The Donut Prince of New York

"A masterful page-turner. You'll root for Eugene long after the final chapter. Chef's kiss!"--Lisa Fipps, author of Starfish

Eugene Guterman's junior year in high school is off to a rocky start. No love life, no new theater production, and if his mother has her way, no more of his favorite comfort food--donuts. Eugene would just as soon spend the year playing small, but that's hard to do when you're the biggest kid in your class.

Things change when he accidentally tackles the school's star quarterback and Coach sees the possibilities and recruits the plus-size playwright onto the varsity football team. Eugene is suddenly catapulted into the world of the "The Pops," the exclusive clique of popular athletes known for their parties and dating scene. Best of all is the new and mysterious girl Daisy who seems to be noticing him.

Then Eugene discovers that life at the top is more complicated than he imagined-- there's pressure to excel, to fit in, and to uphold a certain image--and Eugene misses his former life and his old friends. Can he find the courage to give it all up, write something real, and maybe, just maybe, be the big guy who actually gets the girl?

"A heartbreaking coming of age tale that finds triumph in failure. Football, first crushes, theater and donuts. I love this book."--Yehudi Mercado, author of Chunky and Sci-Fu

Author: Allen Zadoff
Publisher: Holiday House
Published: 11/05/2024
Pages: 352
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.25lbs
ISBN: 9780823456635
Audience: Young Adult


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 09/02/2024

About the Author
Allen Zadoff is the author of nine novels and a memoir, including the thriller series The Unknown Assassin, which debuted to starred reviews and was a YALSA Top Ten Pick for Reluctant Readers. The series has been translated into over a dozen languages and is in active development at Sony Pictures. Allen's most recent middle-grade sci-fi action series, Wild & Chance, is available now. A former stage director, Zadoff is a graduate of Cornell University, the Harvard University Institute for Advanced Theater Training, and the Warner Bros. Writers Workshop.