The title and the cover might suggest a funny or goofy story but it’s not — in fact, this novel is an outstanding, surprisingly philosophical, poignant story about dealing with bullies, growing in confidence, and the complexities of human beings set in a world with superheroes and supervillains. I loved it SO MUCH! Matt doesn’t think he can survive 3 more years of middle school bullying so he writes supervillain Master Plan who is also a “gentleman of size”, asking for help. Surprisingly, Master Plan emails back with helpful, sage advice such as the story of Coyote and Road Runner where Road Runner keeps running, letting Coyote cause his own downfall, suggesting that Max do the same with his bully Johnny. What will Max do to cause Johnny’s downfall — and is Master Plan actually looking out for Max or himself? This is a VERY thought-provoking, warm-hearted story that will appeal to EVERYONE.

The Supervillain's Guide to Being a Fat Kid is a refreshing, action-packed middle grade novel about body positivity, friendships, and bullying. Set in a world with superheroes and supervillains, this one rides the line between realism and fantasy well. It also features several other themes such as friendship changes, first crushes, and a touch of mystery. The audiobook is pretty good -- overall, a strong story with a powerful message.

Crossposted from the APLS Yakety YAK listserv newsletter:

Most kids love superheroes. Not Max. To him, they cause more problems than they solve. Master Plan, though, he is someone to admire. He’s always careful to avoid hurting anyone, he wrote a book that Max loves, and his most recent act of “villainy” was destroying a factory responsible for polluting the environment and a nearby town—for which he is now in prison. Why is he called a villain while the man who caused so much property damage to take him down is called a hero?

It isn’t that Max wants to be a villain. He doesn’t want to hurt anyone. But when his mom suggests writing to a hero for advice on surviving school, Master Plan—a “fat” person like himself—is the one Max thinks might be able to help. A superhero who has everything could never understand what it’s like for Max.

Soon, Max is regularly corresponding with the famous villain and, with his advice, things start changing. But will Max like who he is at the end of it?

This is a book I feel I could read multiple times and still find something new to think about. On the surface level, it’s an enjoyable story with a plot anyone would find familiar: main character gets bullied, finds his confidence with help, outsmarts/outplays his bully, and ends the story in a better position than he began. But it’s more than that. It could have been a black and white story, but morals and ethics are far more complicated than that. People are more complicated than that. Someone “bad” can do something good as much as someone “good” can do something bad.

The Supervillain’s Guide to Being a Fat Kid explores, or at least touches on, a variety of subjects. Some are more blatant than others, and maybe that’s a good thing. I know there are things in there I probably would have appreciated reading as a kid. Others may have gone over my head at that age, and that’s okay too. That’s why rereading is so rewarding. The ending is beautifully done. It’s no picture perfect ending where the main character gets everything he wants, but it would have been a disservice if it had been. Instead, it was lightly bittersweet but still positive and hopeful. As a book, I enjoyed it. As something written to inspire more critical thinking and kindness, I was impressed by how much it covered.

While I had a few questions and concerns throughout the book, they were mostly tied up or addressed by the end. The only surviving issue was Master Plan making a video of Max’s bullying go viral in an attempt to use public opinion to curb the bully’s behavior. While it was the bully’s fault for taking such actions and definitely a valid tactic for a supervillain to suggest, the ramifications of viral videos or posts on people’s lives is never discussed. In story, the consequences never go beyond what is reasonable for the bully’s actions. In real life, such things can result in punishment that far exceeds the crime, if there was one. Still, it’s an impressive book written with a lot of thought and heart. The good it promotes, in my opinion, outweighs that one negative, and I highly recommend its addition to any library’s juvenile fiction collection.

Recommended for: Fans of superheroes/villains, school fiction, and those who deal with bullying and/or weight issues.

Things to watch out for: Physical and verbal bullying and its consequences, but nothing too graphic for the targeted age group.

