He’s faster than fast food! Crispier than Chex Mix! He’s . . . . Super Chicken Nugget Boy! When Fern Goldberg arrived at Bert Lahr Elementary School, he was just an average kid: nearsighted, a touch on the skinny side. Then he fell into the pool of radioactive green goo behind Bogie’s Burger Barn. Now whenever his skin comes into contact with condiments, he transforms into a bona fide, deep-fried superhero who’s not afraid to take on villains great and small, from the class bully to the giant, mutated French fry who threatens to crush the whole school beneath his massive, starchy feet . . . . Villainous vegetables beware! Here comes the most formidable food fighter in history!

When Gordonville's most preeminent food scientist, Dr. Myron Ned-Grant, came to speak at Bert Larh Elementary, he seemed like a really nice guy--that is, until school bully Dirk Hamstone reminded him of his name's unfortunate resemblance to eggplant

On the outskirts of Gordonville, deep in the heart of the burkeburke hills, lives a creature so strong, so fearsome and so meaty….Yes, that’s right meaty….that even the most fearless, tender and breaded of heroes might not be strong enough to foil him. He’s Massive Meatloaf Man. And once Fernando Goldberg gets a load of the meaty monster, he decides it may just be best to steer clear. But Dirk Hamstone has other ideas. He aims to find fame and fortune by luring the Loaf in and putting him on display. Does Dirk care that trying to tame the beefy barbarian is endangering himself, his classmates, and everyone else the maniacal meatman comes across – carnivore, vegetarian, or even vegan? Not a chance! It will take a whole lot of quick-thinking to cut the mustard—or, er, the ketchup—once this ferocious, succulent and sumptuous beast unleashes his fleshy fury onto the innocent citizens of Gordonville. Will Super Chicken Nugget Boy send the creature packing? Or will the Massive Meatloaf Man make mincemeat of the entire town?

An exploration of the fast food industry in the United States, from its roots to its long-term consequences.

Giffin's smash-hit debut novel--basis for the 2011 film--is for every woman who has ever had a complicated love-hate friendship.

Original publication and copyright date: 2009.

MACHINE OF DEATH tells thirty-four different stories about people who know how they will die. Prepare to have your tears jerked, your spine tingled, your funny bone tickled, your mind blown, your pulse quickened, or your heart warmed. Or better yet, simply prepare to be surprised. Because even when people do have perfect knowledge of the future, there's no telling exactly how things will turn out.