Fat Boy Swim

FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD JIMMY KELLY is “Fat Boy Fat,” the largest kid in his Scottish community, who is made to feel useless at everything. Only his family know’s he’s a whiz in the kitchen, and Jimmy’s determined to keep it that way. After all, what would people say if they discovered that “Big Blob Kelly” had one special talent and it involved food?

So when GI Joe, the toughest coach at school, finds out his secret, Jimmy’s sure he’s doomed. But, Coach proposes a deal: If Jimmy helps him, Coach will help Jimmy . . . swim. With each stroke Coach teaches him, Jimmy feels like he’s getting closer to recognizing the Shadow Shape that’s been haunting his dreams. And closer to Ellie, whose chocolate brown curls look good enough to eat. Coach and Ellie know there’s more to Jimmy than meets the eye. Now it’s time for Jimmy to stop hiding and realize it himself.

“A moving, tumultuous, roller-coaster, acid-etched story.”—The Bookseller (UK)