Big Mouth by Deborah Halverson


Big Mouth
Title : Big Mouth
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : 0385733941
ISBN-10 : 9780385733946
Language : English
Format Type : Hardcover
Number of Pages : 352
Publication : First published January 1, 2008

FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD SHERMIE THUFF is a Big Guy with a Big Dream— to become the most famous competitive eater in the world. But every big dream has to start somewhere, and Shermie’s determined to start his in the spotlight. If he can take first place in Nathan’s World Famous International hot dog eating competition, fame will be his. The catch? The current record is 53-1/2 hot dogs and buns in 12 minutes. Shermie’s personal best? Seven. Clearly, Shermie has some training to do. . . . Only, no matter how hard he tries, he can’t get past nine measly wieners. Then, just when Shermie’s about to crack under the pressure, he gets his biggest shake-up of all: news that the 53-1/2 record holder is an itty-bitty, 130-pound guy. So Shermie vows to lose his restrictive Fat Belt the only way he knows how—with the help of Gardo, a weight-cutting fanatic determined to turn Big Shermie into a lean, mean eating-machine.


From the Trade Paperback edition.

Big Mouth Reviews

  • Kaitlin

    I adore this book. it's very close to my heart because it's so funny and the descriptions of food are incredible. The relationships are sweet and I feel so much love for the characters. I was annoyed by the whole lack of romance bit, but I suppose that wasn't the main focus. Also, I do not believe the book did a great job on bringing awareness to what a huge issue eating disorders can be for boys because of the route it took. it was too funny and too cute of a book for the real horror of eating disorders to be impactful, although it is a beautiful gesture on the author's part nonetheless.

  • Brandy

    Bullies, body issues, and disordered eating neatly hidden behind middle-school guy humor and sports. IOW: an excellent choice for the 8th grade summer reading book IF ONLY IT WERE STILL IN PRINT GOD DAMMIT.

    And now that I'm finished--yeah, this would have been perfect, if only it met the criteria of BEING AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE. There's a mostly-unrealistic scene at the end with the bully () but I've seen much, much worse culminations of that moment, so I'm willing to let it go. Maybe if I lobby the publisher, I can get it in paperback in time for May?

  • Percy Ranaivohajarivony

    I was interested in this book the moment I saw the cover. I could see already that it is about food because of it and that is what impressed me because just looking at the title and the cover I know what it is about. One part of the book I remember was when the main character, Shermie and his friend Gardo had an eating contest and Shermie won because he has been trying to be a professional eating machine. "What he didn't have was a clue about what he'd just gotten himself into. Attitude wouldn't beat natural talent"(Halverson 107). This book shows how dreams can come true if you just keep practicing and practicing and take a chance to be confident.

  • Homewood Public Library

    Sherman Thuff has his hopes set on being a competitive eater, but when his training regimen begins to seriously interfere with his enjoyment of life & he even starts losing his friends, he decides to rearrange his priorities.

  • Katie

    an amazing story that has a lot to do with ketchup & mustard