cover image Biggie

Biggie

Derek E. Sullivan. Albert Whitman, $16.99 (272p) ISBN 978-0-8075-0727-8

Henry “Biggie” Abbott is socially invisible, by choice. The obese 17-year-old lives in a 6,000 sq. ft. house with an indoor baseball field (his stepfather is a local baseball legend) but manages to avoid athletic pursuits and live under the radar. Biggie prefers to channel his perfectionism and personality into academics and spending time online, where he cultivates a robust social life through carefully crafted messages on social networks. After Biggie throws a perfect game of whiffle ball in gym class, he wonders if it’s a fluke. If it’s not, what else is he capable of? Stepbrother Maddux persuades Biggie that with early-morning workouts, healthy eating, and practice, Biggie can pitch a perfect game for the school’s baseball team, avoid diabetes, gain the respect of his stepfather, and win over his crush. Thoughtful and witty, Biggie tells a story full of physical and emotional highs and lows as debut author Sullivan empathetically addresses topics of self-esteem and finding healthier, happier versions of oneself (and what that even means). Ages 13–up. Agent: Sara Megibow, Megibow Literary Agency. (Mar.)