the book is because the whole book is revolved around this one small problem but since they all cared so much about it they made the problem in our minds seem big it was almost like you were in the book.
May 7, 2014
Although FAT BOY VS. THE CHEERLEADERS is Geoff Herbach's fourth novel, it is his first that isn't about Felton Reinstein. There are similarities: new narrator Gabe is also a teen boy from a single parent household who finds himself developing new relationships and a new devotion to his interests. There's a similar stream-of-consciousness style. But while FAT BOY VS. THE CHEERLEADERS doesn't find Herbach stepping completely outside of its wheelhouse, it isn't a retread of Herbach's debut trilogy.
Gabe drinks lots of sodas from the machine in the cafeteria - they're cheap, delicious, and the money supports the band. Gabe is a band member, and it's probably his favorite thing about school. He and his friends notice a link between the biggest kids in school, the poorest kids in school, and the kids who drink the most soda in school, but they money goes to support the band, so it all works out. At the end of the school year, there's a sudden soda price hike, the announcement of a new dance team, and band camp is cancelled. Gabe can put two and two together.
I was in band in high school, along with probably a fourth to a third of the school. It kind of amazes me that there aren't more band geek stories in YA. Herbach, through Gabe, really expresses what's great about band. That element added a special bit of appeal to me. I think the title and cover are punchy, but wish there had been a way for the band element to be apparent without reading the blurb.
FAT BOY VS. THE CHEERLEADERS is framed as Gabe's confession to the police for stealing $14 from the infamous soda machine. Thus, from the start readers know things are set to go awry. Gabe's rambling confession is not all that plausible, but it is entertaining. I loved seeing him grow into himself throughout the story and make changes to be a better person. I also liked seeing him receive a kick to the ass whenever he needed one. Gabe may have a good cause, but he's not always in the right.
I know that when it comes to fat characters, people always wonder whether they lose weight and whether weight loss is equated with goodness. Yes, Gabe loses (some) weight. (The story covers a fairly short period of time; I got the impression Gabe was still fat at the end of the story, just slightly less fat.) It worked for me because Gabe's weight came from a combination of unhealthy places: eating crappy food (because his dad never provided anything else), never being physical (except for grudgingly making it through marching band for the glory of concert band), and emotional eating.
FAT BOY VS. THE CHEERLEADERS is a short, snappy read with lots of positive, sly messages. It allows the issues it tackles to be complex, even when they're mined for outsized comedy set pieces. (For instance, despite the title, the book explores why it is wrong to demonize the cheerleaders for profiting from something that adults did.) Herbach continues to be one of my favorite contemporary authors.
Gabe drinks lots of sodas from the machine in the cafeteria - they're cheap, delicious, and the money supports the band. Gabe is a band member, and it's probably his favorite thing about school. He and his friends notice a link between the biggest kids in school, the poorest kids in school, and the kids who drink the most soda in school, but they money goes to support the band, so it all works out. At the end of the school year, there's a sudden soda price hike, the announcement of a new dance team, and band camp is cancelled. Gabe can put two and two together.
I was in band in high school, along with probably a fourth to a third of the school. It kind of amazes me that there aren't more band geek stories in YA. Herbach, through Gabe, really expresses what's great about band. That element added a special bit of appeal to me. I think the title and cover are punchy, but wish there had been a way for the band element to be apparent without reading the blurb.
FAT BOY VS. THE CHEERLEADERS is framed as Gabe's confession to the police for stealing $14 from the infamous soda machine. Thus, from the start readers know things are set to go awry. Gabe's rambling confession is not all that plausible, but it is entertaining. I loved seeing him grow into himself throughout the story and make changes to be a better person. I also liked seeing him receive a kick to the ass whenever he needed one. Gabe may have a good cause, but he's not always in the right.
I know that when it comes to fat characters, people always wonder whether they lose weight and whether weight loss is equated with goodness. Yes, Gabe loses (some) weight. (The story covers a fairly short period of time; I got the impression Gabe was still fat at the end of the story, just slightly less fat.) It worked for me because Gabe's weight came from a combination of unhealthy places: eating crappy food (because his dad never provided anything else), never being physical (except for grudgingly making it through marching band for the glory of concert band), and emotional eating.
FAT BOY VS. THE CHEERLEADERS is a short, snappy read with lots of positive, sly messages. It allows the issues it tackles to be complex, even when they're mined for outsized comedy set pieces. (For instance, despite the title, the book explores why it is wrong to demonize the cheerleaders for profiting from something that adults did.) Herbach continues to be one of my favorite contemporary authors.
November 14, 2014
Summary- Chunk/ Gabe/ Gabriel is a over weight high school young adult who has the craziest story ever with and happy ending. It all started from raising some money for his band group by collecting soda bottle cans. Then the prices were raised to help out the cheerleader's group which weren't nicest people to him. Gabe then felt as it was time to put his foot down even though they barely left the floor. Gabe got into it all very fast. The cheerleaders jock boyfriends wanting to kill him, falling for a girl that he liked deeply, dealing with his dad anger from pain and stress, going through his granddad's living hell workout, the relation ship with his suppose to be friends and also the hurt from his mom leaving him to be with another man and live a new life.
