Hunger

By Jackie Morse Kessler

A teenage girl saddles up to take on worldwide famine—and her own anorexia—in a “fast-paced, witty, and heart-breaking” fantasy adventure (Richelle Mead, #1 New York Times-bestselling author)

Jackie Morse Kessler’s Riders of the Apocalypse series follows teens who are transformed into the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. In Hunger, 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?

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 fight her own inner demons? A wildly original approach to the issue of eating disorders, Hunger is about the struggle to find balance in a world of extremes and uses fantastic tropes to explore a difficult topic that touches the lives of many teens.

“A great book . . . funny and sad, brilliant and tragic, and most of all, it speaks the truth. I adore it.”—Rachel Caine, New York Times-bestselling author

“It was sheer genius to combine the eating disorder anorexia with the ultimate entity signifying lack of food, nourishment and all that that entails: famine.”—New York Journal of Books

“The storytelling is both realistic and compassionate.”—School Library Journal, (starred review)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Oct 18, 2010
• ISBN: 9780547505091

Jackie Morse Kessler

Jackie Morse Kessler is the author of the the Riders of the Apocalypse quartet for teen readers, along with several paranormal and dark fantasy books for adults. She lives in upstate New York. Visit her website at www.jackiemorsekessler.com.

Book preview

If you have ever looked in the mirror and hated what you saw, this book is for you.

Copyright © 2010 by Jackie Morse Kessler

All rights reserved.

For information about permission to reproduce selections from this book, write to [e-mail] or to Permissions, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 3 Park Avenue, 19th Floor, New York, New York 10016.

hmhbooks.com

The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:

Kessler, Jackie Morse.

Hunger / Jackie Morse Kessler.

p. cm.

Summary: Seventeen-year-old Lisabeth has anorexia, and even turning into Famine—one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse—cannot keep her from feeling fat and worthless.

ISBN 978-0-547-34124-8 (pbk. original : alk. paper)

[1. Anorexia nervosa—Fiction. 2. Eating disorders—Fiction. 3. Emotional problems—Fiction. 4. Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse—Fiction.]

I. Title.

PZ7.K4835Hu 2010

[Fic]—dc22

2009050009

eISBN 978-0-547-50509-1

v3.1219

Chapter 1

Lisabeth Lewis didn’t mean to become Famine. She had a love affair with food, and she’d never liked horses (never mind the time she asked for a pony when she was eight; that was just a girl thing). If she’d been asked which Horseman of the Apocalypse she would most likely be, she would have probably replied, War. And if you’d heard her and her boyfriend, James, fighting, you would have agreed. Lisa wasn’t a Famine person, despite the eating disorder.

And yet there she was, Lisabeth Lewis, seventeen and no longer thinking about killing herself, holding the Scales of office. Famine, apparently, had scales—an old-fashioned balancing device made of brass or bronze or some other metal. What she was supposed to do with the Scales, she had no idea. Then again, the whole Thou art the Black Rider; go thee out unto the world thing hadn’t really sunk in yet.

Alone in her bedroom, Lisa sat on her canopied bed with its overflowing pink and white ruffles, and she stared at the metal balance, wondering what, exactly, she’d promised the pale man in the messenger’s uniform. Or had it been a robe? Frowning, she tried to picture the delivery man who’d just left—but the more she grasped for it, the more slippery his image became until Lisa was left with the impression of a person painted in careless watercolors.

Maybe the Lexapro was messing with her.

Yeah, she thought, putting the Scales on her nightstand, next to a half-empty glass of water (which rested on a coaster) and a pile of white pills (which did not), I’m high as a freaking kite.

And you’re fat, lamented the negative voice, the Thin voice, Lisa’s best friend and worst critic, the one that whispered to her in her sleep and haunted her when she was awake.

High and fat, Lisa amended. But at least I’m not depressed.

Or dead; the delivery man had rung the doorbell before Lisa could swallow more than three of her mother’s antidepressants. Bundled in her white terry cloth bathrobe over her baggy flannel pajamas, Lisa had answered the door and accepted the parcel.

For thee, the pale man had said. Thou art Famine.

And once Lisa had opened the oddly shaped package, all thoughts of suicide had drifted away. Thanks to the pills, that was sort of the way she was feeling now, as if she were drifting—drifting slowly like a cloud in the summertime sky, a cloud shaped like a set of old-fashioned scales . . .

