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Bil Wright
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Putting Makeup on the Fat Boy Kindle Edition

by Bil Wright (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 34 ratings
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In this spirited exploration of strength and personality, a fabulous NYC teen knows he’s destined for greatness—if only he can survive his first job.

Carlos Duarte knows that he’s fabulous. He’s got a better sense of style than half the fashionistas in New York City, and he can definitely apply makeup like nobody’s business. He may only be in high school, but when he lands the job of his dreams—makeup artist at the FeatureFace counter in Macy’s—he's sure that he’s finally on his way to great things.
     But the makeup artist world is competitive and cutthroat, and for Carlos to reach his dreams, he'll have to believe in himself more than ever.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    242 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
  5. Publication date
    July 26, 2011
  6. Grade level
    7 and up
  7. File size
    3983 KB
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Not Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  11. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"There's a whole lot going on in Wright's novel, but it's handled deftly and, for the most part, believably. Best of all, Carlos is not completely defined by his homosexuality. It is an important part of him, yes, but so are his ambition, his concern for his sister, and his capacity for friendship."--"Booklist"

"Wright's occasionally flashy but mostly straightforward...prose should work equally well for bookish and non-bookish readers."--"Kirkus Reviews"

"Readers will simultaneously root for and marvel at this fascinating character."--"School Library Journal"

"Wright gives voice, complexity, and heart to the kind of character often relegated to a cliche sidekick role...[Carlos is] a walking example of the inner strength teens need--regardless of their sexuality."

--"Publishers Weekly"

"A fast-paced and humorous chick-lit read, Carlos is sure of himself and yet willing to acknowledge when he makes mistakes. His loyalty to friends and family and grace under pressure come through as he overcomes stereotyping to achieve his goal."--"Library Media Connection"

About the Author

Bil Wright is an award-winning novelist and playwright. His novels include Putting Makeup on the Fat Boy (Lambda Literary Award and American Library Association Stonewall Book Award), the highly acclaimed When the Black Girl Sings (Junior Library Guild selection), and the critically acclaimed Sunday You Learn How to Box. His plays include Bloodsummer Rituals, based on the life of poet Audre Lorde (Jerome Fellowship), and Leave Me a Message (San Diego Human Rights Festival premiere). He is the Librettist for This One Girl’s Story (GLAAD nominee) and the winner of a LAMI (La Mama Playwriting Award). An associate professor of English at CUNY, Bil Wright lives in New York City. Visit him at BilWright.com.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B004G8QTFC
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers; Reprint edition (July 26, 2011)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 26, 2011
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3983 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 242 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 34 ratings

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Bil Wright

Bil Wright

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Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5
34 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Roy
5.0 out of 5 stars The Carlos Duarte Fan Club
Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2011
Verified Purchase
Upon entering the world of "Putting Make-Up On The Fat Boy," readers will meet Carlos Duarte and immediately take him into their hearts. The reader travels with Carlos through many adventures in this wonderful coming of age story. The author's refreshing take on this character is that he is not a tortured young gay teen. Carlos is out and proud and knows exactly who he is and where he stands as a young gay teen. Fabulous would best describe Carlos. Some of his journey is heartbreaking and handled with great sensitivity. I only wish that that there was a book like this when I was a teenager coming of age. Adults, teens and adolescents will thoroughly enjoy the ride with Carlos. This reader never wanted the adventure to end. Hopefully, Mr. Wright will give us further adventures of Carlos very soon.
One person found this helpful
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Scott J. Hamilton
5.0 out of 5 stars Another First-Rate Effort from Wright
Reviewed in the United States on August 25, 2011
Verified Purchase
Why does a middle-aged man wait so anxiously for each new Bil Wright book? Because I wish such an author had been around when I was a struggling teenager. Wright crafts his characters in a way that makes them instantly believable. More importantly, they are easy to relate to.

