Fat Kid Rules the World by K.L. Going

Troy Billings is huge.  He's six foot one and almost three hundred pounds.  His size dominates nearly every thought, and he believes nearly everyone is always either looking at him or laughing at him, or maybe both.  He's forever thinking in newspaper headlines about himeself:  Fat Kid Can't Fit Through Turnstile or Fat Kid Splatters in Subway.  Troy is about to throw himself in front of a New York City subway train when Curt MacCrae, a high school dropout/guitar hero from Troy's school, steps in and distracts him.  Curt, who lives in the subway or the park or somewhere other than a home, insists Troy buy him lunch-- and before he knows it, Troy has been recruited to play drums in Curt's new band.  The only catch?  Troy has played drums only a couple times-- years ago, in junior high school.  K.L. Going's debut novel has the best voice of any young adult book I've read in several years.  You feel for Troy and get a great look at the world through his eyes and heart, and root for him throughout the story.  Plus, the story is absolutely hilarious as Troy tries to stand up to his military-disciplined father and attempts to fit in with Curt's punk-rock crowd.  I recommend this for reluctant readers and anyone looking for a fun, touching, and quick read.