What's Eating Gilbert Grape

Adapted into the classic 1993 film starring Johnny Depp as Gilbert and Leonardo DiCaprio in his Academy Award€“nominated role as Arnie, What€s Eating Gilbert Grape is the touching and entertaining story of an unusual family that rises up to do the astonishing€¦

Gilbert Grape is a 24-year-old grocery store clerk stuck in Endora, Iowa, where the population is 1,091 and shrinking. After the suicide of Gilbert€s father, his family never recovered. Once the town beauty queen, Gilbert€s mother is morbidly obese after seven years of house-bound depression; his younger sister is boy-crazy and God-fearing, while his older sister sacrifices everything for her family. And then there€s Arnie, Gilbert€s younger brother with special needs. With no one else to care for Arnie, Gilbert becomes his brother€s main parent, and all four siblings must tend to the needs of their helpless, grieving mother.

So Gilbert is in a rut€"until an enchanting new girl arrives in town. His family gathers for Arnie€s 18th birthday and Becky, the mysterious and lovely newcomer, breathes new life into Gilbert€s world. But can one person really change Gilbert, or his attitudes about his family and Endora? Rich with memorable characters, biting frustration, and family redemption, What€s Eating Gilbert Grape can€t be missed.

About the Author

Raised in West Des Moines, Iowa, Peter Hedges is an award-winning novelist, screenwriter, playwright, and director. He studied drama at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. His first novel, What€s Eating Gilbert Grape, was made into a classic movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio in his breakout role. Afterward, Hedges went on to write and direct numerous critically-acclaimed films, including Pieces of April, Dan in Real Life, and The Odd Life of Timothy Green. His screenplay for About a Boy was nominated for an Academy Award in 2002.