The pills.

Pulling her gaze from the Scales, Lisa scooped the pills into her nightstand drawer. She wiped away the stray trails of powder, brushed off her hands, and gently closed the drawer. It wasn’t as if she had to worry whether her mom would notice that her stash of bliss had been depleted; Mrs. Simon Lewis was off at some charity event or another, accepting some award or another. Lisa just didn’t want to leave a mess. Even if she had overdosed, as she had originally planned, she would have died neatly in her own bed. Lisa tried her best to be considerate.

She frowned at the Scales. Dappled in moonlight there on her nightstand, they gleamed enticingly. Lisa couldn’t decide if they looked ominous or merely cheesy.

Cheddar cheese, one ounce, the Thin voice announced. One hundred fourteen point three calories. Nine point four grams of fat. Forty minutes on the exercise bike.

And behind that, the pale man’s words burned in Lisa’s mind: "Thou art Famine."

Uh-huh. Right.

Famine having a set of old-fashioned scales, Lisa decided, was stupid. The only scales that mattered were the digital sort, the ones that also displayed your body mass index.

Lisa yawned. Her head was fuzzy, and everything seemed pleasantly blurred, soft around the edges. It was peaceful. She thought about closing her window shade, but she decided she liked the moonlight shining on the Scales—sort of a celestial spotlight.

You’re loopy, she scolded herself. Hallucinating. Get some sleep, Lisa.

She settled down on her bed, pulling the princess pink covers around her to fend off the chill. Lately, she was always cold—and hungry. Although she enjoyed the feeling of hunger, she hated it when her body shivered. Whenever she forced her body to stop shivering, it made her teeth chatter. And when she forced her teeth to clamp shut, her body shivered. It was a physical conspiracy.

Lisa gripped the blankets tightly and started thinking about the homemade cookies she’d make for Tammy tomorrow. As she imagined the smell of chocolate chips, she calmed down. Baking was soothing. And Tammy was a fiend for Lisa’s baking. James was, too, but he always acted hurt when she wouldn’t taste any of the sweets she made for him.

Snuggled like a baby, Lisa stared at the object on her nightstand. Backlit by the moon, the Scales seemed to wink at her.

"Thou art Famine."

She let out a bemused laugh. Famine. Really. She would have made a much better War.

Smiling, Lisa closed her eyes.

---

The black horse was in the garden directly beneath Lisa’s window, invisible, waiting for its mistress to climb atop its back and go places she had never imagined—the smoke-filled dance clubs of Lagos, dripping with wealth and hedonism; the opulent world of Monte Carlo, oozing with indulgence; the streets of New Orleans, filled with its dizzying smells and succulent foods. In particular, the horse had a fondness for Nola’s sweet pralines.

Perhaps they would go to Louisiana first—perhaps even tonight.

The black horse snorted and pawed the grass, chiding itself in the way that horses do. So what that it wished to move, to fly, to soar across the world and feast? It was a good steed; it would wait forever, if needed, until its mistress was ready to ride.

It wasn’t the horse’s fault that it was impatient; the rhododendrons in the garden couldn’t mask the cloying odor of rot, which made the horse’s large nostrils flare. Death had come and gone, but its scent had left its impression on the land, in the air.

Death was scary. The horse much preferred the smell of sugar. Or pralines.

The black horse waited, and Lisabeth Lewis, the new incarnation of Famine, dreamed of fields of dust.

Chapter 2

Famine? Tammy said, reaching for another cookie. Like the disease?

Is it a disease? I thought it’s a condition, Lisa said, putting a third pan into the oven. The kitchen was heavy with the aroma of freshly baked cookies, and Lisa’s growling stomach was currently duking it out with her salivary glands to see which part of her body would be more embarrassing. She was practically foaming at the mouth as she imagined the taste of a cookie crumb nestled on her tongue, evaporating slowly as her saliva broke the bit down—but then a particularly loud whine from her middle region ruined the daydream and put the contest in the tank for her belly.

Stupid body. She slammed the oven door shut and mopped a mitted hand over her brow. The blast of oven heat, though brief, had been blissful. God, she felt like she’d never be warm again. Even her turtleneck sweater wasn’t enough to block away the chill.

Pregnancy is a condition, Tammy said after she finished her cookie. Famine’s a disease.

So wouldn’t that make it Pestilence?