Critical Evaluation- I liked that the book was funny, scary but funny at the same time. Even as Gabe tells his story good or bad the author still made it possible to write jokes to make me forget the pain he went through. The only dislike I feel towards the book is the ending, it came to a end to short. In the beginning it was long to get to the middle and the middle gave the most exciting points, then the end came finally and just was done. The author could have gave some more events then ended it like she did. The key settings in the book was mainly Gore's house because that's where all the stuff started. Gabe's group unity, Gabe's relationship with Gore and the place that Gabe got in trouble at the most. Also the school all the kids attended. All the commotion went down there. Buying the soda, the cheerleaders meetings, and mainly the fight between Gabe's geek squad vs Seth (one of the cheerleader's boyfriends). The main characters are Gabe(main character), Gore(Gabe's girlfriend), Camille(Gabe's female friend), Justin(Gabe's ex friend who trades on him) , Mr.R(the officer Gabe tells his story to), Gabe's dad, Gabe's granddad and the cheerleaders(they started the war). The main problem is Gabe is picked on a lot by the popular kids and the thing he enjoys the most(soda and band) are about to be taken away to help the people that are mean to him. The resolution is all the kids admit their wrongs and come together after their punishment. The writing style was like the main character telling his story to another character and you picture the things that he's telling.
Conclusion- I would recommend this book to someone who likes something new every page. Also funny, realistic fiction that catches your eye very quickly. This book would be good for some one who likes to picture what they read. This book is just like a different it gives you the expecting, I advise all to give this a chance.
Critical Evaluation- I liked that the book was funny, scary but funny at the same time. Even as Gabe tells his story good or bad the author still made it possible to write jokes to make me forget the pain he went through. The only dislike I feel towards the book is the ending, it came to a end to short. In the beginning it was long to get to the middle and the middle gave the most exciting points, then the end came finally and just was done. The author could have gave some more events then ended it like she did. The key settings in the book was mainly Gore's house because that's where all the stuff started. Gabe's group unity, Gabe's relationship with Gore and the place that Gabe got in trouble at the most. Also the school all the kids attended. All the commotion went down there. Buying the soda, the cheerleaders meetings, and mainly the fight between Gabe's geek squad vs Seth (one of the cheerleader's boyfriends). The main characters are Gabe(main character), Gore(Gabe's girlfriend), Camille(Gabe's female friend), Justin(Gabe's ex friend who trades on him) , Mr.R(the officer Gabe tells his story to), Gabe's dad, Gabe's granddad and the cheerleaders(they started the war). The main problem is Gabe is picked on a lot by the popular kids and the thing he enjoys the most(soda and band) are about to be taken away to help the people that are mean to him. The resolution is all the kids admit their wrongs and come together after their punishment. The writing style was like the main character telling his story to another character and you picture the things that he's telling.
Conclusion- I would recommend this book to someone who likes something new every page. Also funny, realistic fiction that catches your eye very quickly. This book would be good for some one who likes to picture what they read. This book is just like a different it gives you the expecting, I advise all to give this a chance.
September 23, 2014
Fat Boy vs the Cheerleaders is one of those cases of me picking up a book based solely on its title. I defy you to pass that title in your local bookstore or library and not, at the very least, be curious.
When Gabe discovers that the proceeds from the school's vending machine have been redirected from the band program to a new cheerleader dance squad, he sees red. And not the Mountain Dew Code Red that he'd been purchasing from the machine with his hard earned, part-time job money at a local doughnut store. With passion and zeal, Gabe throws himself into figuring out how this has happened and what he can do about it.
Starting with giving up his beloved soda, Gabe embarks on a campaign to find what happened to the band's funding and what, if anything, he can do to get it back. Over the course of the novel, Gabe alienates school administration, his father and some of his older friends while learning a bit more about how to make his voice heard, gaining new friends (and possibly a girlfriend) and the value of getting to work on time.
From the beginning, we know that Gabe has gone too far since the story is told from Gabe's side of the conversation with his lawyer.
This is my first time reading a novel by Geoff Herbach and I can say it likely won't be my last. Gabe's story is funny and compelling, helped a great deal by Gabe's asides and comments on the events unfolding. Gabe's zeal in getting the band program reinstated, all while trying to make better choices only to be thwarted by himself time and again makes for a poignant portrayal. Sometimes Gabe doesn't realize he's gone to far until it's too late and the book wisely allows us to see that Gabe faces consequences to his actions, even if they prove to be successful.
