Louder Than Hunger by John Schu, narrated by Jeff Ebner, is Jake’s story, but it is the story of so many kids these days, and Schu takes care in how he crafts his protagonist. Jake feels like an outsider, a narrative that started for him in middle school — where it so often does for kids. He wonders what it will take for him to disappear, which is when “the voice” takes over his habits. His eating, his isolation, and his relationships.
We begin the journey with Jake at a point where the voice is already in control of his actions. As we listen and watch Jake make poor choices, we wish we could reach in and help him see that the voice is self-doubt, that it doesn’t know everything, and that it is destructive. Anorexia and anxiety rule Jake’s life and his decisions, even as his favorite person, his grandma, tries to reach him.
Much of the narration is told in short bursts like diary entries, but it doesn’t focus on the calorie counts or the exercise minutes. We know those are part of Jake’s obsession, but we know that it is not the focus of Jake’s story. We are cheering when he makes good decisions, we are sad and frustrated when he makes poor decisions. This is the hallmark of a good writer — a novelist who makes us care.
Even though this is considered a middle-grade novel, I would urge every parent, aunt, uncle, grandmother, friend, etc., to read Louder Than Hunger by John Schu. It’s an important look at mental health and the struggles of people with these ailments. They need our care and support not our judgment.
RATING: Cinquain
About the Author:
John Schu has made a career out of advocating for the people and things he cares about most: kids, books, and the people that connect them. He was named a Library Journal Mover and Shaker for his dynamic interactions with students and his passionate adoption of new technologies as a means of connecting authors, illustrators, books, and readers. He is the children’s librarian for Bookelicious, a part-time lecturer at Rutgers University, and shares his love of reading with countless educators and students around the world. He served as the Ambassador of School Libraries for Scholastic Book Fairs for almost 6 years.
He is the author of This Is a School (Candlewick Press, 2022) illustrated by Veronica Miller Jamison, This Is a Story (Candlewick Press, 2023) illustrated by Caldecott Honor artist Lauren Castillo, Louder Than Hunger (Candlewick, 2024) and The Gift of Story: Exploring the Affective Side of the Reading Life (Stenhouse, 2022). He is a contributor to The Creativity Project (Little, Brown, 2018), edited by Colby Sharp. John Schu lives in Naperville, Illinois.