One Fat Summer

1
One Fat Summer

• A Plot Summary of a novel by Robert Lipsyte

2
Introduction
3
Beginning

• Bobby and his friend, Joanie, go to a carnival at
  the local beach. Bobby phones a mathematics
  doctor, Dr. Kahn, for a lawn mowing job.
• Bobby goes to Dr. Kahns huge lot and starts to
  mow the lawn.
• Bobby has some trouble with mowing the lawn, but
  he gets used to it.

4
Problem Development

• The main problem of this story is Bobbys
  self-esteem. He is bothered about his weight and
  that is what causes his low self-esteem.
• Willie Rumson, the former marine who had the job
  before Bobby, will do anything to get his old job
  back, even if it means to hurt him.
• Willie tries to get his friend, Jim Smith, to
  sabotage Bobby while he is cleaning Dr. Kahns
  gutter by taking the ladder from underneath him,
  with him still on it.

5
Prob. Development Cont.

• Willie and his friends follow Bobby on the way to
  his house and when he stops for a rock, Willies
  gang jumps on him and tries to hurt him enough to
  make him quit the job.
• Willie tries to get at Bobby again but this time,
  Willie strips him naked and leaves him on an
  island to die.
• An event that leads to the climax is Willie is
  drunk enough to tote a .22 rifle to try and shoot
  Bobby in the knee, if he doesnt give up the job.

6
Climax

• The climax of the story is that Bobby and Willie
  are struggling underwater and Willie finds out
  that Bobby has some strengths, as well as
  weaknesses. Bobby finds this out, as well, and
  is proud of himself.

7
Solution/Ending

• Willie was taken to jail, and people started
  calling Bobby a hero. Bobby didnt feel heroic,
  however, he was feeling sorry for Willie because
  he was messed up.
• Bobby stands up to Dr. Kahn because he wasnt
  giving Bobby enough money. This was important to
  Bobby because he was always letting people rule
  his life.
• Bobbys self-esteem also improves, and he feels
  better about himself.