No, that’s like for bugs. You know, West Nile virus, black plague fleas, swine flu.

Pigs aren’t bugs.

Same thing, Tammy insisted. Pestilence is animals. Famine is people. It’s a disease.

Lisa didn’t want to argue, not with Tammy. She never argued with Tammy. She pulled off her oven mitts and set them on the counter, next to the mixing bowl still a quarter full of batter. Whatever. But yeah, I was Famine. I had these scales, too. You know, the old-fashioned ones, like you see in legal seals and things.

Cool.

I guess. When Lisa had woken up late that morning, she’d looked at her nightstand, convinced she’d see a bronze balance perched there. But no; there had only been her mostly empty water glass and her small alarm clock.

It is. It’s ironic. Tammy was in Lisa’s English lit class, where they were studying parody and satire, so she spoke from authority. You’ve got a sense of humor when you dream.

What do you mean?

You, as Famine. It’s funny. I’m getting more milk.

It’s stupid, is what it is, Lisa said, spooning out more cookie dough onto a baking sheet. She’d made too much, even for Tammy’s appetite; she’d have to give some to James later, and a few to her father. Maybe she’d even leave some for her mom for when she returned tomorrow night—or not. It’s not like I don’t care about other people, or global hunger, or anything like that. I care. She was, in fact, in three social awareness groups in school. Granted, her mother had strong-armed her into joining to beef up her college applications, and Lisa was a member of those groups in name only. But it still proved that she cared—at least, on paper.

Of course you do, Tammy said, pouring a second glass of milk. You’re one of the most sensitive people I know.

So why would I come up with Famine?

Like I said, your subconscious has a sense of humor. I mean, Famine? You? You never eat junk food. You exercise every day.

She did. Multiple times per day. Lisa stood a little straighter as she slapped raw dough onto the cookie tray.

That’s not Famine, Tammy continued. That’s like the opposite of Famine. You’re healthy.

Unbidden, Lisa remembered the last words Suzanne had said to her—Suzanne, her so-called best friend, her one-time childhood pal. Last week, Suzanne hadn’t said Lisa was healthy. No, Suzanne had called her a name, basically telling her she was a mental case.

"You need help," Suzanne tells her.

"I don’t!"

"You’re sick, Leese. Don’t you see that?"

"You’re crazy!" Lisa clamps her hands over her ears, but that doesn’t stop her from hearing the last thing Suzanne has to say, the words shaky and broken with tears:

"You’re anorexic, Lisa."

Lisa pressed her lips together, surprised by a rush of anger as foreign as it was brief. The feeling ebbed, vanished, leaving behind a dull ache, a pang of loss. She had food issues. She knew that. But she wasn’t anorexic. That was ridiculous.

You’re not skinny enough to be anorexic, the Thin voice whispered. If you were anorexic, your belly wouldn’t still pook out over the top of your jeans.

Lisa imagined her fingers tracing over the curve of her abdomen, made all the more prominent by the low-rise jeans she wore. And yes, her lower belly did still pook out.

Anorexics don’t have muffin tops, the Thin voice said. You’re not anorexic. You’re just fat.

And she was. No matter how much weight she lost, Lisa would always be fat. She just knew it. She also knew the thought should make her feel sad, or mad, or . . . well, something. But she didn’t feel anything inside, except maybe scooped out. Hollow.

Lisa grimaced, concentrating on scraping the last of the dough from the sides of the glass mixing bowl. Suzanne was insane. Jealous. She wasn’t a real friend, not like Tammy.

If my subconscious was trying to twist things around, Lisa said, wouldn’t it focus on how fat I was? It wouldn’t be about taking food away from other people. The very notion made Lisa shudder. Me being Famine is just dumb.

"It was a dream, Leese. What’s the big deal?"

Lisa floundered, trying to properly frame her outrage. Famine hurts lots of people. Famine’s a bad guy.

So? Some part of you sees yourself as a bad guy.

Apocalyptically bad? That’s crazy. Right. She was just suicidally bad.

Tammy shrugged, taking her last cookie from the plate. Lisa knew it would be the last one; Tammy ate twenty cookies, like clockwork, unless she also spread frosting on them. Then she maxed out at twelve. Lisa knew; she counted things. Part of you thinks so, Tammy said around her mouthful of chocolate-chip sweetness. That’s the Columbine in you.