While the book is self contained, I can't help but feel like I'd enjoy another book with Gabe, if only to see how things develop from here. Can he maintain the new workout regiment and diet that he and his grandfather are doing? Can he continue to work on his relationship with his dad? And what about the new friends he gains over the course of this book?
When Gabe discovers that the proceeds from the school's vending machine have been redirected from the band program to a new cheerleader dance squad, he sees red. And not the Mountain Dew Code Red that he'd been purchasing from the machine with his hard earned, part-time job money at a local doughnut store. With passion and zeal, Gabe throws himself into figuring out how this has happened and what he can do about it.
Starting with giving up his beloved soda, Gabe embarks on a campaign to find what happened to the band's funding and what, if anything, he can do to get it back. Over the course of the novel, Gabe alienates school administration, his father and some of his older friends while learning a bit more about how to make his voice heard, gaining new friends (and possibly a girlfriend) and the value of getting to work on time.
From the beginning, we know that Gabe has gone too far since the story is told from Gabe's side of the conversation with his lawyer.
This is my first time reading a novel by Geoff Herbach and I can say it likely won't be my last. Gabe's story is funny and compelling, helped a great deal by Gabe's asides and comments on the events unfolding. Gabe's zeal in getting the band program reinstated, all while trying to make better choices only to be thwarted by himself time and again makes for a poignant portrayal. Sometimes Gabe doesn't realize he's gone to far until it's too late and the book wisely allows us to see that Gabe faces consequences to his actions, even if they prove to be successful.
While the book is self contained, I can't help but feel like I'd enjoy another book with Gabe, if only to see how things develop from here. Can he maintain the new workout regiment and diet that he and his grandfather are doing? Can he continue to work on his relationship with his dad? And what about the new friends he gains over the course of this book?
May 7, 2016
Short review:
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
From the blurb I expected something epic, something special, something awesome. Sadly, it was not meant to be.Sure there is a big part that is about the soda stuff, but I felt it was over the top at times. At other times I just got bored because nothing happened. They kept talking about doing something, but didn't do much at first. And later it all escalated into one big thing which included the police and all that.
There is one thing that made this book lose stars. You know it is an interview, but I hated the interruptions. We would get at a part, and suddenly you would read things like: "Yes, Sir, that is how it happened", or "No, Sir, I you said I should tell everything". At first I didn't mind, actually found it interesting, but after a few pages of interruptions I was done with it.
I did like the main character and his struggle with his weight and that is actually doing something about it. That is actually fighting it. I loved that he tried to act all funny about it (like shaking his ass or making duck faces when cheerleaders teased him). I also felt sorry for him. His weight, the fact he was teased/bullied about it, his whole family situation.
I was so proud at the ending when he fitted through that basement window (loved his reaction).
The ending was fun, I loved how the band bonded together and did that concert.
But all in all, it was just boring for a big part and just not what I expected.
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
From the blurb I expected something epic, something special, something awesome. Sadly, it was not meant to be.Sure there is a big part that is about the soda stuff, but I felt it was over the top at times. At other times I just got bored because nothing happened. They kept talking about doing something, but didn't do much at first. And later it all escalated into one big thing which included the police and all that.
There is one thing that made this book lose stars. You know it is an interview, but I hated the interruptions. We would get at a part, and suddenly you would read things like: "Yes, Sir, that is how it happened", or "No, Sir, I you said I should tell everything". At first I didn't mind, actually found it interesting, but after a few pages of interruptions I was done with it.
I did like the main character and his struggle with his weight and that is actually doing something about it. That is actually fighting it. I loved that he tried to act all funny about it (like shaking his ass or making duck faces when cheerleaders teased him). I also felt sorry for him. His weight, the fact he was teased/bullied about it, his whole family situation.
I was so proud at the ending when he fitted through that basement window (loved his reaction).
The ending was fun, I loved how the band bonded together and did that concert.
But all in all, it was just boring for a big part and just not what I expected.
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
October 16, 2015
Geoff Herbach’s Fat Boy vs the Cheerleaders is a really fun story that I enjoyed more than I had expected I would. It has the cliche "geeks vs the popular kids" plot, but it is a very humorous and light story. It allowed me to just shut my brain off for a bit and escape, and since I listened to the audio version, it made my commute to school and work much more enjoyable. The story focuses on Gabe, (aka Chunk), who is an overweight high school band geek, and follows him, his friends, fellow band mates, and family. The high school he attends has a soda vending machine, and its profits were intended to go towards supporting the school marching band, or so they thought. It turns out that the school decides to give the soda machine money to the cheerleading squad, and chaos ensues.
Since I actually listened to the audio book for this novel rather than reading the physical text, it made this story a unique experience. Nick Podehl’s narration is outstanding and really brings the story to life. He uses a different voice for each character which brings the characters to another level and makes the story more vibrant and colorful. He really helps you envision the story in your mind and makes it a lot of fun for the listener. Fat Boy has a lot of laugh out loud moments, and listening to the audio definitely enhances the quality of the story tremendously. I would definitely recommend this story, preferably the audio version, if you’re looking for a nice, easy to digest, fun escape to pass the time.
