When writers of teenage fiction tackle a social issue, the result is often a worthy politically correct book that is well-intentioned, boring and dull. But this is not the case with first-time Scottish author Catherine Forde.
A former teacher, it is obvious from her powerful and funny writing that Forde understands the anger and frustrations of teenagers and has a talent for writing about the reality of growing up with humour and compassion.
Fat Boy Swim takes a powerful, moving and tough look at a problem facing many teenagers. Jimmy Kelly is a fourteen-year-old outsider who does not fit in with all the other teenagers around him. He is bullied mercilessly at school by both pupils and staff and because of his quiet, gentle personality, he is totally incapable of fighting back.
Jimmy, who gets called Fat Boy and Boobsie, is obese and because of the way he looks he is victimised by everyone he meets. He is a no-hoper with a miserable future in front of him. He can eat a whole packet of chocolate bars in 10 minutes flat.
His mother refuses to see that he has a problem and do something about his weight. To her, Jimmy is just big-boned and his size has nothing to do with the vast amount of food he consumes.
But Jim has a secret that he hides from everyone at school. If his classmates discovered his hidden talent, they would laugh at him even more and make his life an even bigger misery. For Jimmy Kelly is a talented cook.
Finally a local priest, Father Joseph, discovers Jimmy's talent and persuades him to do some cooking to raise money for a children's charity in Africa. Jimmy agrees as long as his identity stays a secret. But sometimes in his dreams, Jimmy sees himself swimming through clear water and when Father Joseph asks him if he can do anything in return for the food, Jim asks the priest if he will teach him how to swim.