This book was not quite what I expected, but I ended up adoring the journey of Max to accept himself and be true to who he is. I love that Max didn’t CHANGE who he was at all, but became who he was. The mixture of narration and letters, of supervillain talk and contemporary middle school life also worked well. Fast pacing, and wonderful to see more fat protagonists in children’s lit!

I would also compare this novel to Starfish and All of Me,
Writing to a supervillain for help is a fun twist!
I love worlds that contain heroes and villains in their reality.
I also like that the over-reaching message feels comfortable and not changing. A lot so middle-grade humor to balance the heavier plot points too. It's an all-around win in my book,

What worked:
Having Max seek advice from a supervillain named Master Plan, or Maximo, is a unique twist for a book about a troubled sixth grader. Max’s two main issues stem from being overweight and consequently being bullied at school. Surprisingly, Master Plan’s emails from prison show compassion for Max’s situation and provide sound suggestions to help him improve his life. Maximo says violence will only make the situation worse, and he shouldn’t expect respect from others unless it’s been earned. Max shouldn’t worry so much about others, and he should do things that make him feel better about himself. Useful advice indeed, but is there an endgame? Cooking is one thing Max enjoys, so the inclusion of a competitive baking show should have an additional appeal for some readers.
The dynamics between Max and his best friend Luca add another dimension to the problem. They are both outcasts, for different reasons, and they stick together for moral support. Luca even jumps in when Max is getting beaten up. However, a question arises as Max’s confidence changes. What will happen to their friendship if Max is perceived as less nerdy? Luca isn’t getting any helpful advice from a master criminal to improve himself, so will he be left behind, alone? Their relationship should be relatable for middle-grade readers, as they go through the emotional and physical changes of puberty.
The setting is in a world where supervillains and superheroes are commonplace. Most people are huge fans of the heroes, but Max views them in a totally different manner. He thinks they’re all self-centered jerks. Heroes swoop in to capture criminals without regard for the destruction of public property, and Max asks his mom about the aftermath. Do the heroes clean up the damage, and do they pay for the repairs? Is anyone hurt or killed when the heroes destroy buildings or smash cars and busses? Max doesn’t think criminals are innocent, but the public ignores the harm done by superheroes in the name of upholding the law. Who does more harm to public safety? It’s an interesting perspective about crime fighters.
What didn’t work as well:
Ok, a supervillain compassionately becoming the voice of reason and good judgment for a troubled sixth grader is hard to accept. His comments encourage Max to see the good in himself, and others will respond more positively as he becomes more confident. The first inkling that things may not be all that they seem is when Max enrolls in self-defense classes with Master Plan’s former “villainy aid” (not his henchman). Master Plan seems able to control people and situations even though he’s in prison. The question in the back of Max’s mind remains, “Why is a supervillain willing to help me?”
The Final Verdict:
Advice can be dangerous. This book is delightfully entertaining as Max learns to improve his self-image. Revenge against the bully will only make things worse, so Master Plan offers a method to change the perceptions of Max’s peers. Some parts of the bully story are stereotypical, but the author includes his own nuances to the book. The book should be enjoyable for all middle-grade readers, and I recommend you give it a shot.

This is an excellent book that really gets to the heart of being an outsider as a kid, and developing and following your own moral compass. Max has to decide who he wants to be, and who he really admires. He hates superheroes, and turns to a supervillain for help. But is life really as simple as heroes vs villains? And how far will he go to get what he wants?

What an excellent book. It was funny, empowering and life lessons were learned. This would be a great book to give to a reluctant reader. The author really understood his characters. He made the kids and adults rela.table.

I think we sometimes forget how powerful middle grade books can be, but this one is incredible. There is actual, good advice on how to feel more comfortable in your own skin, how to choose fashion that works for you (no matter your size), and how to embrace opportunities that come your way. There is also really great sections about how everyone deserves basic human decency, but people don't owe you their time and attention - you earn that.