Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler

"But the Thin voice saved her.
Hershey's Kisses, it whispered. Twenty-five calories each."

My Rating: 9/10

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication: October 18 2010
ISBN: 978-0-547-34124-8
Pages: 180 pages
Ages/Grade: 12 years and up/ 7th grade and up

Jackie Morse Kessler's debut novel is spectacular.

Lisabeth Lewis, the main character of Hunger has a boyfriend. Maybe it's something about being a couple; all of a sudden you care more about other people's opinions on appearance.

Lisa loved food--she used to go with James (her current boyfriend) and Suzanne (her ex-best friend) into Joe's Diner and eat normally like everybody else.

Then the Thin voice appeared, telling her that she's fat fat fat and that she needs to lose weight. As if her perfect and insanely critical mother hasn't stop complaining yet.

When she lost 10 pounds just like her mother wished, her mom complained about her skin complexion or et cetera.

Then she had a dream. Maybe a nightmare, because the sexy Death came for her. She was appointed to be Famine, because Lisa tried to kill herself. Death was merciful. Death was kind. Death was sexy.

She was anorexic herself, and she's trying to help people to counter famine. She encountered War, who really wants to get rid of her. But despite the fear she has for War, her betraying friends who doesn't understand, her strange boyfriend and her uncaring parents, she got to ride Midnight, her black horse.

Hunger is about life and death, supporting family and friends, finding yourself and losing yourself.

What I like about the book: It was funny and sophisticated, realistic and also different. Lisa's mind was filled with conflict, hence, interesting. Death's characteristic was also hilarious, switching back and forth from old English to rocker style. :D I definitely enjoy this book.

What I dislike about the book: The beginning was a bit slow and dragged to me, but I kept reading and I loved it!

Jackie Morse Kessler's Books Page