Chunky

Written & illustrated by Yehudi Mercado

Book #1 in the Chunky series

A boy and his imaginary friend tackle sports, comedy, and family challenges.

3.8/5 Goodreads · 1,859 ratings

208 pages· 5,987 words· Est. 54 min read

$21.99Save 1%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Hudi, a Mexican-Jewish kid, faces pressure to lose weight and fit in through sports. With Chunky, his imaginary friend, he tries baseball but dreams of comedy. As his dad loses his job, Hudi struggles to stay true to himself. Can Chunky help him navigate these challenges, or will their friendship falter?

From the publisher

In this full-color middle grade graphic memoir for fans of Raina Telgemeier and Jerry Craft, Yehudi Mercado draws inspiration from his childhood struggle with his weight while finding friendship with his imaginary mascot, Chunky, as he navigates growing up in a working class Mexican-Jewish family.Hudi needs to lose weight, according to his doctors. Concerned about the serious medical issue Hudi had when he was younger, his parents push him to try out for sports. Hudi would rather do anything else, but then he meets Chunky, his imaginary friend and mascot. Together, they decide to give baseball a shot. As the only Mexican and Jewish kid in his neighborhood, Hudi has found the cheerleader he never had. Baseball doesn’t go well (unless getting hit by the ball counts), but the two friends have a great time drawing and making jokes. While Hudi’s parents keep trying to find the right sport for Hudi, Chunky encourages him to pursue his true love–comedy.But when Hudi’s dad loses his job, it gets harder for Hudi to chart his own course, even with Chunky’s guidance. Can Chunky help Hudi stay true to himself or will this friendship strike out?

At a glance