Troy Billings is seventeen, 296 pounds, friendless, utterly miserable, and about to step off a New York subway platform in front of an oncoming train. Until he meets Curt MacCrae, an emaciated, semi-homeless, high school dropout guitar genius, the stuff of which Lower East Side punk rock legends are made. Never mind that Troy's dad thinks Curt's a drug addict and Troy's brother thinks Troy's the biggest (literally) loser in Manhattan. Soon, Curt's recruited Troy as his new drummer--even though Troy can't play the drums. Together, Curt and Troy will change the world of punk, and Troy's own life, forever.

"Troy's voice is candid, irreverent, realistic and humorous. [A] wonderful, engrossing tale."--SLJ

An ALA BBYA

A BCCB Blue Ribbon Book

A Booklist Editors' Choice

An SLJ Best Book of the Year

A Miami Herald Best Book of the Year