For her science research project, Cat decides to live as a hominum did, reverting to as natural a diet and way of life as possible. Within a few months, the nickname Fat Cat no longer fits her, and her relationships and self image begin to change. ( )

Cat has the best plan for her science class research and experimentation project. It’s practically guaranteed that she’ll beat Matt McKinney, her intellectual rival and ex-best friend who betrayed her in middle school on account of her weight. Using herself as a test subject, Cat plans to return to the days of the early Homo erectus and live a similar lifestyle: no processed foods, no modern utilities, no transportation except on foot.

Her plan needs a bit of tweaking, but the thing that really needs to change is Cat’s attitude towards herself. She’s doing this for the grade and to beat Matt…or does she also want to not be fat anymore? And as more and more mediocre guys begin to pay attention to her, will Cat realize that the lack of spark may not be because she’s not interested in love…but rather that her heart was stolen already years before?

Brilliance like this unfortunately still rarely exists in YA lit, and it’s a real shame, because YA lit needs more authors like Robin Brande. FAT CAT is funny, wise, super-intelligent, and heart-stoppingly romantic. It’s the kind of book that makes you smile weeks after reading it as you remember why you still enjoy and read YA contemporary realistic fiction.

Readers of all shapes and sizes (body and brain) will be able to connect with Cat. Hers is the voice of a levelheaded, smart, yet insecure teenager. Brande does not dumb down her fictional teenagers, with the surprising yet joyful result that they will end up appealing to everyone. How often do we get to read about smart girls who are good at and into math and science? Not often enough; my inner physicist is jumping with happiness even as I write this and reflect on FAT CAT.

Cat—and thus, us readers—learns an important lesson without sounding aggressively moralistic. The theme of FAT CAT is a powerful one, hinting at the harmful effects of our modern-day materialistic, processed consumerist culture. Cat’s development from bitter girl with a low body image to a happier, healthier, more energetic, and more creative young woman may just about turn smart readers off of junk food. I honestly laid off the Oreos for several weeks after reading this book, so unappealing the thought of sweets were to me. Rarely does a book have so strong a hold on me in the rest of my life!

The first half of the story focuses on Cat’s science project, while the second half discusses more her relationships with other people. The change of scope is a little bizarre and disconcerting, most likely because the science part is so wonderful to read, but I appreciated the character development of this book. The main “cast” of characters is great, particularly Cat’s best friend, as well as Cat’s romance.

FAT CAT is a story you catch yourself thinking about randomly even weeks after reading it. It’s also the book you’ll want to talk about to your friends, your mother, your teacher, that random middle-aged lady sitting next to you at the bus stop….It’s the book that you’ll hold up and say, “See? This is what quality YA literature is like. Now excuse me while I reread it; you may get your own copy elsewhere, if you’d like.” ( )

This was a great book, I read straight through in 2.5 hours. I couldn't put it down.
Brande's writing really took you into Cat's world, and kept you there.
I haven't read any of Robin Brande's other books, but I thought this was a great book with a unique idea. So many chick-lit books are the same thing over and over, but this had an interesting new twist on it.
The main character, Cat goes through a very interesting experiment for her science class. With this experiment she puts on herself, she finds some very drastic changes, mostly postitive but some negative.
In Fat Cat, Cat really analyzes herself and is a great example of what would be great if so many girls could do. So much negative image is placed on girls that aren't the perfect size and shape. I really liked the message Brande was sending through her book.
The character were written to seem very realistic and all had depth beyond the writing. Cat for example had the thoughts the average teenager would have, and nothing went perfect for her. She had her moments of doubt and such. Cat's best friend was the one who was always there for her and just brought so much more to the story through her compassion and kindness.

I must say, just by reading the back of the book, this probably wouldn't have been a book I would've picked up. But after reading it, it was just great. It was different than the usual books I read, and I discovered a great new book. :) ( )

At the tender age of 8, Catherine Locke realizes that she is overweight. But her best friend, Matt, has always been there for her. When seventh grade arrives and Cat overhears a conversation between Matt and a different classmate, she’s changed forever. How could she be friends with someone who thinks of her that way? Four years later, Catherine is still trying to get over Matt. She has a different best friend now! Cat doesn’t need Matt anymore. Being a Science ‘geek‘, Catherine decides that her Science experiment will be life-changing. Maybe she can lose a few pounds along the way. After losing a drastic amount of weight, all she needs is a boyfriend. But what if the person she is in love is the one she has been avoiding for four years?

Fat Cat is another weight loss book, the theme that is a little over used nowadays. It’s hard for a book like that to seem unique, but with the eye-catching cover and the writing of perfection, I have a feeling this one will make it far in the Reader’s World. Catherine is a likable main character (something every book needs) and the challenges she faces aren’t all due to being overweight, which I find is a nice twist. To make it more interesting, Cat’s logic is completely the opposite of mine so whatever she does or says is surprising for me. I think the author could have done a better job with adding Cat’s relationship with her younger brother into the chapters she’s with her friends and such but, overall, I enjoyed this book. I am sure others will too!

Publication date: October 13th, 2009

Contains:

*sensuality
*inappropriate touching (which is portrayed as wrong)
*some crude humor ( )