Review: Fat Boy vs The Cheerleaders – Geoff Herbach

I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

It's geeks versus jocks in an epic battle of the beverages!

From "one of the most real, honest, and still funny male voices to come around in a while" (YALSA) comes a brand-new cast of quirky characters, pitting fat boy Gabe against the high school cheerleading team in a battle over control of the school's soda machine.

The war is ON! Never have the stakes been so high. Never have the trenches been so deep. Never has one soda vending machine been so vital. When the high school cheerleading team takes over the machine's funds previously collected by the pep band, Gabe will not stand for it. Something must be done.

REVIEW

Fat Boy vs The Cheerleaders is a good story with a cast of really relatable characters. Gabe A.K.A  “Chunk” was an interesting character dealing with weight, family issues and the common High School Drama.

Gabe realizes he needs to make some changes in his life and asks his grandfather, a former body builder, to help him try to lose some weight. As he starts meeting his weight-loss goals, he begins to realizes the underlying cause behind his food addiction.  Gabe’s father is sorry, in my opinion, and should have supported his son, instead of downgrading him at every opportunity. Abuse is abuse and is unacceptable under any circumstance.

The story mainly revolves around a soda machine that proceeds goes to help fund the school’s band camp; this is where the story picks up and gets entertaining, Gabe finds out the cheerleaders are going to be receiving the soda machines proceeds, and that band camp may be cut. Gabe vows to fight tooth and nail to stop this from happening.

This is where the unique writing style comes into play, which comes across as a back and forth interrogation type conversation that at times was confusing to follow. The story had a great mix of issues that most teenagers can relate to, a very believable storyline, and a host of eclectic characters that keep you interested and rooting for them until the end.

I gave this book 3.5 stars, would have given it four stars if the writing style was a little more smoother.  I would recommend to middle and high-school students wanting an inspirational read that has you rooting for the underdog.

Billie Jo

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