I LIKE THAT IT SAYS YOU SHOULD KILL YOURSELF IF YOUR FAT AND HAVE NO FRIENDS, ALSO ITS GOOD TO HAVE SEXUALLY FANTANSIES IN A PUBLIC PLACE LIKE A DINNER OR SCHOOL. BE MORE LIKE CURT NOT TROY.
Fat Kid Rules the World
(2004, Fiction - Contemporary Fiction, Written by K. Going)
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Meaty book offers plenty to talk about.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 14 and Up
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Fat Kid Rules the World was written by Matt Berman
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.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- 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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More on Fat Kid Rules the World
Book Summary
Troy, a 300-pound high-schooler, is contemplating jumping in front of a train when he meets Curt, an emaciated, homeless, guitar-playing, drop-out legend in his school. Before he knows what has hit him, Troy has agreed to be the drummer in a new band Curt is forming, despite not playing drums. With a faith in him that Troy doesn't understand, Curt is Troy's nightmare and dream come true, often at the same time.
Though Troy's father suspects that Curt's a junkie, he ultimately supports Troy's efforts to learn the drums, the first thing he has seemed interested in since his mother died. But getting involved in Curt's world of punk rock and street life is more than any of them bargained for.
Is It Any Good?
Though told by Troy, this is really the story of Curt, surely the most charming homeless teen junkie guitar-god in literature. Devious, brilliantly talented, weirdly wise, slightly insane, leading a nightmare life, a tornado of energy and need, Curt is an original, and horrifyingly delightful, character.
Though depressed and at times self-pitying, Troy has a sense of humor. He sees everything in his life through the lens of his weight, but doesn't even consider doing anything about it: He was skinny before his mother died, now he's fat, and that's it.
Despite the seemingly loud and crazed storyline, first-time novelist K. Going is ingeniously subtle. Troy's father is a rigid stereotype in Troy's, and for a while the reader's, eyes. But from Curt's point of view, and in the midst of crisis, his faults morph into virtues without too much gong-beating from the author. Young readers may have cause to reassess their opinions of their own parents.
Publisher’s Details
Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc., Publication date: 01/25/2004
Number of pages: 175, Price: $17.99 (hardcover)
Read Aloud: 14+, Read Alone: 14+
Number of pages: 175, Price: $17.99 (hardcover)
Read Aloud: 14+, Read Alone: 14+
Our Members Say
See all 13 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Excessive consumerism
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- Negative role models
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
DO HABE ARSCH KOBALT?
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I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- 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.
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I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- 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.
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I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Negative role models
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.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
A must read book for every 14 year old
It was soooooo good.
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