The Fat Girl
by By Sachs, Marilyn
Category: Young Adult Fiction , Social Themes , Emotions & Feelings

Jeff Lyons canâ??t stand Ellen de Luca, the fat girl in his ceramics class. Sheâ??s huge, clumsy, canâ??t throw a pot to save her life, and stares at Jeff all the time. But heâ??s a "nice guy" and feels terrible when Ellen overhears his hurtful remarks about her. The "crumbs of kindness" he tosses her way soon turn into advice on weight loss, college, clothes, hair . . . and, to everyoneâ??s surprise, good-looking Jeff actually dumps his pretty girlfriend to be with the fat girl! Re-creating Ellen is a labor of love, Jeff thinks. But as her pounds melt away, Jeff resents the happy, independent young woman he has unleashed. Where is the gratitude for all heâ??s done for her? With this darkly ironic take on the classic Pygmalion tale, Marilyn Sachs offers young readers a candid portrayal of what happens when the intoxicating thrill of control is confused with love.