Fat Kid Rules the World

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Fat Kid Rules the World
AuthorK. L. Going
LanguageEnglish
GenreYoung adult novel
PublishedJune 23, 2003 Penguin Group
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint (hardcover)
Pages224
ISBN978-0-399-23990-8

Fat Kid Rules the World is a young adult novel published by American author K. L. Going in 2003. The story follows a suicidal, 296 pound teen, Troy Billings, who befriends a local guitar legend, Curt MacCrae, who insists that they form a band together with Troy playing drums. KL Going has stated it was inspired by a mix of punk music, Kurt Cobain biographies, and a rejection letter she received from an editor.[1]

Plot summary

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Troy, a seventeen year old, 6'1", 298 pound student is contemplating suicide when a homeless former student from Troy's school, Curt MacCrae, intervenes. MacCrae tells Troy that he saved his life, now he owes him a favor, so he insists that they start a band together with Troy playing drums. The only problem is that Troy can't play drums.

Together, Curt and Troy create the band Rage/Tectonic. Although unable to play drums, he goes right into practicing for an upcoming gig. In the process, Troy finds self-confidence and acceptance while realizing he is desperately trying to save Curt's life from drug addiction and abuse.

Reception

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Fat Kid Rules the World received mostly positive reviews from critics. The Open Critic stated "K.L. Going makes a great example of teen's life in this great book. Every page will leave the reader thinking of just how more anyone can change."[2] Ilene Cooper from Booklist said, "The narrative could have been tighter in places, but this is an impressive debut that offers hope for all kids--dross transmuted into gold."[3] The novel was awarded the Michael L. Printz Award honor for literary excellence in young adult literature.[4]

Despite the above, the book has been a frequent target of censors; the novel appears on the American Library Association list of the 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2000–2009 at number 58.[5]

Film adaptation

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Main article: Fat Kid Rules the World (film)

A film adaptation of Fat Kid Rules the World premiered on March 9, 2012, at SXSW in Austin.[6][7] It was filmed in 2011,[8] under the direction of Matthew Lillard, with Jacob Wysocki, Matt O'Leary, and Billy Campbell in the cast.[9][10] Mike McCready of Pearl Jam composed the film's soundtrack.[11] Although the novel is set in New York, the film was shot and set in Seattle,[8] with Capitol Hill being used as a backdrop.[12] Fat Kid Rules the World is to be one of the four final feature films to be filmed in Seattle under a Washington financial incentive program.[13] Reviews have been mostly positive.[14] Curt's name is changed to "Marcus" in the film version of the story.

References

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  1. ^ "Fat Kid Rules the World". Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  2. ^ "Fat Kid Rules the World, K.L. Going". The Open Critic. Archived from the original on September 13, 2011. Retrieved September 13, 2011.
  3. ^ http://booklistonline.com/ProductInfo.aspx?pid=216172&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1 [dead link]
  4. ^ "Michael L. Printz Winners and Honor Books". www.ala.org. Archived from the original on February 8, 2011. Retrieved April 6, 2010.
  5. ^ Office of Intellectual Freedom (March 26, 2013). "Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books: 2000-2009". American Library Association. Archived from the original on June 12, 2021. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  6. ^ "Fat Kid Rules the World: SXSW Review". The Hollywood Reporter. March 10, 2012. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved March 13, 2012.
  7. ^ "Reviews | Film Threat". Archived from the original on March 12, 2012. Retrieved March 13, 2012.
  8. ^ a b "Library Journal". Archived from the original on March 20, 2012. Retrieved September 13, 2011.
  9. ^ "Exciting Movie News!". June 6, 2011. Archived from the original on April 2, 2012. Retrieved September 13, 2011.
  10. ^ "Billy Campbell Joins 'Fat Kid Rules the World' Cast". July 25, 2011. Archived from the original on September 10, 2011. Retrieved September 20, 2011.
  11. ^ "Pearl Jam's Mike McCready and Matthew Lillard Have Big Plans for 'Fat Kid'". Archived from the original on January 30, 2016. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  12. ^ "Fat Kid Rules the World on 11th Ave". July 27, 2011. Archived from the original on August 22, 2011. Retrieved March 13, 2012.
  13. ^ Jaffe, Elisa (August 5, 2011). "Summer films mark a wrap for film industry in Wash. state". Archived from the original on June 16, 2012.
  14. ^ "Fat Kid Rules the World (2012)". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on February 4, 2014. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
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