At only 180 pages, I was VERY hesitant about this book. I loved the idea of it, but I didn't think it would be worth a credit (and it's currently a Bargain Book on Amazon for $3.51.) But I was very surprised and pleased. I plan to read the next book, Rage, and I've already added Loss to my wishlist, with a release date in 2012. A keeper, and 4.5 stars for me :)
I will add that it's ironic; the book I read before this one was Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon, which I noted in my review of that book that the author goes into detail about food a lot, more so than normal, and that I found myself wanting to go raid the pantry while I was reading.
I will add that it's ironic; the book I read before this one was Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon, which I noted in my review of that book that the author goes into detail about food a lot, more so than normal, and that I found myself wanting to go raid the pantry while I was reading.
Stephanie S. (skywriter319) -
HUNGER is a succinct but powerful tale with mythological undertones, yet a very relevant modern topic. Jackie Morse Kessler weaves together old-style storytelling with contemporary charm to create a memorable and 100% fascinating read.
HUNGER draws on mythology, but its fairy-tale-like feel comes from much more than just its premise: its the way Kessler writes the story. Lisas conflicting emotions never feel forced: Kesslers choice of words, their rhythm and their placement, portray that for us, so that we are never told how Lisa or we are supposed to feel. The writing thus makes you feel like youre simultaneously within Lisas mind and above it, viewing everything from a magical, observant distance, the sort of reader-story distance that forms the core of ageless fairy tales.
The human characters in HUNGER are relatively straightforward, as befits their role within the fairy-tale-like feel of the story. However, Death is such a great and unique character. Hes cheeky, and has a sort of too-cool-for-his-own-good vibe going on. It puts a different spin on something that could be otherwise very heavy in the mythology and issues.
Overall, HUNGER was an incredible read. At under 200 pages, it goes by quickly, but it packs a punch, expertly combining an old-school storytelling feel with the issue of eating disorders, so relevant to many today. I will definitely be looking out for Jackie Morse Kesslers future books!
HUNGER draws on mythology, but its fairy-tale-like feel comes from much more than just its premise: its the way Kessler writes the story. Lisas conflicting emotions never feel forced: Kesslers choice of words, their rhythm and their placement, portray that for us, so that we are never told how Lisa or we are supposed to feel. The writing thus makes you feel like youre simultaneously within Lisas mind and above it, viewing everything from a magical, observant distance, the sort of reader-story distance that forms the core of ageless fairy tales.
The human characters in HUNGER are relatively straightforward, as befits their role within the fairy-tale-like feel of the story. However, Death is such a great and unique character. Hes cheeky, and has a sort of too-cool-for-his-own-good vibe going on. It puts a different spin on something that could be otherwise very heavy in the mythology and issues.
Overall, HUNGER was an incredible read. At under 200 pages, it goes by quickly, but it packs a punch, expertly combining an old-school storytelling feel with the issue of eating disorders, so relevant to many today. I will definitely be looking out for Jackie Morse Kesslers future books!
Angela M. (dukesangel002) reviewed Hunger (Horsemen of the Apocalypse, Bk 1) on + 91 more book reviews
I had never read a book about the four horsemen before, so I was really excited to start this one. It's a fresh face in the paranormal monster world (at least for me), and I'm always on the look-out for something new. I really liked the premise of it. I think Death was definitely my favorite horsemen. He was funny and really put a fun spin on the concept of death.
I think it was great that Jackie Kessler managed to take a fun paranormal read and center it around the very important issue of eating disorders. I think it's so important that teens find books that they can relate to, that help them through tough situations in their lives. Eating Disorders are everywhere these days, and yet you still don't hear people talking about them much.
I liked Lisabeth's character. I found her hard to relate to sometimes, but I think that was because she was struggling with herself so much in the book. She had a hard time relating to herself. The eating disorder was eating her.
Overall, this was a great new addition to the YA world and the paranormal world and I'm really looking forward to reading Rage, the next Horseman book!
I think it was great that Jackie Kessler managed to take a fun paranormal read and center it around the very important issue of eating disorders. I think it's so important that teens find books that they can relate to, that help them through tough situations in their lives. Eating Disorders are everywhere these days, and yet you still don't hear people talking about them much.
I liked Lisabeth's character. I found her hard to relate to sometimes, but I think that was because she was struggling with herself so much in the book. She had a hard time relating to herself. The eating disorder was eating her.
Overall, this was a great new addition to the YA world and the paranormal world and I'm really looking forward to reading Rage, the next Horseman book!
Jennifer W. (GeniusJen) reviewed Hunger (Horsemen of the Apocalypse, Bk 1) on + 5322 more book reviews
Reviewed by LadyJay for TeensReadToo.com
Lisa can never escape the thin voice. It screeches and tears at her - telling her how fat she is; counting the calories in one chocolate chip cookie; calculating the number of minutes on the exercise bike.
