Slob

by Ellen Potter

Book Overview

*"A sensitive, touching, and sometimes heartbreakingly funny picture of middle school life."--School Library Journal, starred review Outrageously funny and smart, this story of an obese boy who takes... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 039924705X
• ISBN13: 9780399247057
• Release Date: May 2009
• Publisher: Philomel Books
• Length: 199 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.7" x 8.3"
• Age Range: 9 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 7

Customer Reviews

Courtesy of Teens Read Too

Ellen Potter's SLOB is as delicious as its main character's beloved Oreo cookies (more on the cookies later). Things are not going well for twelve-year-old Owen Birnbaum. Even if you're one point from having a genius IQ, there are still some problems that are almost impossible to solve. Owen's 57% fatter than the national average, which is bad enough, but after he embarrasses his gym teacher, Mr. Woolsey is out for revenge. Plus, someone is stealing his Oreos, which is the only thing that makes his school lunch of tofu and tea bearable. Owen suspects it's the school sociopath who keeps a switch blade in his sock. Some people would shrug and say that's how the cookie crumbles, but not Owen. He's not a quitter. Admittedly, he's not much of a fighter either, but he's great at inventing contraptions to solve his problems. For over a year now, he's been building a TV that can see into the past. While Owen tries utilizing his sleuthing skills to get to the bottom of the Oreo mystery, readers also have to discover exactly why he's spent the last two years trying to look into the past. The characters are full of quirks like Nima the Buddhist who sells momos in front of the Museum of Natural History, and Jeremy, Owen's little sister, who insists on dressing and acting like a boy. Ellen Potter manages to keep the perfect balance between dark, gritty cookie and smooth, sweet cream. Being a kid, especially being Owen Birnbaum, is no joke, at least not in the hardy-har way. Though Owen is inevitably the butt of some jokes, his own witty and wry observations make his adversaries seem like amateurs. I found myself laughing plenty at the insanity of grownups, both well-meaning and diabolical, of sixth grade feminist groups, and kid sisters. This is a book that doesn't make being a kid seem like either a cakewalk or a prison sentence. Five stars! Reviewed by: Natalie Tsang

Great Middle-Grade Book

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!!!

Absolutely terrific!

Pitch perfect in its humor and psychological depth, SLOB is an instant classic, in my opinion. I was hooked from the first page and couldn't put it down. I'm a huge fan of Ms. Potter's adult novel, "The Average Human," and am now enjoying her tween lit just as much. Can't wait to see what she'll come up with next!! SLOB will definitely be my gift of choice this year for my young friends who like to read.

Funny Yet Poignant MG Novel

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 gam

From Nona at J. Kaye's Book Blog

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.