Since I actually listened to the audio book for this novel rather than reading the physical text, it made this story a unique experience. Nick Podehl’s narration is outstanding and really brings the story to life. He uses a different voice for each character which brings the characters to another level and makes the story more vibrant and colorful. He really helps you envision the story in your mind and makes it a lot of fun for the listener. Fat Boy has a lot of laugh out loud moments, and listening to the audio definitely enhances the quality of the story tremendously. I would definitely recommend this story, preferably the audio version, if you’re looking for a nice, easy to digest, fun escape to pass the time.
August 31, 2018
Hm. Okay, this book was enjoyable enough to give it a positive rating. I didn't hate it or have any ragey moments while reading. Gabe was a realistic character who showed growth. I loved how he realized he was just as guilty of being judgmental as the cheerleaders and the guys who bullied him. He's class clown and decides he's done being a joke. He doesn't sink into self-pity too many times, and though I didn't adore his character, he was relateable. The side characters, especially Gore and RC 3 were fantastic. Huge kudos for including a minority best friend who was so developed he kind of took over the story and was DEFINITELY the most compelling character with depth and wisdom.
As far as cons in this one. It was a little bit muddled at times, as if it were trying to take on too many issues. The parts with Gabe's parents were kind of thrown in there, as they only appeared when convenient for the plot and disappeared after that without further mention. I'm fine with endings that don't tie everything up in a neat, cheerful bow, but the loose ends were left hanging.
Overall, it was a decent read but could find other with similar messages that did it better.
Objectionable content: Lots of swearing, name calling, some bullying, and horny teenage boy talk that objectifies women.
As far as cons in this one. It was a little bit muddled at times, as if it were trying to take on too many issues. The parts with Gabe's parents were kind of thrown in there, as they only appeared when convenient for the plot and disappeared after that without further mention. I'm fine with endings that don't tie everything up in a neat, cheerful bow, but the loose ends were left hanging.
Overall, it was a decent read but could find other with similar messages that did it better.
Objectionable content: Lots of swearing, name calling, some bullying, and horny teenage boy talk that objectifies women.
Read
March 19, 2014"That's probably just what's happening to me right now. Everybody chattering about the fat boy breaking and entering. Glad I'm locked in here instead of there in the cruel world."
Meet Gabe Johnson: student, trombone player, donut salesman, activist... criminal. Gabe, or "Chunk," tells us his story from an interrogation room. And why? Because he broke into a school soda vending machine--but there's a really good story behind it! Well, a crazy story, including shady school board meetings, riverside brawls, spooky goth houses, body-building grandpas, Facebook GIF wars, and... yeah, more.
Oh, did I forget the cheerleaders? You can't miss them. Just follow the smell of conspiracy. And the fizz of soda.
Check out this book if you are an activist at heart, like Gabe. Or if you are misunderstood, like Gore. The great thing about this book is that no character is who he or she seems, at first. Motives are multi-layered. Outcomes are surprising.
Meet Gabe Johnson: student, trombone player, donut salesman, activist... criminal. Gabe, or "Chunk," tells us his story from an interrogation room. And why? Because he broke into a school soda vending machine--but there's a really good story behind it! Well, a crazy story, including shady school board meetings, riverside brawls, spooky goth houses, body-building grandpas, Facebook GIF wars, and... yeah, more.
Oh, did I forget the cheerleaders? You can't miss them. Just follow the smell of conspiracy. And the fizz of soda.
Check out this book if you are an activist at heart, like Gabe. Or if you are misunderstood, like Gore. The great thing about this book is that no character is who he or she seems, at first. Motives are multi-layered. Outcomes are surprising.
December 11, 2014
This book so freakishly reminded me of Winger, it isn't even funny. Gabe (Chunk) has two best friends: Jason and Camille. When Jason starts dating a cheerleader, things get tenuous because apparently Camille thought he was dating her. Eventually, Jason's treachery becomes enough to start a war, because the band Camille and Chunk are in looses funding in order to support the cheer squad. Chunk decides to get some self R.E.S.P.E.C.T. and lose weight with the help of his grandfather, all while trying to unearth the subversive behavior of the school board.
July 21, 2016
I really enjoyed the humor and character development, but the writing could have used polishing. I will note that this is my favorite story about a plus size character's journey through weight loss and getting healthy. Most books focus solely on body image and dieting/exercise. The protagonists journey may occasionally have other life distractions, but typically they focus solely on their weight. This book had the character on a journey of self appreciation and getting healthy, as well as dealing with emotionally abusive family, corrupt school board, faltering friendships, etc. The character also experienced setbacks and binge moments. Over all, it was far more accurate to real life.
