Fat Kid Rules The World

Fat Kid Rules the World is a novel by K.L. Going, about a teenage outcast who lives, but doesn't necessarily fit in with, a rather privileged neighborhood. Yeah, you are all thinking "Oh, come on, give me a new story line!" No, I mean about a really big teenage outcast... like one that weighs almost 300 lbs.

The story opens with Troy Billings, a 296 lb, 6'1 seventeen year old who is standing on the platform, contemplating whether or not he wants to jump off and in front of the rapidly approaching train. Playing the scene as he imagines it over in his mind, his thoughts are suddenly interrupted by a "disembodied voice."

The owner of the voice, is an extremely skinny teenager - Curt McCrae - who was sitting in the dark, on the ground behind him. "He looks like a blond ferret. Stringy unwashed hair and huge eyes, jeans that are barely recognizable, stained white T-shirt, huge red over shirt, ratty old sweater...The sneakers, one Converse and one Nike, are both untied and the layers are all partially buttoned even though it's got to be one hundred degrees in the subway. The guy is so filthy I can hardly look at him. I mean, he's caked - looks like an old war victim from some black and white film".

Curt, while not known for great personal hygiene, is a legend in Troy's mind. He is the only sometimes homeless, sometimes not, high school dropout, punk guitarist, that Troy happens to meet. Curt doesn't really care, he demands lunch from Troy for "saving his life", and in the diner is where he also informs Troy, that he is to be the drummer for Curt's new band.

The fact that Troy has not played the drums since junior high is irrelevant to Curt, he is determined to show Troy he is punk rock despite Troy's own doubts.

However, Curt is not Troy's only dilemma, he is constantly worried about what the upper middle class neighborhood he lives in thinks of him, and his family doesn't help much.

Troy's father is a retired military officer, and his younger brother Dayle acts on every chance to torment him, but despite things being far from alright, it isn't over until Fat Kid Rules the World.