conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Give me a description for a book titled Fat Boy vs. the Cheerleaders about Gabe, UpThis, Johnson with the genre: Children's Books, Growing Up & Facts of Life.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Gr 9 UpThis is the account of 16-year-old Gabe Johnson, aka "Chunk," as told to his lawyer. It all started when Gabe decided to investigate the sudden price increase of his favorite soda from the vending machine. Further digging reveals that the vending machine profits, originally used to subsidize the school band, were being funneled to the cheerleaders, leaving the entire band program in financial crisis. Outraged, Gabe convinces his fellow musical geeks to take on the jocks, cheerleaders, and the administration. The conflict eventually escalates, resulting in Gabe's arrest. Everything is wrapped up neatly in the end, with fair punishments meted out, including to the popular students and the school board. On the surface, this novel is your run-of-the-mill "rise of the geeks" story, complete with self-deprecating humor, over-the-top drama, and useless adults. However, the narrative evolves into a coming-of-age tale in which a teen from a broken home, who uses food as a coping mechanism, begins to take control of his life. As Gabe becomes further invested in his cause, harnessing his leadership skills and beginning a brutal exercise regimen with his grandfathera hilariously blunt former body builderhis life slowly starts to click into place. The protagonist is funny, honest, and an utterly likable narrator; his character growth and the decisions he makes are believable and his refusal to be a victim is refreshing. Give to anyone who has felt like an outsider or just wants a fun, fast-paced book with depth.Marissa Lieberman, East Orange Public Library, NJ
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Give me the first four paragraphs for this book.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Fat Boy vs. the Cheerleaders
  Friesen is a jerk. Representational democracy? Holy balls, I know what that is! I'm not stupid. Bob Friesen wouldn't publish my letter because...because—
  Her reaction wasn't what I was expecting. I should be the one writing the letters."
  Because I don't know if you've noticed, but my mouth is going really, really fast and I feel a little bit jumpy like maybe I just drank several coffees or Dews or whatever in a very short time. And I was so thirsty I think I've sucked down like four glasses of that iced tea and man. Look at my hand! My hand is waving around fast! Look at that sick speed! I think my heart's beating too fast!
  I called her at her house from Dante's the next morning because she didn't work with me on Wednesday. I gave her the list of band peeps who were going to attend. She was excited and sort of pissed. "But I hate all those people and now they're coming over?"
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Add another sentence about Chunk, going.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Fat Boy vs. the Cheerleaders
  Friesen is a jerk. Representational democracy? Holy balls, I know what that is! I'm not stupid. Bob Friesen wouldn't publish my letter because... because—
  Her reaction wasn't what I was expecting. She said, "You didn't tell me you were going to write a letter, Chunk. I should be the one writing the letters. "
  Because I don't know if you've noticed, but my mouth is going really, really fast and I feel a little bit jumpy like maybe I just drank several coffees or Dews or whatever in a very short time. And I was so thirsty I think I've sucked down like four glasses of that iced tea and man. Look at my hand! My hand is waving around fast! Look at that sick speed! I think my heart's beating too fast!
  I called her at her house from Dante's the next morning because she didn't work with me on Wednesday. I gave her the list of band peeps who were going to attend. She was excited and sort of pissed. "But I hate all those people and now they're coming over?"
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Give me another paragraph.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: More Geekers gathered around me, everybody cheering and whooping, and I pretty much just told everybody, "We won it! We won that big and bad!" Then everybody went crazy and did all kinds of flips off the dock and people were swimming and dunking each other and making out. Band geeks and cross-country runners, burners and gamers. Theater dorks. Chess club freaks. Everybody started hooking up and it was just like the best ever!
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Delete the first sentence.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Band geeks and cross-country runners, burners and gamers. Theater dorks. Chess club freaks. Everybody started hooking up and it was just like the best ever!
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Give me the last four paragraphs.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Because of Gabriel Johnson's activism, the offending pop machine has been removed from the high school cafeteria. A tenth of a percent increase in county property taxes will be on the ballot in the fall. The increase is intended to fund summer marching camp, a dance team, and, most importantly, a healthy breakfast program for all school-aged members of the district. According to a poll published in MLJournal.com, the increase has support from 77 percent of likely voters.
  When Gabriel said during his follow-up interview that he was experiencing fifteen minutes of fame, he was correct. The story faded quickly. I doubt very much that he's bothered by this fact.
  The last time I saw Gabriel, walking the Lakeshore Path during Minnekota's July Water Sports Festival, he looked healthy and content. He wore shorts. He held hands with a very tall girl in all black. He smiled at me, nodded, and then strolled away into the fading light.
  Growing up, Geoff Herbach was both dork and jock. Sports calmed him. People caused him anxiety. Offseason, Geoff was prone to kummerspeck, which is a German word meaning weight gain due to nervous eating. Its literal translation is grief bacon. Geoff teaches writing at Minnesota State, Mankato. Visit him at geoffherbach.com.