Fat Kid Rules the World is a young adult novel published by American author KL Going

KL Going

Kelly Louise Going , known by her byline KL Going, is an American author most widely known for her Michael L. Printz Award Honor winning Young Adult novel Fat Kid Rules the World.-Biography:...

 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

Kurt Cobain

Kurt Donald Cobain was an American singer-songwriter, musician and artist, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana...

 biographies, and a rejection letter she received from an editor.

Plot summary

Troy Billings, 6'1 and weighing 296 pounds, is standing on the edge of a subway platform contemplating suicide when a homeless, former student from Troy's school, Curt McCrae, intervenes. Curt 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 and hasn't since seventh grade.

Together, Curt and Troy create the band Rage/Tetonic. 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

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." 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." The novel was awarded the Michael L. Printz Award

Michael L. Printz Award

The Michael L. Printz Award is an annual award in the United States for a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature. It is named for a school librarian from Topeka, Kansas, who was a long-time active member of the Young Adult Library Services Association...

 honor for literary excellence in young adult literature. :

Film Adaptation

A film adaptation was recently filmed in Seattle, directed by Matthew Lillard

Matthew Lillard

Matthew Lyn Lillard is an American actor and producer. He is best known for his roles as Stu Macher in Scream, Stevo in SLC Punk , and Shaggy Rogers in the Scooby-Doo film series and the Animated reboot series.-Early life:Lillard was born in Lansing, Michigan, and grew up in Tustin, California...

 and starring Jacob Wysocki, Matt O'Leary

Matt O'Leary

-Life and career:O'Leary was born in Chicago, Illinois. He has two older half-sisters and an older half-brother. O'Leary auditioned for the lead in Home Alone 3. He made his acting debut in the lead role of the 2000 made-for-television film Mom's Got a Date with a Vampire...

, and Billy Campbell

Billy Campbell

William Oliver "Billy" Campbell is an American film and television actor. In television, he is best known for his roles as Rick Sammler on Once and Again, as Det. Joey Indelli on Crime Story, as Jordan Collier on The 4400, and as Dr. Jon Fielding on the Tales of the City Miniseries...

. Filming started on July 5th, 2011 and is set for a 2012 release. Although the novel is set in New York, Ballard, Seattle

Ballard, Seattle

Ballard is a neighborhood located in the northwestern part of Seattle, Washington. To the north it is bounded by Crown Hill, ; to the east by Greenwood, Phinney Ridge and Fremont ; to the south by the Lake Washington Ship Canal; and to the west by Puget Sound’s Shilshole Bay. The neighborhood’s...

 is being used as a backdrop. 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.