December 1, 2016
Gabe Johnson is that kid: the band geek, the fat kid, the comedian; however, when the school takes away the one thing that matters to him (band camp), he gets mad. What I really liked about this book is that what starts as a single thing for Gabe to be upset about turns into a downhill snowball. And there are a lot of things for Gabe to be mad about, but most of all is himself for not being the person he used to be before his mother walked out on him and his father. Good book for boys in middle school and up looking for realistic fiction and a book that shows how people can change.
August 5, 2021
It wasn't awful.
I feel like the author relied too much on stereotypes for this story. That said, there is a group of middle school boys who will love this story because of the farts and stereotypes. It had a feel good ending, but there are too many questions I have left about storylines that never went anywhere.
I feel like the author relied too much on stereotypes for this story. That said, there is a group of middle school boys who will love this story because of the farts and stereotypes. It had a feel good ending, but there are too many questions I have left about storylines that never went anywhere.
January 1, 2014
While lighter in tone that Herbach's previous works like Stupid Fast, the characters are relatable and honest. Herbach nails teen angst without making me roll my eyes--a tricky balance of snark, wallowing, and sparks of insight.
Read
April 28, 2015This was an advance reader copy that John brought home from a conference. It was a fun, cheerful YA read - much, much, much needed after reading Dark Places. I needed a brain cleanse/reset button between books.
February 17, 2014
Wow! What a smart, funny book, with a ton of heart. The vivid voice, sharp humor, and raw honesty of main character Gabe kept me turning pages; I just had to make sure everything worked out.
January 11, 2015
This was slightly less bad than the title sounds.
December 19, 2019
Walking into the library this book caught my eye as soon as I walked in. The title kept me curious on how this book was. I don’t like reading, so for a book to have my interest this much i just knew it was good. How a pop machine could cause so much drama in a small school. It all started at the end of the school year when summer was coming up. This was like life or death for these kids. The story tells us the journey of a loser kid named Gabe aka chunk and his journey to grow as an individual. The pop machine stopped supporting the band, so this creates a huge problem because the band couldn't go to band anymore. Only people to blame for this is the cheerleaders who just created a new dance team. Gabe was getting tired of being walked over so he stood up for himself to try and save the band. He created a campaign with his best friend Camille who is also part of the band team. They planned on going on a soda heist but came up with this crazy idea to throw a concert. With the motivation of some of his peers he is trying to accomplish a personal goal. Gabe is trying to workout and eat better to lose weight. Which he could inspire many because he has worked hard even when it was hard.
I love the themes in this book and how the author told this story. How if you put your mind to it that you can accomplish anything. Another one is hard work and dedication pays off. That just made me want to read it more after seeing how much organic growth chunk has made. He would be a jerk sometimes to other from people doing it to hm. He change that bc he didnt want to be seen like that or still be a loser. What stuck out to me is he writes similar in his other books like stupid fast and hooper. He uses a diary of a wimpy kid humor that draws my attention. Throughout the whole book he used detailed words and imagery. This helps create a lot of visual images in my head that better help me understand what was going on.
This book is great literature and will be read for awhile. There is a lot of meaning behind this book which just makes it 10x better. It has everything you need in it. Has comedy, a lot of action, sad, also inspiring things. This is a book that would keep you on your toes to wonder what's going to happen next. Trust me this book will surprise you at times. It is relevant to people's lives, especially how high school work. Lot of kids that are losers and get picked on. All they need is someone to inspire them like RC lll did with chunk. Him being famous in the school he still saw chunk as a best friend. He neve judge him on how he looks or the things he did. Everyone has an obstacle to get through and instead of giving up. You should push through to have a great outcome. This could change a person a lot on the way they act or carry themselves.
It connected to my life because the stuff he went through with growing up with only one parent. How he had to stay focus to become successful and to achieve what he wanted. Felt like that was me because I wanted to grow as a person so i tried hanging and talking to people that I don't usually do to make there day. How my work ethic paid off in basketball which help me with recruiting. I use to be god awful and always stayed on video games. Watching others doing good in life inspired me to want to. That's why i love his journey he had to go through.
My favorite part is when he was describing what his grandfather was wearing and doing when they were training. You could imagine an old men wearing speedos working out. I thought that was hilarious having to watch your grandfather do that in front of you. My least favorite part is when all the kids were making fun of him in P.E when he had to run. I don’t think that's cool to make fun of someone because they could have problems at home you don’t know about. I would rate this book because i never lost attention from it. I stayed focus the whole book when I was reading. People who are in high school would probably read this book more than others.
I love the themes in this book and how the author told this story. How if you put your mind to it that you can accomplish anything. Another one is hard work and dedication pays off. That just made me want to read it more after seeing how much organic growth chunk has made. He would be a jerk sometimes to other from people doing it to hm. He change that bc he didnt want to be seen like that or still be a loser. What stuck out to me is he writes similar in his other books like stupid fast and hooper. He uses a diary of a wimpy kid humor that draws my attention. Throughout the whole book he used detailed words and imagery. This helps create a lot of visual images in my head that better help me understand what was going on.
