In Allen Zadoff's The Donut Prince of New York, a plus-sized kid finds acceptance once he joins the football team. That's more fun than getting ready for a party by having to stretch out a sweater so it won't seem so tight. And heck, the girl he likes likes him back. But he'd still rather indulge in his love for donuts and musical theater and get the girl anyway. Crazy, right?-Parade
"Eugene Guterman's junior year in high school is off to a rocky start. No love life, no new theater production, and if his mother has her way, no more of his favorite comfort food--donuts. Eugene would just as soon spend the year playing small, but that's hard to do when you're the biggest kid in your class. Things change when he accidentally tackles the school's star quarterback and Coach sees the possibilities and recruits the plus-size playwright onto the varsity football team. Eugene is suddenly catapulted into the world of the 'The Pops, ' the exclusive clique of popular athletes known for their parties and dating scene. Best of all is the new and mysterious girl Daisy who seems to be noticing him. Then Eugene discovers that life at the top is more complicated than he imagined"--
