Chunky

by Yehudi Mercado

Other authorsYehudi Mercado (Illustrator)
Hardcover, 2021

Status

Available

Call number

J 741.5 MER

Publication

Katherine Tegen Books (2021), 208 pages

Description

"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. As the only Mexican and Jewish kid in his neighborhood, Hudi has found the cheerleader he never had. Baseball doesn't go well (unless getting hit by the ball counts), but the two friends have a great time drawing and making jokes. While Hudi's parents keep trying to find the right sport for Hudi, Chunky encourages him to pursue his true love--comedy. But when Hudi's dad loses his job, it gets harder for Hudi to chart his own course, even with Chunky's guidance. Can Chunky help Hudi stay true to himself or will this friendship strike out?" -- Jacket flap.… (more)

Barcode

6750

Language

User reviews

LibraryThing member Salsabrarian
Hudi is overweight and has asthma. His parents decide to sign him up for sports but with each sport he tries--baseball, soccer, swimming--Hudi doesn't quite have the skills. His imaginary friend Chunky cheers him on and Hudi's jocular humor steers him through injuries, indignities and occasional
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hospital visits. Hudi's size makes him pretty effective for football but the hardcore Texas football attitude ends up not his style. Hudi finally finds an outlet where he and his comedy can shine: drama. A laugh-out-loud funny and hopeful journey that will show readers that they too can find their people and place.
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LibraryThing member reader1009
children's graphic fiction (~3rd-7th grade, but any age would get a chuckle; semi-autobiographical fiction about a Mexican Jewish boy living in Houston TX)

All Hudi wants to do is make jokes and play with his imaginary friend/mascot Chunky (and maybe join the theater club at his middle school?), but
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his parents and doctors all keep telling him he needs to lose weight. Hilarity ensues as he tries his uncoordinated, accident-prone hand at baseball, soccer, swimming, tennis and football. Kids of all ages and abilities will enjoy his antics and humorous escapades, not to mention the colorful art and quick-reading pages, and it is easy to relate to being the kid who always feels like an outsider.
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LibraryThing member jennybeast
I liked the art, and both Hudi and Chunky are endearing, but the structure didn't really do anything for me -- I understand the sports commentator bit, but it ended up making the book very episodic. I'd like to say powerful memoir, but it's more of an attempt to be comedic about some pretty serious
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topics, which trades off narrative for humor and compromises the story. Maybe that will be an access point boys can relate to more, but it just didn't work for me.
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LibraryThing member sloth852
A funny, positive graphic novel about being comfortable in your own skin.

ISBN

0062972790 / 9780062972798
Page: 0.5903 seconds