num_pages: 208
description: Yehudi Mercado draws inspiration from his childhood struggle with his weight while finding friendship with his imaginary mascot Chunky as he navigates growing up in a working-class Mexican Jewish family.Hudi needs to lose weight according to his doctors. Concerned about the serious medical issue Hudi had when he was younger his parents push him to try out for sports. Hudi would rather do anything else but then he meets Chunky his imaginary friend and mascot. Together they decide to give baseball a shot.Hudi has found the cheerleader he never had as Chunky cheers him on even when Hudi barely makes the team. Baseball doesnt go well (unless getting hit by the ball counts) but the two friends have a great time drawing and making jokes. While Hudis parents keep trying to find the right sport for him Chunky encourages him to pursue his true lovecomedy.But when Hudis dad loses his job it gets harder for Hudi to chart his own course even with Chunkys guidance. Can Chunky help Hudi stay true to himself or will this friendship strike out?
language: English
title: Chunky
publisher: Katherine Tegen Books