Louder Than Hunger

Gr 5 Up–Schu’s dedication in his debut novel-in-verse includes, “For thirteen-year-old me, who needed a book like this one.” Legendary Kate DiCamillo adds in her heartening foreword, “Telling your story can save your life. It may save someone else’s life, too.” This is Jake’s story, which Schu reveals in his author’s note (empathically self-read), “parallels [his] own life in many ways.” Ebner is a vulnerable cipher, assuming Jake’s first-person narrative with versatility—wistful, desperate, livid, hopeful. Eighth grader Jake recites Emily Dickinson, enjoys rollerblading, dreams of “see[ing] a musical on Broadway with Grandma.” He shares his deepest secrets with an angel statue he’s named Frieden—German for peace—but his loudest conversations happen with “The Voice” which feeds Jake’s severe anorexia. Forcibly committed to a treatment center, his recovery journey will be harrowing.