This book is great literature and will be read for awhile. There is a lot of meaning behind this book which just makes it 10x better. It has everything you need in it. Has comedy, a lot of action, sad, also inspiring things. This is a book that would keep you on your toes to wonder what's going to happen next. Trust me this book will surprise you at times. It is relevant to people's lives, especially how high school work. Lot of kids that are losers and get picked on. All they need is someone to inspire them like RC lll did with chunk. Him being famous in the school he still saw chunk as a best friend. He neve judge him on how he looks or the things he did. Everyone has an obstacle to get through and instead of giving up. You should push through to have a great outcome. This could change a person a lot on the way they act or carry themselves.
It connected to my life because the stuff he went through with growing up with only one parent. How he had to stay focus to become successful and to achieve what he wanted. Felt like that was me because I wanted to grow as a person so i tried hanging and talking to people that I don't usually do to make there day. How my work ethic paid off in basketball which help me with recruiting. I use to be god awful and always stayed on video games. Watching others doing good in life inspired me to want to. That's why i love his journey he had to go through.
My favorite part is when he was describing what his grandfather was wearing and doing when they were training. You could imagine an old men wearing speedos working out. I thought that was hilarious having to watch your grandfather do that in front of you. My least favorite part is when all the kids were making fun of him in P.E when he had to run. I don’t think that's cool to make fun of someone because they could have problems at home you don’t know about. I would rate this book because i never lost attention from it. I stayed focus the whole book when I was reading. People who are in high school would probably read this book more than others.
April 26, 2020
2.5 (3) Stars - Apr 24 - Apr 26, 2020
I was really excited about this book (well, that goes without saying, I'm excited about EVERY book I pick up - for the most part), but I am particularly into "positive body image lit." These are books like Dumplin', Puddin', and There's Something About Sweetie. LOVE THEM. After all, I've been waiting for over 30 years for the big girl to win. This character never learns to love himself though. Not as he is. He is committed to the idea that he can only like himself if he loses weight and gets fit. Don't get me wrong, being fit is important, but liking yourself is MORE important. If one doesn't like themselves, they will find that any goal they set becomes VERY hard indeed. That being said, this main character wasn't really likable (even to me), to be very honest. He had all the ingredients of a likable kid - self-proclaimed "geek" (I LOVE geeks), self-deprecating humor, and a desire to put his foot down and NOT TAKE ANYONE's CRAP anymore! What's not to like? He just wasn't all that nice. Granted, he was a pretty put-down dude with some tough stuff in his background, but come on! None of us have had a PERFECT life, neither do we use that fact as an excuse to be a butt head.
On the other hand, perhaps it was the style of narration that kept me at bay. The story was told in "transcript form." It was written as a recording of Gabe (otherwise known as "Chunk") giving a statement to his lawyer. The odd thing is, Gabe speaks directly to Mr. Rodriguez, but Mr. R's answers are completely left out of the transcript. There is no dialogue between them. It is JUST ODD. There are moments when the people in Gabe's life speak to him (in his story) but there are large chunks without dialogue so to speak. It is more a stream of consciousness. Meh. Not my taste.
He is also a little rude. I think that the kids would find him funny at times, and maybe they would like the story too if they could get past the narration style. I think it would put them off just as it did me, and many may give it up without giving it a chance. I wanted to give it up until about 3/4 of the way through when the action finally grabbed me. In all fairness, it DID grab me, so maybe I should give it a 2.5 star. (I will bump it up to 3 just to be positive).
Overall, it wasn't wretched, and I didn't drop it, but I wished it were a little . . . .something else.
I was really excited about this book (well, that goes without saying, I'm excited about EVERY book I pick up - for the most part), but I am particularly into "positive body image lit." These are books like Dumplin', Puddin', and There's Something About Sweetie. LOVE THEM. After all, I've been waiting for over 30 years for the big girl to win. This character never learns to love himself though. Not as he is. He is committed to the idea that he can only like himself if he loses weight and gets fit. Don't get me wrong, being fit is important, but liking yourself is MORE important. If one doesn't like themselves, they will find that any goal they set becomes VERY hard indeed. That being said, this main character wasn't really likable (even to me), to be very honest. He had all the ingredients of a likable kid - self-proclaimed "geek" (I LOVE geeks), self-deprecating humor, and a desire to put his foot down and NOT TAKE ANYONE's CRAP anymore! What's not to like? He just wasn't all that nice. Granted, he was a pretty put-down dude with some tough stuff in his background, but come on! None of us have had a PERFECT life, neither do we use that fact as an excuse to be a butt head.
