Though "The Fat Boy Chronicles" was assigned to read for Health class, I enjoyed reading this book. It's about a boy named Jimmy in middle school. He's overweight and gets picked on for it. Jimmy was a new student so, he had no friends to stick up for him. Through his journey he encounters bullies like no other; backstabbing friends and people he doesn't even know who are making fun of his weight. Even adults! From the text: "I'm the big kid who sits in the last seat by the door. I stay in the back so you don't have to constantly hear, "We can't see around Jimmy!" And: "I'm the diet-challenged kid who sits in the last seat by the door. I'm probably bigger than I was this morning because your class isright after lunch and homeroom." Notes from the author: "...I went from being a kid who sat alone, to a cool kid everyone wanted to know." Quote that motivated him to keep losing weight: "For the rest of my life?" - referring to the doctor telling him that he will be obese forver if he didn't drop the weight. He questions suicide because of how much he hates his body. Eventually he starts to see hope; he trusts in God and sees light through the dark.
As soon as Jimmy heard from his doctor that he was obese and that if he didn't drop that weight now he could stay obese forever, him, his mother and father started exercising and dieting to get rid of the weight.
I noticed how his character changed from beginning to end, just based on being 60 pounds lighter in the end. He became less self-conscious, and had more friends. It's sad that he had to lose weight to stop the bullying, but true in today's day and age.
His friends made him feel comfortable because they didn't judge him about the way he looked. His best friends throughout the story include: Sabel, Allen, and Paul. I think the theme of the book is to believe in yourself no matter what others think, because Jimmy explains that he had a perfectly fine life right up until he started noticing the looks from others and before the bullying began.
All in all, this book was extremely touching. And not just because it's based on a true story of a student who went to Mason, but because it told anyone who is overweight, they have a chance.
I'm not taking Health at school, but a lot of my friends are, and I've gotten mixed reviews for this book. This makes me want to read the book sometime. I agree that it is sad that now, bullying stops when you change yourself, but in this instance you could put a slightly positive spin on it by saying that the bulling helped him see his problem with being obese. I didn't know it was written by a kids from Mason. Definitely a lot more interesting to me now!
Yes, I totally agree! I definitely recommend this book to you because it helps you understand bullying, how the victim feels, and how to stand up to the bullies around you (because we all know they exist all around us, no matter what). Though the book is very depressing and tear-jerking, it shows that there's a light at the end of the tunnel; suicide is never the answer.
I'm not taking Health at school, but a lot of my friends are, and I've gotten mixed reviews for this book. This makes me want to read the book sometime. I agree that it is sad that now, bullying stops when you change yourself, but in this instance you could put a slightly positive spin on it by saying that the bulling helped him see his problem with being obese. I didn't know it was written by a kids from Mason. Definitely a lot more interesting to me now!
ReplyDeleteYes, I totally agree! I definitely recommend this book to you because it helps you understand bullying, how the victim feels, and how to stand up to the bullies around you (because we all know they exist all around us, no matter what). Though the book is very depressing and tear-jerking, it shows that there's a light at the end of the tunnel; suicide is never the answer.
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