Slob [Hardcover]

Ellen Potter (Author)

Book Description

Release date: May 14, 2009 | Age Range: 8 and up | Lexile Measure: 740L (What's this?)

Twelve-year-old Owen Birnbaum is the fattest kid in school. But he?s also a genius who invents cool contraptions? like a TV that shows the past. Something happened two years ago that he needs to see. But genius or not, there is much Owen can?t outthink. Like his gym coach, who?s on a mission to humiliate him. Or the way his Oreos keep disappearing from his lunch. He?s sure that if he can only get the TV to work, things will start to make sense. But it will take a revelation for Owen, not science, to see the answer?s not in the past, but the present. That no matter how large he is on the outside, he doesn?t have to feel small on the inside.

With her trademark humor, Ellen Potter has created a larger-than-life character and story whose weight is immense when measured in heart.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Starred Review. Grade 6-8–Owen is the fattest–and smartest–seventh grader in his New York City school. When he's not ducking the school bully or trying to survive the world's most sadistic P.E. teacher, he invents things. Currently Owen has two projects–a TV that will show events in the past and a trap to catch the thief who keeps stealing the Oreos from his lunchbox. There's a lot of middle school banter and adolescent dialogue. However, what begins as a lighthearted adventure gradually takes on a darker tone. Owen calls his invention Nemesis and insists that it needs to reach exactly two years back. As the story evolves, readers learn that there are places in town where he feels distinctly uncomfortable, and that he treasures a note that says only SLOB. Step by step, Owen reveals the tragedy behind his concerns. Two years earlier, he was hiding in the basement of the family store, listening as his parents were killed by an intruder. Adopted by the 911 operator who took his call after the murders, he dreams of identifying the perpetrator. Although Nemesis fails to solve the crime, Owen is finally able to find closure, with help from his sister, their friends, and, surprisingly, from the dreaded bully himself. A sensitive, touching, and sometimes heartbreakingly funny picture of middle school life.–Elaine E. Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL
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Review

Potter has written a pitch-perfect novel of the miseries of middle-school. Filled with sarcasm and lots of humor, the story is filled with intriguing characters, believable and unique. --Kids Lit Blog

"An intriguingly offbeat mystery concerning the theft of cookies from a boy's lunch, at turns humorous, suspenseful and poignant. Intelligent Owen is the fattest kid in his middle school, having packed on the pounds after a major upheaval in his life caused him to begin turning to food as a source of comfort. His younger sister, who has joined up with a group at school called Girls Who Are Boys (GWAB) and taken to insisting that others call her Jeremy, coped by growing tougher. Owen, on the other hand, has become an object of ridicule due to his weight. While the Oreo heist provides the main premise for Owen to engage with other kids at school, there are a number of secondary mysteries crafted alongside it, each of them raising unexpected questions that are neatly wrapped up by the novel's end. While some readers may balk at some of its more convenient coincidences, fans of Jerry Spinelli and others of his ilk may especially enjoy it and will be held rapt." --Kirkus

"A sensitive, touching, and sometimes heartbreakingly funny picture of middle school life." --School Library Journal, starred review

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Philomel (May 14, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 039924705X
• ISBN-13: 978-0399247057
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #256,396 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Like my character, Olivia Kidney, I grew up in a high-rise apartment building in New York City's Upper West Side. I think I always wanted to be a writer, even as a young kid. After graduating from college, I began writing short stories and a novel (for grownups), while working many odd (sometimes very odd) jobs. I worked as a dog groomer, a construction worker, and a waitress. Having lots of different jobs is a terrific advantage for a writer. Because of them, I know all kinds of weird things, like how to remove bubble gum from dog fur (peanut butter). In fact, it was while I was addressing envelopes during a boring stint as a receptionist that a name caught my eye: Olivia Kidney. What a great name, I thought! I jotted it down in my journal. Years later, while thumbing through my old journals, I spotted the name and decided it was perfect for the twelve-year-old heroine of my first children's book.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Funny Yet Poignant MG Novel June 1, 2009

By Cheryl C. Malandrinos VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Both funny and poignant, I never knew I could enjoy a middle-grade novel as much as I did "SLOB" by Ellen Potter.

Owen Birnbaum is fat. But he wasn't always that way. Something bad happened and now he's the fattest kid at school, spending his days being teased endlessly by his classmates, afraid that the new school psycho who carries a switchblade in his sock is out to get him, tortured by his cruel gym teacher, and dealing with his sister who has decided she wants to dress and look like a boy and be called Jeremy.

Life isn't all bad though. Owen is a genius and he can invent cool stuff, like a TV that shows the past--a past that is scary, but one that can answer the questions burning inside his head...if only he can get it to work.

When the Oreos from Owen's lunch keep disappearing, he's sure the school psycho is the culprit. Owen puts together a plan--along with a neat new thief catching device--to help capture the Oreo snatcher. What he doesn't consider, however, is that science might not hold all the answers.