Lisa glanced at her friend. The what?

The deep down, angsty part of you that wants to take your rage out on the world at large, Tammy said, obnoxiously chipper. Your own personal Columbine. That’s what your Famine is. Your subconscious just wrapped the rage up in a food image, instead of a freak-with-a-gun image. You relate better to food, that’s all.

Troubled, Lisa put the empty mixing bowl and spoon into the sink, squirted in some liquid soap, and ran the hot water. Watching the bowl soak, she thought about Tammy’s words. She knew she had rage inside of her—real rage, not the momentary flare-ups she had whenever James or her mother got under her skin. Yes, that anger was inside of her . . . somewhere. Lately, it was hard for Lisa to feel much of anything.

No, she could feel, all right. She felt fat—and so empty inside. That emptiness echoed through her even now, chilling her, leaving its damp and dank impression upon her skin, upon her soul.

A soap bubble drifted up, joyous, glistening in the afternoon light cast through the window by the sink. Lisa watched it dance in the air as she heard Tammy chug down the last of the milk, and she blinked when the bubble popped into nothingness. She didn’t realize

Reviews for Hunger

[heatherlinc · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This book had a great premise - a teenage girl suffering from anorexia who becomes Famine, one of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse. However, the writing did not deliver! The book was basically slow and Lisa Lewis had very little personality and was nothing short of annoying. However, I thought the author portrayed anorexia and bulimia very well, in fact in horrific detail at times.The only characters I liked were Suzanne, Lisa's ex best friend, and Midnight, the majestic black steed that Lisa rode. I definitely won't be trying any more books in this series.

[debra_armbruster · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I rather enjoyed this book. It was fun, witty, happily pop-cultural and bittersweet. Jackie Morse Kessler writes accessible and genuine YA fantasy; perfect for struggling readers or teens who enjoy the genre. I had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Kessler at TeenReaderCon (Greater Albany, NY area) and watching her interact with young adults who enjoy her writing. She is the real deal, and her books are worth of your time.

[cynical_ames · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

We’ve all tried to lose weight at some point in our lives but this is different. Within the first 10 pages I was both appalled and horrified that people suffer so much from these eating disorders. And it’s not described to purposely shock, it is shocking. It’s part of their lives. It is their lives.

On the very first page we witness seventeen year old Lisa’s suicide attempt after fighting with her boyfriend, feeling depressed after her former friend Suzanne tells her she’s anorexic, realising she’s angry and her feeling of emptiness all lead her to feel that life isn’t worth living anymore. She just wants it all to stop.

Something as simple as licking a tear from the corner of her mouth has her thinking it’s okay to do so because it’s calorie-free. When faced with food, every bad ingredient is rattled off by the Thin voice in her head followed by the number of calories they contain and the time required to burn them off on her exercise bike. Her obsessive compulsive actions lead her to eat little and exercise to exhaustion, and what she does eat is the epitome of health. No junk food. She even agonises over eating a simple French fry.

And Misery loves company. Lisa’s anorexic but her best friend’s bulimic. Tammy reinforces her twisted relationship with food as Lisa feels like a failure for not being able to throw up on command and is in awe of the fact that Tammy can ‘bring up a doughnut in thirty seconds’. Sadly, she thinks this is apparently something to be proud of.

Lisa’s struggle to become a better anorexic is downright scary. Her need to control every aspect of her body, frightening. But in her pursuit of this goal she fails to realise that her body is crying out for sustenance. Her confusion and trouble remembering things that only happened the day before and the absence of her period which at first she mistook for a pregnancy scare, then later believed it was just down to stress.

As Lisa describes her dream in which she’s told she is the new Famine, Tammy calmly tells her:
“Your own personal Columbine. That’s what your Famine is. Your subconscious just wrapped the rage up in a food image, instead of a freak-with-a-gun image. You relate better to food, that’s all.”

An anorexic who chooses to not eat becomes Famine, something that means that choice is taken away is an interesting idea, it’s what drew me to this book in the first place. Well, after seeing the beautiful cover, anyway.

I enjoyed the symbolism of the Scales of office and the need for balance between being starved to doing things to excess or gluttony, and how one can counteract the other but it’s all down to perception. Lisa’s perception that she’s fat when everyone around her believes she’s too thin, being angry at those who eat to excess and feeling guilty for depriving herself of food when others don’t have a choice but to go hungry.

