The Lincoln Log

A fat kid wants to kill himself. That’s what Troy Billings thought while also wondering what other people would do. He thought, “Would they laugh at me when the train comes and runs over me?”

Fat Kid Rules the World, by K. L. Going, is about an overweight teenager named Troy Billings. He is seventeen, 6’1’ feet tall and weighs 296 pounds. He is planning to suicide by stepping off the subway platform, as a train approaches at a the New York station. Ever since his mother died from cancer, his life hasn’t been the same. His father is a single parent and an ex-Marine. Dayle is his little brother is a freshmen jock who is in better shape than him. Dayle also believes that Troy is literally the biggest loser in Manhattan and couldn’t care less if Troy killed himself.

As he attempts to suicide,he is interrupted by Curt MacRac’s laughter. They began a conversation and Troy’s suicide plan is ruined. Curt brags about how he saved Troy’s life, but in reality he didn’t do much. As he talks Curt into being his drummer for his band, “Rage/Tectonic”, Troy lies saying he knows how to play the drums. The truth is, he can’t.

After finding out, Curt still wants him in the band. He believes Troy will one day become a great drummer. Later on, Troy finds out that Curt is actually a homeless, drug addict, high school dropout and yet a guitar genius. Still Curt is Troy’s first real friend he has had in a long time.

I really enjoyed reading this book because it’s told from Troy’s point of view. It shows how he struggles to become a good drummer for Curt’s band while trying to get along with his family and new friends. Like Troy, many teenagers feel depressed believing life isn’t worth living. They’ve probably thought about to suicide, which isn’t the right thing to do. Even if life feela all wrong at one point, something unexpecting might happen to you, making life worthy, just like Troy Billings.