FatKid Rules the World by K. L. Going
Troy
Billings, high school senior, 6’ 1”, 296 lbs, 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’s also a dropout legend at
Troy’s high school in
Manhattan. If anyone knows who Curt Cobain was, well,
there’s a strong resemblance.
“I saved
your life,” Curt tells Troy. “You owe me lunch.”
Troy can’t imagine refusing;
after all, think of the headline: FAT KID ARGUES WITH PIECE OF TWINE.
But lunch with
Curt involves more than French fries. Curt recruits Troy as the drummer for his
new band. “We’ll be called Rage/Tectonic. Sort of a punk rock, Clash sort of
thing,” Curt tells him. Never mind that Troy doesn’t know how to play the
drums. There’s a lot to be said for having someone believe in you. Of course,
Troy’s father thinks Curt is a drug addict, although that doesn’t stop him from
giving Curt dinner. Sometimes your friends get along with your parents better
than you do. Oh, and Troy’s brother thinks Troy is a loser.
But with Curt,
anything’s possible. “You’ll see,” says Curt, “We’re going to be HUGE.” And he
means huge in a good way. Mercurial Curt has energy and enthusiasm to spare,
when he’s not crashing. And Troy, newly baptized “T”, really wants to be
everything Curt believes he can be. Funny, sad, real and ultimately, hopeful.
Booktalk by
Cindy Claypool, KCLS
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