Troy Billings, at 6'1", 296 pounds, is standing at the edge of a subway platform seriously contemplating suicide when he meets Curt MacCrae, an emaciated, semi-homeless punk guitar genius who also happens to be a drop-out legend at Troy's school on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

"I saved your life," Curt tells Troy. "You owe me lunch." Troy can't imagine refusing; after all think of the headline: Fat Kid Argues with Piece of Twine.

But lunch with Curt brings more than he bargained for. Suddenly, Troy finds himself recruited as Curt's drummer for his new band. "We'll be called Rage/Tectonic. Sort of a punk rock, Clash sort of thing," Curt tells him.

There's only one problem. Troy can't play the drums. Oh yes, and Troy's father thinks Curt's a drug addict and Troy's brother thinks Troy's a loser. But with Curt, anything is possible. "You'll see," says Curt. "We're going to be HUGE." Fortunately, mercurial Curt has an energy, enthusiasm and wisdom that is as irresistible as it is contagious. Before long, Troy is swept up by his desire to be everything Curt believes him to be.

Praise for the Audio edition

From AudioFile

Troy Billings is a 300-pound high school senior contemplating suicide when he meets Curt MacCrae, a homeless teenage musical genius who decides that Troy is just the drummer he's looking for to start a new band. Narrator Matthew Lillard takes cues from the text to create unique voices for all the characters; his voice for Ollie, a punk drummer who is giving Troy lessons, is particularly inspired. Lillard captures Troy's joy in being part of the punk crowd, as well as his confusion over Curt's apparent drug addiction. There are no pat answers, but the listener hears Troy's hope as the last sentence segues into a rocking musical track at his first performance. A fine choice for teens and adults.

A.F. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award
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