SLOB

SLOB, by Elen Potter ISBN: 978-0-545-28673-2 c2009 199 pages

Good sections to read aloud: -pp. 1-3 - the introduction of Owen to you, school, and his missing cookies -the rest of chapter one where you see how horrible gym class is for him, and what a horrible teacher he has

Summary: Our main character, Owen, is 12, and the fattest kid in his school. He wasn't also overweight - it just happened within the last two years when something MAJOR happened in his life. He basically has two friends: Izzy from school (who is a guy), and his sister Jeremy (whose real name is Caitlin). Beyond that, Owen is the butt (literally) of all jokes. What not everyone knows about him is that he is brilliant. In his spare time he is working on something called the Nemesis, and he scavenges for items needed at a local dump. Owen needs answers to things from the past, and he feels the Nemesis will get him just that...answers. BUT, will he live that long? School is a nightmare from the kids who make snide comments about him, to whomever is stealing his cookies every day, and then his lunch, to the menacing gym teacher, along with a new kid (Mason), who everyone, including Owen, is terrified of. The book does start off fast, but then slows down. It is, however, worth the read until the end when a lot of things are finally brought to light.

YA Fiction--teen issues; overweight teenagers; smart teenagers; death; bullying; teachers; brothers/sisters

©Jennifer Lang - WDMS - 2011