Fat Angie, by e. E. Charlton-Trujillo

“There was a girl. Her name was Angie. She was fat.”

Fat Angie is about a high school girl who has a lot on her plate (in more ways than one). Angie is overweight, lives with her couldn’t-be-bothered mother and mean adopted brother, and is tormented over her sister being captured in Iraq. Everyone at school is unbelievable cruel to her. Everyone, including Angie, refers to her as Fat Angie.

Angie and her sister were extremely close until she decided to join the military instead of going to college. When Angie gets the news that her sister has been captured, she attempts to commit suicide. She actually runs out on the football field with blood pouring from her wrists. Since then she attends therapy, classmates think she’s a freak, and teachers call her “special”. Her sister’s body is never found which gives Angie hope that she is alive and will return soon. Angie writes letters to her all the time and wears her too-small-for-Angie basketball t-shirt nearly every day. No one else shares Angie’s optimism and the mention of her sister in any negative way leads to a fight. Angie’s sister’s name is never mentioned.

Fat Angie’s high school life in pretty miserable. She gets name called, pushed, eats lunch alone, and counts as a way to calm herself when she has a flashback to her suicide attempt or her mind wanders to her sister. All that starts to change when a beautiful girl named K.C. Romance transfers in.

K.C. definitely stands out form the rest in her black combat boots and purple heart tattoo on her neck. She takes up for Angie when other kids try to bully her and makes an effort to befriend Angie. The attention the new girl starts to show in Angie waves a red flag for neighbor and friend of Angie’s sister, Jake. Jake warns Angie to be careful and that K.C. has “history”. It turns out that K.C. is a cutter. She confidently assures Angie that she no longer does that.

Throughout the beginning of the book there are subtle hints of attraction between Angie and K.C.. But K.C. makes it clear when she tells Angie she is gay and likes her. The truth is, Angie had never really given too much thought about her own sexuality. But when she is around K.C., Angie is Angie—not Fat Angie. She can be herself and is comfortable. No one is very accepting of this and their relationship becomes yet another reason why Angie is teased.

Angie’s sister is always on her mind, and in an effort to feel closer to her, Angie decides to try out for the basketball team. With much practice, dedication, and help from neighbor Jake, Angie makes the team and wears the same jersey number as her sister. In the process, Angie slims down a little, but is still referred to as Fat Angie. After a big game, Angie receives the devastating news that her sister’s remains had been found. She was indeed dead.

After the mourning, there are signs that Angie’s life will be looking up. The relationships with her mom, brother, and K.C. seem to be getting better.

“There was a girl. Her name was Angie. She was happy.”

 

 

 

 

 

I think this would be a great book for high school students to read in or out of the classroom. It deals with a lot of issues young people are all too familiar. From self image and family dynamics to bulling and sexuality. There is a theme of perseverance and I think students would benefit from reading a book from a new point of view. It would hopefully challenge students to have a more open mind.

 

 

Check out Fat Angie's Facebook page here.
And read about the cool things author e. E. Charlton-Trujillo is doing here.