No matter how thin she is, it's never enough. Lisa's anorexia spirals out of control; she swallows a handful of her mother's antidepressants. That's when Death comes for her.
He doesn't want her soul - not just yet. Instead, he bequeaths a gift. Lisa will now embody one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse - she will become Famine. Midnight, her black steed, whisks her away to lands that are ravaged by hunger. She is witness to great suffering and pain.
Through all of this, Lisa discovers that possessing Famine can do incredible harm as well as good. She learns how to sustain life, and in return, that inspires her own will to live.
I was amazed by the premise of HUNGER. What a creative and thought-provoking way of looking at eating disorders. Kessler handles the subject matter with incredible care, without preaching or lecturing to the reader. I believe that this novel will truly resonate with some teens. I know it did with me.
Lisa can never escape the thin voice. It screeches and tears at her - telling her how fat she is; counting the calories in one chocolate chip cookie; calculating the number of minutes on the exercise bike.
No matter how thin she is, it's never enough. Lisa's anorexia spirals out of control; she swallows a handful of her mother's antidepressants. That's when Death comes for her.
He doesn't want her soul - not just yet. Instead, he bequeaths a gift. Lisa will now embody one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse - she will become Famine. Midnight, her black steed, whisks her away to lands that are ravaged by hunger. She is witness to great suffering and pain.
Through all of this, Lisa discovers that possessing Famine can do incredible harm as well as good. She learns how to sustain life, and in return, that inspires her own will to live.
I was amazed by the premise of HUNGER. What a creative and thought-provoking way of looking at eating disorders. Kessler handles the subject matter with incredible care, without preaching or lecturing to the reader. I believe that this novel will truly resonate with some teens. I know it did with me.
Lisabeth Lewis is an anorexic 17 year old who has just learned that she is to be Famine, one of the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse. As typical with many girls with eating disorders she is all about control. Her mom is a very controlling absent mother who wants everything perfect and her dad drinks to cope with everything so he does not notice the problem.
Lisa has a boyfriend named James who cares about her deeply. He wants to help her but she sees it as betrayal. Her best friend Suzanne had tried to approach her about this also and Lisa ended this friendship and instead became friends with a girl named Tammy who is bulimic. Since they share a secret she sees this as a great friendship.
Lisa decides that she wants to die. She is about to kill herself when a messenger shows up with a package containing an old fashion scale telling her that she is the Black Rider. When she wakes up the next morning she thinks it is all a dream until she notices the scale sitting on the table that only she can see. When she looks outside she sees her Black Steed (who funny enough just wants to eat pralines). And so begins her adventure as Famine and her fight for her life as she must choose between living and dying.
Very interesting read. I thought it would be more about the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse but it was half that and half about dealing with the inner turmoil of anorexia. Since the author herself dealt with an eating disorder all the inner dialogue (you're so fat) is very real. The whole describing Tammy's purging was a little graphic for the young adult but maybe it is something that should be read to understand how horrible this is to do to oneself.
Lisa has a boyfriend named James who cares about her deeply. He wants to help her but she sees it as betrayal. Her best friend Suzanne had tried to approach her about this also and Lisa ended this friendship and instead became friends with a girl named Tammy who is bulimic. Since they share a secret she sees this as a great friendship.
Lisa decides that she wants to die. She is about to kill herself when a messenger shows up with a package containing an old fashion scale telling her that she is the Black Rider. When she wakes up the next morning she thinks it is all a dream until she notices the scale sitting on the table that only she can see. When she looks outside she sees her Black Steed (who funny enough just wants to eat pralines). And so begins her adventure as Famine and her fight for her life as she must choose between living and dying.
Very interesting read. I thought it would be more about the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse but it was half that and half about dealing with the inner turmoil of anorexia. Since the author herself dealt with an eating disorder all the inner dialogue (you're so fat) is very real. The whole describing Tammy's purging was a little graphic for the young adult but maybe it is something that should be read to understand how horrible this is to do to oneself.
Karissa E. (ophelia99) reviewed Hunger (Horsemen of the Apocalypse, Bk 1) on + 2527 more book reviews
I got an advanced reading copy of this book through the Amazon Vine program. When I saw that it was about a girl who gets forced into the job of Famine, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, I was intrigued. This book is a very short read, but was an interesting and well-done book. I enjoyed it.
Lisabeth Lewis is anorexic, and she is getting worse and worse. She is so bad at this point that her brain is getting fuzzy and she is always cold. Then one day a delivery man brings her a package, it is a set of scales...and a black horse. The next day she thinks maybe it was all a dream; she did after all try to overdose on antidepressants that same night. Then she get a visit from Death and he gives her a choice; Lisabeth can be Famine or Death can kill her. Lisabeth decides, despite her recently attempted suicide, that she will try out the Famine thing. Little does she know that her refusal to eat may be affecting hunger in different parts of the world. She will also find that Famine doesn't have to be a force of evil, but can be a force of hope.