While Carlos, the central character in this latest Bil Wright book is openly gay, any young person who has ever felt outside the margins will be inspired by this story of achievement and overcoming. I have a strong admiration for Wright as a storyteller. As long as he writes, I will buy his books to read and buy more to give to young people in my life. Thanks, Bil, for making a difference for so many.
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BookWitch
4.0 out of 5 stars Fun, but.
Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2012
Verified Purchase
A poor teenager from a bad neighborhood is a terrific makeup artist and decides he's gonna get a job at the Macy's makeup counter and knock everyone's socks off, despite serious odds against that. And when he meets and gives great advice to a celebrity at the counter, his world changes.

I wanted to adore this book, because I think it is so deeply necessary. A main character of color, who is proud, out, fat, funny, into himself, confident, great at something and he knows it, worthy of love and he knows it... who is NOT cowering or bullied or about to jump off a bridge. It's refreshing in so many ways.

That said, the kindle version I read almost seemed like it might be an uncopyedited draft. I'm not sure if it needed better editing, or if the e-version was just a bit shoddy or straight up the wrong version. I guess maybe just things I'd have done differently execution-wise.

So I am giving five stars for the idea and for the main character, three stars for the actual execution.
One person found this helpful
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Richard
5.0 out of 5 stars Hooray for Carlos!
Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2011
Verified Purchase
I really loved this book!
Carlos is wonderfully drawn.
The complex emotions he's feeling are so real and his voice is engaging, funny and very heartwarming.
All the characters to me are right on and the whole thing moves beautifully.
The book has lessons about fitting in and being one's own person, without being preachy.
It's a fun and very uplifting read.
And I do like it when our hero comes out on top!
3 people found this helpful
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Robby Nadler
1.0 out of 5 stars Horribly Offensive
Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2013
I can't really understand all the love this book is receiving. From a craft perspective alone, this book is simple (not in the good way), the characters are flat and stock, and the entire plot feels contrived. But that is not why this book is as bad as it is. The text is incredibly misogynistic; page after page Wright insults women as fat, disgusting, crazy people. Similarly, his portrayal of gay men are all bitchy stereotypes. Carlos himself is one of the most egotistical, nonredeemable characters I have come across in a while. It's not even that I have dislike those sorts of characters, but the text then tries to make you care about him, which we don't, but it thinks we do. Further, Carlos is posited to be Hispanic, but this book is completely race blind. He is Hispanic in name only. Wright takes up another person's race as if all you have to do to accurately portray someone of another race is give them a Spanish sounding name. There is nothing authentic about this work, and it should be ashamed for how it treats women (I write this as a gay, white, male).
3 people found this helpful
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theEPICrat
3.0 out of 5 stars Be who you are, wear what you want, just learn how to run real fast
Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2011
I thought the title too irresistable to give this book a chance - and I will have to say that it was a rather delightful sort of read. Imagine if Marc St. James from Ugly Betty gave his own backstory - and I think you will be able to picture Carlos perfectly! He was sassy, confident, and just a perfect blend of ambitious and niceness to make for a likeable main character.

I am not a makeup fiend (...well, maybe I dabble in eyeshadows like a regular Bob Ross), but the enthusiasm that exudes from Carlos as he lands a job at a Macy's cosmetics counter is all but infectious. I think anyone who has any retail experience can appreciate the challenge of handling a moody, self-centered boss and learning how to make ornery customers feel beautiful again.

I did appreciate that Carlos came from a low-income family, and he struggled to help his family make ends meet. So many books seem to have characters who live charmed lives where they don't have to worry about food or meeting rent, and this story element brought more tension to Putting Makeup On The Fat Boy than what would have been if Carlos had been born to riches.

As enjoyable as watching Carlos walk the path toward his dream career, there were a few bumps in the road that seemed a little too disconnected with the ultimate goal. Of course, no road traveled should be without detours and obstructions, but I did not think enough time had been spent on them - and these projects were left unfinished or else with an less-than-desirable ending. Perhaps I have read too many happy-ever-afters, but even the unhappy-ever-afters seemed not fully realized when I reached the end.

Putting Makeup On The Fat Boy is a charming read, despite the title that sounds a bit rude, and Carlos embraces himself with as much joie de vivre as the cast of Ugly Betty does. A sequel would be very welcomed in my mind since there were a few loose ties that I thought still needed closure.
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