Every middle-grade reader will find something to enjoy in "SLOB". More than a story about an overweight kid who is teased profusely, "SLOB" is the story of one boy's quest to uncover the truth about the tragic event that altered his life forever.

Speaking directly to the reader, Owen shares his struggles at school--which stink, but he's not overly upset about because he's smarter than all those guys anyway, his sister's involvement in GWAB (Girls Who Are Boys), the torture he endures at the hands of his gym teacher Mr. Wooly, and how things change for him once the psycho comes to school--not only is Mason Ragg a psycho, he's a smart psycho.

Opening with the line, "My name is Owen Birnbaum, and I'm probably fatter than you are.", Owen does not suffer from low self-esteem, as one might imagine. His being fatter than you is "pure statistics". Immediately, the reader is drawn in by Owen, and Owen is so entertaining and engaging that the reader will never want to stop learning more about him until the last page of the book. But then again, if the reader is anything like me, she's hoping for a sequel.

The contraptions Owen invents are amazing, and Owen describes them to you in detail and shares how they work. I can see a lot of middle-grade boys trying to recreate or improve upon Owen's inventions after reading "SLOB".

Potter has done such an excellent job of making Owen real for her audience that you'll soon forget that an adult woman wrote this book. And if parents are cool enough to pick up a copy of "SLOB" or to sneak their child's copy when he/she is off at school, they will be treated to references to The Brady Bunch, Happy Days, Mork and Mindy, Charlie's Angels and other hit shows from their youth. Of course, in Owen's world they are Retro TV, but we adults like to call them classics. I have to admit Owen's mother's name--which is Zelda--reminds me of The Legend of Zelda game my son played on his original Nintendo video game system.

I highly recommend "SLOB" by Ellen Potter. Funny and offbeat, yet equally poignant, "SLOB" is destined to add more awards to this talented author's portfolio.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Endearing Story for Middle-Graders May 14, 2009

By J. Kaye Oldner VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Owen Birnbaum is a twelve year old boy genius that weighs 156 pounds. Owen lives in New York City and goes to school at Martha Dixie School. There he is bullied of being over weighted and smarter than everyone else. Take for example, his missing Oreo cookies.

Every day someone at school keeps stealing his three Oreos out of his lunch bag. I do want to add that his lunch bag is actually called a canvas sack. It's made out of a recycled shower curtain - too funny!

Anyway, Owen loves his little cookies and is furious about this. He decided to use his brains to catch the thief. Each day, Owen will invent some sneaky tricks to find out who did it.

Meanwhile, he is busy with another obstacle. He's making a T. V. that will show the past. He needs to find the truth of a horrible event, taking place almost 2 years ago.

Even though some of the parts for me were laugh-out-loud funny, I felt so deeply for Owen. Also the realism in the book is so up-in-your-face good. I highly recommend this book and look forward to more books written by Ellen Potter.

Reviewed by daughter, Nona.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Middle-Grade Book July 12, 2009

By Julie Peterson

Format:Hardcover

SLOB is a little different than the OLIVIA KIDNEY books because the main character and narrator is a 12 year-old boy. The book starts with Owen telling you that he's not the typical twelve-year-old boy because he is "57 percent fatter than the national average for a twelve-year-old boy." From the first paragraph, I just knew I was going to fall in love with Owen. He is a wonderful, kind, insecure kid who just happens to be a genius (1 point shy as he reminds the reader.) He is definitely a memorable character that many young kids will relate to, and I absolutely adored him and can't stop thinking about what a fantastic person he was.

It quickly becomes clear that Owen and his sister Jeremy (she has changed her name to a boy's name) have been through a lot; however, the reader is gradually given hints that something tragic happened in their past. I had some ideas, but I have to admit that I was shocked with the secret. I thought Ms. Potter did an amazing job of telling this story and keeping the reader's attention.

SLOB does deal with some very serious issues, and my heart definitely went out to Owen and Jeremy; however, I have to say that I found this book to be hilarious! There was so much humor woven into this story, especially Owen's insights into life, that I don't consider it a "sad" read. The ending is definitely upbeat and the reader is left with some terrific messages. I think kids will feel bad for Owen, but I think they will absolutely love the mystery, suspense and humor in this novel. I know I couldn't put it down!

There are a lot of themes in the book that are relevant for kids in today's society including childhood weight issues, violence, lack of self-esteem, bullying, etc. And I think it would make a fabulous discussion book either in school or even in a mother/daughter (parent/child) book club. I believe that reading SLOB and discussing the issues in it might just open the lines of communication for parents and children alike. And, I know that Owen's battle and his resilience will strike a chord with many young readers and give them the confidence they need to handle some of the challenges in their lives.

When I finished this novel, I tweeted Ms. Potter telling her how wonderful it is. She mentioned that she has a special connection to SLOB because it is loosely based on the relationship between her brother and her. That made the book even more special in my eyes, especially the scenes with Jeremy. I can't wait for my daughter to read it!!!