The horses made interesting supporting characters, seeing things from Midnight’s point of view as an immortal guide to their ever changing riders. Even War’s perspective helped me to see the change in Lisa, how her role as Famine had an impact on how she approached life. The riders all contributed: Death with his strange sense of humour and philosophical musings, Pestilence with his philanthropic way of seeing things and War with her bloodthirsty and forthright anger.

I couldn’t help but wonder if her meeting with Death and the other horsemen, and her role as Famine was real or imaginary though their role in her journey obviously helped her. You wouldn’t think it would considering they’re harbingers of the apocalypse.

After reading about Lisa’s disturbing thought processes and observing her behaviour, I had a fervent wish that please god, let this girl be okay. When she is confronted again by Suzanne and her boyfriend James, she is so distressed at them calling her anorexic that I had conflicting thoughts on whose side I should be on, when sanity told me to be on the side that makes her seek help.

Then finally we hear the three words that I’ve been desperate to read: “You’re too thin”. They come from the most unlikely source. Then again this person was so straight talking and direct, and the truth hurts.

I find that YA rarely touches upon such serious topics and I’m very glad that the author was brave enough to share some of her own experiences as she explains in the Author’s Notes at the back. I’m not certain why I’m not giving this 5 stars because it’s definitely something I’d slip to a friend with similar troubles, hoping it would help them in some way.

eBook received for review courtesy of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

[graceschumann · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book would have gotten a higher rating from me had it not been for the ending. When I first heard about this book, I got excited. The idea behind it was interesting and I couldn't wait to see how Kessler pulled it off. I loved the embodiment of the four objects the horseman represent and how they carried out their "roles." I especially liked Death and his quirky antics. I was extremely pleased with the way that Lisa or Famine (as the horseman) decided she was going to help the hungry by giving them sustenance instead of aiding in their starvation. SPOILER ALERT!! But then when you got to the end of the story, she all of a sudden didn't want to be Famine anymore. I was a bit confused by how she could change her mind all of a sudden. I mean I think it's great that she discovered she didn't have to be anorexic to be happy with herself and that she learned to be in control of her life. But did she all of a sudden give up on the idea of helping other people? I don't understand why she couldn't do both. It kind of made no sense at the end because of that. I'm waiting to see how the next book in the series, Rage, will turn out.

[karenball_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Thou art Famine... the Black Rider; go thee out into the world.When anorexic Lisabeth Lewis gives up and half-heartedly attempts suicide, she is visited by Death, the Pale Rider (who sort of resembles a certain dead rock star). He gives her a choice: she can die, or she can take the set of metal scales he offers, and become Famine, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. There's a giant black warhorse munching on the rhododendron bushes in her yard... but no one sees it except her. The horse and the scales allow her to travel the world, and see the true horrors of hunger and devastation, and she discovers that the power to unleash starvation also works the other way... after all, the scales are all about balance. Lisa has to learn to handle that power, and manage her own life that she's not ready to give up, including her controlling ice queen mother, her doormat of a father, her destructive bulimic friend Tammy, and her boyfriend and former best friend who are trying to get her to see how her anorexia is hurting her. Kessler gives us the story from two points of view, one of which is the black stallion. Short, well written, and a fascinating new take on eating disorders. 8th grade and up.

[jibar_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Slight spoilers ahead!I have always been interested in reading a book written in the perspective of an anorexic teen, but I haven't come across many good books yet. This one had a fantasy aspect, but still, the anorexia nervosa was ever present. It also kind of dawned on me how warped the disease really is, but let me talk about the book first.It's really short, I read it in two lunch breaks at work, and it throws you right into the plot. I found that a little irritating at first, but oh well. Some things didn't work for me too great, some things seemed hurried to me. But it was very entertaining. Oh, how much I wanted Lisa to overcome the Thin Voice (which is later discovered to be similar to the voice of the Horseman of Death, coincidence? I think not.).I also own Rage, and I'm looking forward to reading it (also because it's a little thicker than Hunger) because the whole story of the Apocalypse intrigues me. But are the Horsemen always on Earth? I was under the impression that they rise out of Hell once the Apocalypse start, but apparently not.At this point, I have to say that I really liked Lisa's friend Suzanne and James, Lisa's boyfriend. They tried to reason with her about her sickness and only later when she once again realized how fat she apparently is (and obviously isn't) she realized she needs help - and that's what gripped me. Many victims of anorexia never reach that conclusion on their own, much like an acquaintance of mine who was forced to enter rehab a few years ago.

