Double D.

Gr 10 Up—Life as an overweight teen is anything but easy. Fifteen-year-old Danny is having a particularly terrible day when shoes are thrown at his head and he embarrassingly splits his pants at school. Frustration building, he heads to what he believes will be inevitable humiliation in gym class. However, something strange happens. Danny runs faster than he's ever run in his life. It appears that his anger has unlocked superpowers. The story successfully builds suspense while exploring the reason for Danny's transformation. Friend and foe are revealed as readers race toward the cliff-hanger conclusion. However, the intrigue and action fail to mask some flaws. Danny's status as a victim of bullying seems to exist for no other reason than to provide a contrast for the changes that occur when he gains his superpowers. His weight issues are not explored enough to counter the story's initial (and reprehensible) implication that weight problems equate to laziness and constant eating. Additionally, the book draws attention to its lack of fully formed female characters when the protagonist and his friend discuss the Bechdel Test. The comments feel like a missed opportunity. The illustrations are adequate, although there are some perspective and proportion issues. The volume contains adult language and themes, so librarians and educators may want to review the book and consider their audience before purchase.