On the other hand, perhaps it was the style of narration that kept me at bay. The story was told in "transcript form." It was written as a recording of Gabe (otherwise known as "Chunk") giving a statement to his lawyer. The odd thing is, Gabe speaks directly to Mr. Rodriguez, but Mr. R's answers are completely left out of the transcript. There is no dialogue between them. It is JUST ODD. There are moments when the people in Gabe's life speak to him (in his story) but there are large chunks without dialogue so to speak. It is more a stream of consciousness. Meh. Not my taste.
He is also a little rude. I think that the kids would find him funny at times, and maybe they would like the story too if they could get past the narration style. I think it would put them off just as it did me, and many may give it up without giving it a chance. I wanted to give it up until about 3/4 of the way through when the action finally grabbed me. In all fairness, it DID grab me, so maybe I should give it a 2.5 star. (I will bump it up to 3 just to be positive).
Overall, it wasn't wretched, and I didn't drop it, but I wished it were a little . . . .something else.
August 27, 2018
I honestly wasn't sure what this book was going to be about, but my librarian had it sitting on this desk because it is a Lincoln award book and I judged the book by its cover. I thought it was going to be a funny book that I would laugh my way through; I was throughly surprised! This book was amazing. It had a good plot that kept me intrigued the entire time. I caught myself rooting for the geeks at time and hoping that they would find a way out of their problem. The book is entirely from the view of Gabe A.K.A. Chunk as he retells the story of what has happened to him in the last two weeks to Mr. Rodriguez. I wasn't sure how I felt about this format, but I learned to love it. I also felt bad for Chunk because he realizes that he doesn't like being made fun of for his weight, when before he would just laugh with the rest of the kids who were laughing at him, not with him. He tries to overcome his problem by working out and eating healthier and learns how to have dignity for himself. He also learns that name calling is wrong, after he had been called names for so many years and he had been calling the cheerleaders and jocks names. His mom left him when he was middle school and his dad didn't know how to handle it. That is where his weight problem came from; no one was there to take care of him. He had to do his best on his own, but his friends were always there for him; until they weren't. When Chunk needed his best friend Justin because the band wasn't going to have a summer camp, Justin gave him the cold shoulder and didn't care. He tried his best to solve this problem, but kept finding himself in the wrong place and no one would take him seriously. The geeks came together and defeated the cheerleaders. This book was funny and serious, but not too serious. I would totally recommend this book to anyone. I really enjoyed it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2024
Summarize the book ( NO Quotes )
Beginning- In the beginning, Gabe gets made fun of and called names like chunk, fudge balls and drinks sodas a lot. When people call him those names he laughs but he doesn’t really like it. Gabe is friends with Justin and Camille and works at Dante’s Donuts. He is also in the marching band and plays trombone. Gabe really likes band and his band teacher is Mr. Shaver. But, the marching band was losing its funds for next year.
Middle- Gabe and his friends figured out that the reason why the band was losing its funds was because of the cheerleaders. Gabe is also really overweight and he wants his grandpa who is super fit to help him work out. He also stopped being friends with Justin because all of the girls liked him and he wasn’t the same as he used to be.
End- The principal agreed to stop the cheerleaders from using all of the money. Justin finally went back to the way he used to be. At the end, Gabe and his band performed in front of 5,000 people.
Characters
Gabe
Gabe in the beginning was getting made fun of and lazy.
Gabe in the end is a better person and has drive.
Camille
Camille in the beginning was always cranky or had an attitude.
Camille in the end is more chill and very funny.
Justin
Justin in the beginning was a jerk and a little rude.
Justin in the end is friends with Gabe and Camille.
Themes and Messages
Getting bullied- If you get bullied, stand up for yourself.
Conflict
Band against the cheerleaders.
Personal Reflection
Things I Liked
I like how Gabe stood up for the band and wouldn’t let the cheerleaders steal their funds.
Things I Didn’t Like
Really lacked suspense.
Recommendation
Who SHOULD- If you like band or struggle with weight
Who SHOULDN’T- If you don’t like bullying or comedy
Real World Connections
Kids get bullied everyday in school.
Struggling with obesity problems.
Beginning- In the beginning, Gabe gets made fun of and called names like chunk, fudge balls and drinks sodas a lot. When people call him those names he laughs but he doesn’t really like it. Gabe is friends with Justin and Camille and works at Dante’s Donuts. He is also in the marching band and plays trombone. Gabe really likes band and his band teacher is Mr. Shaver. But, the marching band was losing its funds for next year.
Middle- Gabe and his friends figured out that the reason why the band was losing its funds was because of the cheerleaders. Gabe is also really overweight and he wants his grandpa who is super fit to help him work out. He also stopped being friends with Justin because all of the girls liked him and he wasn’t the same as he used to be.
End- The principal agreed to stop the cheerleaders from using all of the money. Justin finally went back to the way he used to be. At the end, Gabe and his band performed in front of 5,000 people.
Characters
Gabe
Gabe in the beginning was getting made fun of and lazy.
Gabe in the end is a better person and has drive.
