Butter

Description

You think I eat a lot now? That's nothing. Tune in December 31st, when I will stream a live webcast of my last meal. Death row inmates get one. Why shouldn't I? I can't take another year in this fat suit, but I can end this year with a bang. If you can stomach it, you're invited to watch . . . as I eat myself to death.
-Butter

So starts Butter, the story of a lonely 423-pound boy everyone calls 'Butter'. Worse than being ridiculed for his size at high school, he is simply ignored. Desperate, he pledges to eat himself to death live on the Internet - and everyone will watch. When he makes this announcement online, he expects pity, insults, or possibly sheer indifference. Instead, his classmates become morbid cheerleaders for 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?

Readers will be surprised to find themselves identifying with both the bullied . . . and the bullies.

Promotion info

A powerful and darkly humorous story about fitting in, the effects of bullying and the extraordinary lengths one lonely 423-pound boy goes to to gain popularity.

Awards

Shortlisted for Waterstones Children's Book Prize: Teen Books Category 2014.

Author description

Erin Lange writes facts by day and fiction by night. As a TV news producer, she is inspired by real-world issues and uses her writing to explore how those issues impact teenagers. She grew up in the cornfields of northern Illinois, along the Mississippi River, but now lives in the sunshine of Arizona. Butter is her first novel. Find Erin on Facebook www.facebook.com/ErinJadeLange and Twitter@erinjadelange. Find out more aboutButterat www.butterslastmeal.com/