This book was really well done. First and foremost it tackles the issues of eating disorders. Previously I have read Wintergirls and that was a very well done book that showed the harm eating disorders can do to a person and their family. This book does the same thing, but it includes some gallows humor, is witty, and of course has the Four Horsemen in it.
I was impressed with how well Kessler integrated eating disorders with the mythos behind the Four Horsemen. I was impressed with Lisabeth as a character; Kessler really gets in Lisabeth's head and shows the readers what drives Lisabeth's eating disorder. I enjoyed that Lisabeth's parents, boyfriend, and old best friend all questioned her health and were supportive of her getting help. It was nifty how Lisabeth figured out how to use her powers to help people; and it was just cool to watch Lisabeth use her powers as Famine in general.
This book is fast-paced and packs a lot of story for its short length. I had a really hard time putting it down. It also packs a lot of humor. Death is an incredibly amusing and funny character. Even War and Pestilence have intriguing personalities.
If I have one complaint about this book it is that I would have liked to see more scenes and adventures with Lisabeth acting as Famine. As a bonus the author includes an afterward in which she discusses her personal struggles with eating disorders and eating disorders of her friends.
Overall this was an excellent read. It tackles the issue of eating disorders in a realistic way that is meaningful but not absolutely heartbreaking. There is some great witty humor throughout the book and Lisabeth's powers as Famine are pretty neat. The story wrapped up nicely and ended well. I look forward to reader more of Kessler's works in the future.
Lisabeth Lewis is anorexic, and she is getting worse and worse. She is so bad at this point that her brain is getting fuzzy and she is always cold. Then one day a delivery man brings her a package, it is a set of scales...and a black horse. The next day she thinks maybe it was all a dream; she did after all try to overdose on antidepressants that same night. Then she get a visit from Death and he gives her a choice; Lisabeth can be Famine or Death can kill her. Lisabeth decides, despite her recently attempted suicide, that she will try out the Famine thing. Little does she know that her refusal to eat may be affecting hunger in different parts of the world. She will also find that Famine doesn't have to be a force of evil, but can be a force of hope.
This book was really well done. First and foremost it tackles the issues of eating disorders. Previously I have read Wintergirls and that was a very well done book that showed the harm eating disorders can do to a person and their family. This book does the same thing, but it includes some gallows humor, is witty, and of course has the Four Horsemen in it.
I was impressed with how well Kessler integrated eating disorders with the mythos behind the Four Horsemen. I was impressed with Lisabeth as a character; Kessler really gets in Lisabeth's head and shows the readers what drives Lisabeth's eating disorder. I enjoyed that Lisabeth's parents, boyfriend, and old best friend all questioned her health and were supportive of her getting help. It was nifty how Lisabeth figured out how to use her powers to help people; and it was just cool to watch Lisabeth use her powers as Famine in general.
This book is fast-paced and packs a lot of story for its short length. I had a really hard time putting it down. It also packs a lot of humor. Death is an incredibly amusing and funny character. Even War and Pestilence have intriguing personalities.
If I have one complaint about this book it is that I would have liked to see more scenes and adventures with Lisabeth acting as Famine. As a bonus the author includes an afterward in which she discusses her personal struggles with eating disorders and eating disorders of her friends.
Overall this was an excellent read. It tackles the issue of eating disorders in a realistic way that is meaningful but not absolutely heartbreaking. There is some great witty humor throughout the book and Lisabeth's powers as Famine are pretty neat. The story wrapped up nicely and ended well. I look forward to reader more of Kessler's works in the future.
Kessler creatively discusses the tough topic of mental illness in this fantasy series by having each of the four horsemen of the apocalypse represent a mental illness. This first entry has anorexia nervosa (and other eating disorders) represented by Famine. Basically, a teen finds herself saved from death, but must pay Death back by serving as a horseman of the apocalypse. It's a fun way to get teens reading about tough topics and be confronted about them without *feeling* confronted by them.
Although I was at first skeptical about the concept, I found the first entry in the series very well done. It contains a tongue-in-cheek humor that many teens enjoy, and the fantasy is understandable and enjoyable, yet Kessler never fails to present eating disorders as real illnesses with no easy solutions. She writes responsibly and in a relatable manner. I'm looking forward to the next entries in the series.
I recommend this to teen fans of fantasy as well as to those who work with teens with mental illnesses.
Check out my full review.
Although I was at first skeptical about the concept, I found the first entry in the series very well done. It contains a tongue-in-cheek humor that many teens enjoy, and the fantasy is understandable and enjoyable, yet Kessler never fails to present eating disorders as real illnesses with no easy solutions. She writes responsibly and in a relatable manner. I'm looking forward to the next entries in the series.
I recommend this to teen fans of fantasy as well as to those who work with teens with mental illnesses.
Check out my full review.
