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 Fat Boy Swim(Delacorte Press) by Catherine Forde Reading Level: Young Adult If you like a story where the protagonist is a true down-trodden underdog who becomes a hero by the end of the story, (through his own actions) this is one book you'll enjoy. This story will appeal to every kid who has felt different from his peers, for whatever reason. In the case of 14-year-old Jimmy Kelly, it's because he's the fattest kid in his class. He feels he's not very good at anything, especially sports, and there is no end to the cruel remarks made to him by the other boys in his PE class. After each humiliating experience, Jimmy turns to food for comfort and thereby the self-destructive cycle repeats itself. There is,however, one talent Jimmy has, but he needs to keep it a secret because it involves, of all things—food. Jimmy is a master chef, but to make this known would only add fuel to the daily ridicule he receives. There are credible and colorful minor characters in Mum, Aunt Pol, Elizabeth (the girl Jimmy adores from afar) and GI Joe, the toughest coach at school, who discovers Jimmy's secret cooking skill. Coach agrees to keep his secret, but in return, Jimmy has to keep a promise to Coach. It's fun to watch the plot unravel as we watch Jimmy's metamorphosis from "fat boy" to "super swim star." We are also caught up in a family drama with a secret that is 14 years old —the same age as Jimmy. In this year of the Olympics where children see athletes achieve their dreams through hard work, it's also good to have a book to read that shows what can be accomplished if one sets goals and has the encouragement of at least one person in their life.— Vy Armour, Member SCBWI
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