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Fat Kid Rules the World

(2004, Fiction - Contemporary Fiction, Written by K. Going)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 12, age appropriate for kids over 14; suggested age 14.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Meaty book offers plenty to talk about.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 14 and Up

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Skipping school. Troy considers suicide.
  • Violence:

    It's implied that Curt has been abused. Troy graphically imagines jumping in front of a train.
  • Sex:

    Troy has sexual fantasies. A reference to masturbation.
  • Language:

    Plenty.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Curt is probably a junkie, at least abusing prescription drugs, and smokes a joint. Some smoking . Troy and others drink.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Fat Kid Rules the World

Parents need to know that this book deals with lots of issues to discuss with your teen: teen suicide, drugs, homelessness, and abuse. An interesting feature is that Troy's father, though at first depicted from Troy's point of view as rigid and angry, is seen entirely differently through Curt's eyes. Teens may have cause to reassess their opinions of their own parents.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about risky behavior. Do you like Curt? If you had a friend like Curt, would you have told someone about his drug abuse? Are Curt and Troy really friends?

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Our Members Say

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  • What did you think about Fat Kid Rules the World?
  •  I think this book is

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See all 12 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message

    • My highlights are:
    • Educational

    Older, well educated (with a good understanding of the world)

    I'm 14 and i think its educational but quite disturbing if not discussed with a parent.

  2. I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Educational

    best book ive read yet!

    this book is amazing. i'm currently reading it in my highschool class. I absolutely LOVE IT. I think it's message is like a warning to kids of what not to do and i see that clearly. I hope this book is read over and over by teens around the world, only because it deserves it. I know i'll be reading it as many times as i can. I usually dont read and when i do, i try to enjoy myself. And obviously, I am.

  3. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 4.0

    Very Deep

    Very deep and suburbial Life Story of a sad, fat kid who lives in the concrete jungle we call society, he has no true freinds to understand him until an unlikley prodigy comes along and takes him down the road to adolescence a deeper, darker way.

  4. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 5.0

    Depends on who's reading it

    Of course it was amazing. It was brilliant. But you should really know the person before you let them read it -- a lot of kids my age would blow it off as nothing, I know.

  5. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in Alaska
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    Such a good book

    I think that this book was very deep and the way it was told was as if you were there too. I really got into this book and would read it again.

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