Synopses & Reviews
A Michael L. Printz Honor Book
Troy Billings is seventeen, 296 pounds, friendless, utterly miserable, and about to step off a New York subway platform in front of an oncoming train. Until he meets Curt MacCrae, an emaciated, semi-homeless, high school dropout guitar genius, the stuff of which Lower East Side punk rock legends are made. Never mind that Troys dad thinks Curts a drug addict and Troys brother thinks Troys the biggest (literally) loser in Manhattan. Soon, Curts recruited Troy as his new drummereven though Troy cant play the drums. Together, Curt and Troy will change the world of punk, and Troys own life, forever.
"Troy's voice is candid, irreverent, realistic and humorous. [A] wonderful, engrossing tale."SLJ
An ALA BBYA
A BCCB Blue Ribbon Book
A Booklist Editors' Choice
An SLJ Best Book of the Year
A Miami Herald Best Book of the Year
Review
New York State"Troy's voice is candid, irreverent, realistic and humorous. [A] wonderful, engrossing tale." SLJ
Synopsis
Troy Billings at six-foot-one, 296 pounds, is standing at the edge of a subway platform, seriously contemplating suicide, when he meets Curt MacCrae--an emaciated, semi-homeless punk guitar genius who also happens to be a dropout legend at Troy's school on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. "I saved your life, " Curt tells Troy. "You owe me lunch." But lunch with Curt brings more than Troy bargained for. Suddenly, Troy finds himself recruited as Curt's drummer for his new band. However, there are a few problems. Troy can't play the drums. Troy's father thinks Curt is a drug addict. And Troy's brother thinks Curt is a loser. But with Curt, anything is possible. "You'll see, " says Curt. "We're going to be HUGE." Fortunately, mercurial Curt has an energy, enthusiasm, and wisdom that is as irresistible as it is contagious. Before long Troy is swept up by his desire to be everything Curt believes him to be. Praise for Fat Kid Rules the World...
Synopsis
Troy Billings at 6'1", 296 pounds, is standing at the edge of a subway platform seriously contemplating suicide when he meets Curt MacCrae -a sage-like, semi-homeless punk guitar genius who also happens to be a drop-out legend at Troy's school on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.
"I saved your life. You owe me lunch," Curt tells Troy, and Troy can't imagine refusing; after all, think of the headline: FAT KID ARGUES WITH PIECE OF TWINE.
But with Curt, Troy gets more than he bargained for and soon finds himself recruited as Curt's drummer. "We'll be called Rage/Tectonic. Sort of a punk rock, Clash sort of thing," Curt informs him.
There's only one problem. Troy can't play the drums. Oh yes, and his father thinks Curt's a drug addict. And his brother thinks Troy's a loser. But with Curt, anything is possible. "You'll see," says Curt. "We're going to be HUGE."
In an outstanding, funny, edgy debut, K. L. Going presents two unlikely friends who ultimately save each other.
About the Author
K. L. Going lives with her family in the Hudson Valley area of New York State. Since graduating from college she has worked as an adult literacy tutor, a ticket agent for a major airline, a front desk clerk at a resort hotel, and an assistant in a Manhattan literary agency. She has lived in Maine, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Louisiana and New York. K.L. is the author of many books, including Fat Kid Rules The World, The Liberation of Gabriel King, and Dog in Charge. Her first novel, Fat Kid Rules the World, was a YALSA Michael L. Printz honor book.