Thirteen-year-old Jake has an eating disorder. The voice in his head seems to control every choice he makes in life. His condition get so bad that Jake’s parents place him in a residential treatment facility.
Louder Than Words is an emotional journey and there couldn’t be a better way than a novel-in-verse format for Jake to tell his story.
Heartbreaking. Challenging. Uplifting. Helpful.
Readers (10 to adult) will feel each one of those words as they follow Jake’s downward spiral. The basis for the story came from John Schu’s own experiences as a teen.
Jake is lonely, bullied, and has lost all confidence. He does have a few positives in his life, He volunteers at a nursing home, talking and reading to a blind resident. But the person he most connects with is Grandma. They have a special bond shared through their love of poetry and Broadway plays. But Jake’s anorexia is keeping him away from her.
Although the page count is large, the time to complete this important novel will be less than most MG novels. Louder Than Hunger brings you close to the heart of a boy struggling to escape the grip of an unwarranted fear. Highly recommended.
PAGE COUNT: 528 BOOK BIRTHDAY: March 19, 2024
FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: LOUDER THAN HUNGER by John Schu
- Not only is the book an important read, but John Schu’s letter to readers in the back pages makes a perfect companion.
- The day trips Jake had away from the treatments center first with Mom and then Dad were an important part of Jake’s healing. The initial trip didn’t end very well but the next one brought a smile to my face.
- Jake’s friendship with Kella, another treatment center resident, helped bring both character arcs full circle.
- Readers struggling like Jake will come way with the realization that the negative voice inside does not have to ruin your life.
- The heart of of this novel is HOPE. An inspiring read that will encourage discussion for both those kids in need and their families.
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 is the author of Louder Than Hunger (Candlewick, 2024) This Is a School(Candlewick, 2022) illustrated by Veronica Miller Jamison, This Is a Story (Candlewick, 2023) illustrated by Caldecott Honor artist Lauren Castillo, and The Gift of Story: Exploring the Affective Side of the Reading Life (Stenhouse, 2022). John Schu lives in Naperville, Illinois.
(Be sure to visit John’s Author Web Site)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
COMMENTS ARE WELCOME BELOW!
BE SURE TO VISIT ALL THE OTHER BLOGGERS ON TODAY’S MARVELOUS MIDDLE GRADE MONDAY!
Always in the Middle... 
Pingback: MMGM for MAY 13, 2024 | Always in the Middle…
Thank you for sharing John Schu’s books and his inspiring website.
Such an important book because boys 35+ years ago were rarely seen with an eating disorder. Eating disorders have taken new forms in todays world. An important resource for parents is the National Eating Disorders Association, (NEDA) which is quite large.
This sounds like an important book. I just sent the link to your blog to a relative whose daughter is struggling with an eating disorder. Thanks for sharing it.
Just picked it up based on your recommendation, Greg. I don’t think there are enough MG books that tackle issues such as reading disorders.
This sounds like a beautiful book, Greg—I know John Schu is a beloved book blogger, and I’ve enjoyed one of his picture books, but how powerful that he’s drawn from his own experience and written such a meaningful novel in verse. It sounds like Jake slowly finds his way back to stability with the help of the people in his life. I really appreciate your thoughtful review—enjoy your week!
LOUDER THAN HUNGER sounds like a transformative read. I haven’t read many novels-in-verse (my own preference is pure prose), but maybe it’s time to start.
Thanks for the great review!
Well, this one is going right on my TBR list and very high up. It sounds terrific and important. Thanks for the heads up.
Seems like a doubly important book because we tend to think of anorexia as a girls’ illness.
Wow!