Vendor
	Mohrbooks Literary Agency Sebastian Ritscher
Categories
Children’s, Teenage & Educational

FAT BOY VS. THE CHEERLEADERS

Geoff Herbach

From Geoff Herbach, the award-winning author of the hit young adult novels Stupid Fast and Nothing Special, comes a tale that will resonate with fat kids, nerds, dorks, gamers, geeks and teen outcasts of all kinds-an authentically funny story for anyone who has suffered from teasing and bullying at the hands of the high school social hierarchy. And decided to do something about it.

Join a cast of quirky misfits as fat boy Gabe, aka Chunk, goes up against the high school cheerleading team in a battle over control of the school's soda machine. A marching band geek who drowns his dysfunctional family woes in a voracious soda habit, Gabe relishes his role as class clown, fending off harassment from students and teachers with his own brand of irreverent, self-deprecating humor. But when the cheerleading team takes over the funds previously collected by the band, Gabe will not stand for it. Something must be done. It's geeks versus jocks in an epic battle of the beverages! Hilarious and poignant, Fat Boy vs. The Cheerleaders will have teen boys and girls alike cheering on this underdog turned unlikely hero. Reluctant readers and fans of Chris Crutcher, K.L. Going, and Andrew Smith's Winger will love Herbach's straightforward writing style and realism.

Available products
Book Published 2014-05-06 by Sourcebooks Fire

Comments

"One of the most real, honest, and still funny male voices to come around in a while."

This is the account of 16-year-old Gabe Johnson, aka "Chunk," as told to his lawyer. It all started when Gabe decided to investigate the sudden price increase of his favorite soda from the vending machine. Further digging reveals that the vending machine profits, originally used to subsidize the school band, were being funneled to the cheerleaders, leaving the entire band program in financial crisis. Outraged, Gabe convinces his fellow musical geeks to take on the jocks, cheerleaders, and the administration. The conflict eventually escalates, resulting in Gabe's arrest. Everything is wrapped up neatly in the end, with fair punishments meted out, including to the popular students and the school board. On the surface, this novel is your run-of-the-mill "rise of the geeks" story, complete with self-deprecating humor, over-the-top drama, and useless adults. However, the narrative evolves into a coming-of-age tale in which a teen from a broken home, who uses food as a coping mechanism, begins to take control of his life. As Gabe becomes further invested in his cause, harnessing his leadership skills and beginning a brutal exercise regimen with his grandfather—a hilariously blunt former body builder—his life slowly starts to click into place. The protagonist is funny, honest, and an utterly likable narrator; his character growth and the decisions he makes are believable and his refusal to be a victim is refreshing. Give to anyone who has felt like an outsider or just wants a fun, fast-paced book with depth.