The Donut Prince
of New York
⭐️ “A pitch-perfect journey of self-discovery.”
2024 Best Young Adult Book of the Year
—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
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?
More praise for Donut Prince!
A 2024 Best Young Adult Book of the Year by Kirkus Reviews
★ “Readers need not be familiar with either the stage or the football field to enjoy this excellently crafted novel. A pitch-perfect journey of self-discovery. “ —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
“Though packed with hilarious zingers and witty one-liners, Eugene’s story—including his complex relationships with food, his plus-size body, and the social expectations of attractiveness—is one that will tug at readers’ emotions.” —Booklist
“Laugh-out-loud humor, depictions of genuine teenage connections, and sly reworkings of evergreen tropes surrounding body image and high school stereotypes make for a subversive coming-of-age romp.” —Publishers Weekly
“A masterful page-turner. You’ll root for Eugene long after the final chapter. Chef’s kiss!" —Lisa Fipps, Printz honoree for Starfish
"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
"You don't have to be obsessed with theatre, or donuts, to enjoy this plot-twisty tale about an overweight, insecure high school senior. The Donut Prince of New York proves that guys too can have food issues and fears about fitting in; it may even inspire you to accept yourself!" —Winnie Holzman, Co-writer (with Stephen Schwartz) of the musical Wicked
"Zadoff shines as an ever insightful, imaginative, profoundly empathetic and funny writer--and the junior year travails of Eugene Guterman stands as one of his very best and most satisfying novels to date." —Stephen Adly Guirgis, Pulitzer Prize Winner