Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler

Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler

Paperback, 177 pages

Published October 18th 2010 by Harcourt Graphia

 

Synopsis:  “Thou art the Black Rider. Go thee out unto the world.”

Lisabeth Lewis has a black steed, a set of scales, and a new job: she’s been appointed Famine. How will an anorexic seventeen-year-old girl from the suburbs fare as one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse?

Traveling the world on her steed gives Lisa freedom from her troubles at home: her constant battle with hunger, and her struggle to hide it from the people who care about her. But being Famine forces her to go places where hunger is a painful part of everyday life, and to face the horrifying effects of her phenomenal power. Can Lisa find a way to harness that power — and the courage to battle her own inner demons



My rating: 4 stars of 5
Inspirational
Number of pages didn't allow character development
Okay, to tell you the truth, I had no sweet clue what in the hell the main character was talking about. I read the synopsis on the back of the book and still had no idea what the book was even about. . . .



So, I started this book with mixed feelings. I wasn't sure how much I'd like it and I wasn't sure how much the book could really deliver considering it's such a small book.



Honestly, I loved this book so much. For anyone with eating problems or a horrible self-esteem, should read this. Take it from me.



While I don't really post personal stuff, this book was a huge self esteem booster once you reach the end. I have never had an eating disorder but, I pick at what I eat and I count every calorie and work out religiously. I guess you could say for a long while I teetered on the "I don't want to eat because I'm fat" point. Just like in this book, I always had a "Thin voice" that told me exactly what I didn't want to hear, One cup of soup, two hundred and thirty five calories. Forty minutes of swimming laps.



As I read this book, I realized that what Lisa, the main character, is going through is real and I think this book could touch everyone who reads it.



Lisabeth is anorexic. She has a good life, a best friend, a boyfriend, a loving father. Her life isn't perfect, though. The voice in her head, the Thin voice, is always telling her what to eat, how many calories something is, and how much exercise she needs to burn it. She thinks she's fat yet she only loses around 1/10th of a pound everyday and feels a sense of accomplishment. Her best friend Suzanne is starting to notice and tells her, Lisa, you're anorexic. This is a complete insult to Lisa and they stop being friends. Her boyfriend starts to notice also and she just gets angry with his assumptions. Her new best friend, Tammy, binges and purges and Lisa is jealous of her self control and her ability to even make herself throw up. As Lisa battles with food, she begins to feel depressed and she wants to die. She tries overdosing on her mothers pills.



While all of this is going on, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse is gone and they need someone new as the Famine Horsemen. The Death Horsemen decides to chose Lisa. Now, Lisa has the ability to go places with her new steed and throw a whole villiage into famine but the Pestilence Horsemen says she can do good with her ability. Can Lisa help the world with her abilities? Can she help herself even though her new abilities show her the good and bad of food?



I'd say something right here, like I normally do like, My thoughts on this book with no sugar added is: but that just goes to perfectly with the concept of this book.



This book is definitley the right book for anyone who has looked in the mirror and has had thoughts of going through drastic measures just to be thin. A lot of teenagers go through things like this. A lot of girls. I'm not the exception. This book helped me realize, could help anyone realize, that it isn't all about appearance. Although it took Lisa awhile to finally realize that being thin isn't the only thing that makes her happy, she did finally get back the people she loved most and pushed away their concerns.



The only problem I had was the fact that I didn't really get to know the characters. That's the only reason why I gave it four stars. Otherwise, this book was flawless.



For someone who has gone through almost the exact same thing, minus the apolalypse horsemen stuff, this book made me feel better. Don't underestimate the fact that it's small. It gives a lot for being only a whole 177 pages.



I reccomend this book for everyone.