FAT KID RULES THE WORLD

Troy Billings is a 300-pound high school senior contemplating suicide when he meets Curt MacCrae, a homeless teenage musical genius who decides that Troy is just the drummer he's looking for to start a new band. Narrator Matthew Lillard takes cues from the text to create unique voices for all the characters; his voice for Ollie, a punk drummer who is giving Troy lessons, is particularly inspired. Lillard captures Troy's joy in being part of the punk crowd, as well as his confusion over Curt's apparent drug addiction. There are no pat answers, but the listener hears Troy's hope as the last sentence segues into a rocking musical track at his first performance. A fine choice for teens and adults. A.F. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2004 Newbery Honor Award, Winner of 2004 ALA/ YALSA Recording (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 03/JAN 04]