Camille
Camille in the beginning was always cranky or had an attitude.
Camille in the end is more chill and very funny.
Justin
Justin in the beginning was a jerk and a little rude.
Justin in the end is friends with Gabe and Camille.
Themes and Messages
Getting bullied- If you get bullied, stand up for yourself.
Conflict
Band against the cheerleaders.
Personal Reflection
Things I Liked
I like how Gabe stood up for the band and wouldn’t let the cheerleaders steal their funds.
Things I Didn’t Like
Really lacked suspense.
Recommendation
Who SHOULD- If you like band or struggle with weight
Who SHOULDN’T- If you don’t like bullying or comedy
Real World Connections
Kids get bullied everyday in school.
Struggling with obesity problems.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2020
Fat Boy vs the cheerleaders is a very interesting book that is worth the time to read the next time you go for a book to use to pass time and have a good quick little laugh.
The book is about a fat kid named “Chunk” that rallies his fellow nerd friends to save the school band from the cheerleaders that are taking the money out of the pop machine that is supposed to be used to support the school band.And throughout the story he is trying to devise plans to overthrow the cheerleaders new cheer-leading camp and save the school band.And at the same time Chunk is trying to fix his personal problems with his relationships and his friends along with his health.
The book itself is very entertaining and full of funny things.And always keeps you coming back for more and there is never a dull moment.Plus all the back stories and characters are pretty typical but very unique in this story in their own ways.And the story line is very interesting and sometimes relatable. And all the characters play their own special role and do it very well throughout the story.
If you want to read a short funny and quick book.Then this is the book for you but I would have to say that the book veers towards a younger audience due to its choice of humor and its plot.There is also quite a bit of vulgar language.Its 311 pages so if your an avid reader then you will most likely finish this book relatively quickly.
If you're looking for a book to read for a quick laugh and don't want to spend too much time on it or read a book to pass time then Fat Boy vs the cheerleaders is the book for you.
The book is about a fat kid named “Chunk” that rallies his fellow nerd friends to save the school band from the cheerleaders that are taking the money out of the pop machine that is supposed to be used to support the school band.And throughout the story he is trying to devise plans to overthrow the cheerleaders new cheer-leading camp and save the school band.And at the same time Chunk is trying to fix his personal problems with his relationships and his friends along with his health.
The book itself is very entertaining and full of funny things.And always keeps you coming back for more and there is never a dull moment.Plus all the back stories and characters are pretty typical but very unique in this story in their own ways.And the story line is very interesting and sometimes relatable. And all the characters play their own special role and do it very well throughout the story.
If you want to read a short funny and quick book.Then this is the book for you but I would have to say that the book veers towards a younger audience due to its choice of humor and its plot.There is also quite a bit of vulgar language.Its 311 pages so if your an avid reader then you will most likely finish this book relatively quickly.
If you're looking for a book to read for a quick laugh and don't want to spend too much time on it or read a book to pass time then Fat Boy vs the cheerleaders is the book for you.
May 8, 2018
This book was fun, I will admit it. All hell can break loose when you take funding from the band, let me just say that!
This is a geeks, fight the power book and it was a fun way of looking at a real issue which is the loss of music in schools. When Gabe finds out that the money from the vending machine is being taken from the band, and there will be no band camp this summer due to lack of funding, he rebels. And when he finds out that the money is being shifted to add a cheer leading dance team to the school, he takes the rest of the school on his rebellion.
Overall I liked the books they few hangups that I have are with the title "fat boy". I realize that kids are mean, and this was a plug line even from the book, but I think there was an overemphasis on the weight issue at times. I do realize we are all different, and all have different body types, I just was hoping for it to not be so 'in your face' maybe and definitely not the title. There is some language, and a whole lot of rebellion but I also think it was important to show these different facets of people coming together to support the band. I also would have liked to see the band teacher be a stronger character than he turned out to be.
If you are looking for an entertaining and fun book this would be a good one to start with. Enjoy and have a few laughs along the way.
This is a geeks, fight the power book and it was a fun way of looking at a real issue which is the loss of music in schools. When Gabe finds out that the money from the vending machine is being taken from the band, and there will be no band camp this summer due to lack of funding, he rebels. And when he finds out that the money is being shifted to add a cheer leading dance team to the school, he takes the rest of the school on his rebellion.
Overall I liked the books they few hangups that I have are with the title "fat boy". I realize that kids are mean, and this was a plug line even from the book, but I think there was an overemphasis on the weight issue at times. I do realize we are all different, and all have different body types, I just was hoping for it to not be so 'in your face' maybe and definitely not the title. There is some language, and a whole lot of rebellion but I also think it was important to show these different facets of people coming together to support the band. I also would have liked to see the band teacher be a stronger character than he turned out to be.
If you are looking for an entertaining and fun book this would be a good one to start with. Enjoy and have a few laughs along the way.
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