Fat Boy vs. the Cheerleaders

Written by Geoff Herbach

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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: May 6, 2014
• ISBN: 9781480533264

Geoff Herbach

Geoff Herbach is the author of Hooper and the award-winning Stupid Fast series, as well as Fat Boy vs. the Cheerleaders. His books have been given the Cybils Award for Best Young Adult Fiction and the Minnesota Book Award, selected for the Junior Library Guild, and listed among the year’s best by the American Library Association, the American Booksellers Association, and many state library associations. In the past, he produced radio comedy shows and toured rock clubs telling weird stories. Geoff teaches creative writing at Minnesota State University, Mankato. He lives in a log cabin with a tall wife. You can find him online at www.geoffherbach.com.

Reviews for Fat Boy vs. the Cheerleaders

[kdf_333_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

great book. i like how the story is told as a recounting of facts in an interview.

[readingbeader · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Originally titled Fat Boy vs. the Cheerleaders, Gabe Johnson Takes Over is an okay novel of a group of high school students trying to have a say in their school programs over the adults who have different agendas. Gabe is the fat kid, who's not going to take it anymore. I know, it's a cliche, but this book is kind of filled with them. It's not bad, and the resolution leaves you feeling pretty good, but I think it could have been so much more. Stupid Fast is so much better.

[alsparks324 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Gabe learns his summer band camp (and the band program) are being replaced by the cheerleaders. Gabe, also known as Chunk, decides to do something about it. Book is a quick read that takes you through Gabe's life at home (divorced father and fitness guru grandpa), friends that are changing, work at the donut shop, and his plan to get band camp and the band program back. Fun with a lot of high school humor. If you like Carter Finally Gets It or Swim The Fly you'll like this book.

[kkaymullinnix · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Gabe, aka "Chunk," is the "fat boy" and class-clown of his high school in Minnesota. He uses food and obscene amounts of Code Red Mountain Dew to "fill the hole" inside as he struggles to deal with his life's issues. But once he discovers the soda machine's funds are no longer being collected for the band but instead for the new dance team, Gabe takes action.This book is interestingly written, as it is written as a one-sided conversation (imagine your hear someone talking on the cell phone: you only hear their side of the conversation) with Gabe talking to Mr. Rodriguez. At first, I wasn't sure I liked the book, but as I kept reading, I realized I just didn't like "Chunk." I didn't like this pitting, self-effacing, ass-dancing teenage boy, but I do like Gabe. In fact, the great thing about this story was watching Gabe learn to stand up for not only the band and his fellow "Geekers," but also for himself. There are a lot of gems in this story. For instance, no one likes to be called names and no one has the right to take away someone else's dignity. The story is full of heart and is a fun and smart read. Side note: when I was given this book, I was told it was middle-grade fiction. However, I found some of the language a bit mature, but that may just be me.

[lilibrarian · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Gabe, aka Chunk, is a mess. His mother left him and his father, and his grandfather moved in to help manage the household. Seriously overweight, he acts the clown. When he discovers that the money for summer band camp has been repurposed by the school board for a dance/cheer team, he decides it is time to fight back. With the help of some old friends, and some new ones, he learns about power, politics and himself.