Butter
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4.5 • 19 Ratings
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- $8.99
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
A riveting debut that combines the relentless immediacy of Thirteen Reasons Why with the can't-look-away drama of TV shows like Biggest Loser.
A lonely obese boy everyone calls "Butter" is about to make history. He is going to eat himself to death-live on the Internet-and everyone is invited to watch. When he first makes the announcement online to his classmates, Butter expects pity, insults, and possibly sheer indifference. What he gets are morbid cheerleaders rallying around his deadly plan. Yet as their dark encouragement grows, it begins to feel a lot like popularity. And that feels good. But what happens when Butter reaches his suicide deadline? Can he live with the fallout if he doesn't go through with his plans?
With a deft hand, Erin Jade Lange allows readers to identify with both the bullies and the bullied in this all-consuming look at one teen's battle with himself.
Acclaim for Butter
An ABC New Voices Pick
Abraham Lincoln Masterlist
Nevada Young Readers Award nominee
Iowa High School Book Award nominee
Sakura Medal winner
Waterstones Children's Book Prize nominee
South Carolina Young Adult Book Award nominee
Blue Hen Book Award nominee
TAYSHAS List
Teens' Top Ten Pick
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
At 423 pounds, 16-year-old "Butter" is sinking, both mentally and physically. Despite his sense of humor and musical talent, his classmates and parents can't see beyond his weight, and he's feeling the same way. Bullying incidents and being voted "most likely to have a heart attack" spark Butter's plan to commit suicide live online on New Year's Eve. It's the same night that he's agreed to reveal himself to Anna, his chat-room crush; although they know each other from school, he has lied to her about his identity. However, Butter's Web site, where students suggest foods to add to his last meal, brings him instant popularity and reasons to live. As the days count down, Butter has to choose between social and actual suicide. Lange's emotionally expansive first novel is dark, funny, painful, and powerful. Even at the height of Butter's mistreatment, his despair doesn't overshadow his awareness of the world's beauty. Layered supporting characters (readers will empathize with Anna, who suffers her own humiliation as a result of Butter's dishonesty) provide the novel the depth that the timely subject matter deserves. Ages 14 up.
Customer Reviews
Great!
I’m not usually a book reader but this one really caught my attention was just a promise alone the writing is a little weird in some places but the emotional moments are so worth the read I couldn’t put it down.