Charlie Grisner is an ex-fat kid with a complicated story, and the universe is never on his side. When he returns home from fat camp at the end of the summer, he finds that his mother has run away—again. His father won’t discuss it and Charlie begins another school year with bottled guilt. Though he has lost thirty pounds, Charlie still perceives himself as fat. But when he spots the new girl, Charlotte Van- derkleaton, no longer is his goal to just get through his senior year unnoticed. Perhaps he can at least pretend to be smooth so she will notice him (in a good way).While dealing with the constant battles of keeping the weight off, staying clear of the fanatical school pariah he shares a locker with, his beyond-dysfunctional parents, and getting the girl, Charlie can at least count on photography (the one thing he knows he’s good at) and his best friend Ahmed (a Sammy Davis Jr.-obsessed, wing tip shoes– wearing “player”). However, when his life really reaches a tipping point, Charlie can only hope that things will go his way just once.