[raboyer · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Humbling Hunger* Read via NetGalleyThis book definitely gets a 4 gnomes and a gnome hat out of 5 gnomes for having a contemporary type feel with quite the paranormal twist. This is a really genius way to look at the mythology of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Intense is the best word to describe this book. Lisabeth Lewis is one truly troubled main character and will have you cringing at the way she sees herself yet wanting to help her at the same time. This book was hard to read at times because of how she viewed herself and food. I know I felt like a bad person when her description of cheese made me really hungry. The book really makes you think and look at the world through a different set of eyes. You will think that you know where this book is going and then, WAM you're going to be in for a lot of surprises. I actually thought I wasn't going to like the book at first because it looked like it was going to be extremely depressing but it exceeded my expectations 100%. You probably wouldn’t think that the four horsemen of the apocalypse had redeeming qualities but in this world it looks like they just might. While reading you get to see the different riders and how widely their personalities differ. The most interesting besides Lisabeth was Death who’s in the guise of Kurt Cobain and likes to sing.Lisabeth learns a lot about herself and the true power of hunger. It’s not all doom and gloom though, Famine’s horse is pretty entertaining. This is not an easy book to read but you’ll be glad that you did. Overall this was a truly unique way of writing about a story that most have at least a cursory knowledge of. I know I can’t wait to read about the other riders of the Apocalypse. I was expecting a book that was going to be sad all the way through but I really like that it ends on a hopeful note. I know I'm intrigued enough that I will be buying the next book in this series.

[dragonlibrary8 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My thoughts about Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler:I wasn't really sure what to expect from a story that was about a 17 year old girl with an eating disorder becoming one of the four horsemen. I was pleasantly surprised once I started reading.The characters are well thought out and believable. The interactions that Lisa has with both her family and friends are realistic and consistent. I have known girls with eating disorders and I could see them in the characters of this story. My favorite character is Death, then of course Lisa. My favorite scene is the battle between Famine and War.One of my favorite things about the story is that Lisa didn't have to die to become a horseman, therefore gaining the possibility of continuing her life in some capacity. Throughout the story we see Lisa dealing with her personal issues and how her new "job" conflicts and reflects her problems with food and self-image. I love that we get to watch her find herself in so many ways. The strength that she shows is inspirational. The symbolism is wonderful and well planned.I won't add more about the story as I don't want to put spoilers in this review. I will say though that there are two moments that you will find change Lisa dramatically (the battle with War and her encounter with her mother).I am impressed with the book as a whole. It is well written and enjoyable. I found myself relating on various levels. I think that Jackie Morse Kessler has captured a subject that is more common than anyone wants to admit, many people fear, most deny, and all are challenged in dealing with. She has made her story positive, encouraging, realistic, and respectful to those who may or may not deal with the tragedy of an eating disorder. I feel that it is a must read for teen girls. I would recommend it to anyone.

[savvyescapades · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I don’t like to bash authors.Writing is hard— I know that. Getting published is even harder. And, I feel there’s a certain double standard when it comes to bad reviews: if I think this book is so terrible, why don’t I go write a better one? That being said, I want to be honest in my reviews. So here I go, in an attempt to be as polite as possible.I thought the premise of this book was amazing, and it had me hooked. I’ve been interested in YA books about mental illnesses like depression and eating disorders. When it’s done well, like in Revolution, I think it helps show the reader that she isn’t alone in dealing with negative emotions. SO much character development is rampant in why people act the way they do, and books about mental illnesses tend to really explore that. Hunger… does not.Sadly, Hunger reads a bit… amateurish. I wanted to know more about why Lisabeth acted the way she did. It’s hinted at that she developed an eating disorder because of her overbearing mother… but that’s an overly simplistic reason. For example, in the few chapters of Portia Di Rossi’s new book about her eating disorder (of which I have only read the first few chapters, but it’s on my to-buy list), Di Rossi mentions that her food issues developed primarily because of insecurity, the pressures of modeling, perfectionism, parental pressure, and her issues with her sexuality. It’s all of these things, and none of them. Kessler claims to have had an eating disorder, but the voice is a bit simplistic. No rituals, no despair, just this odd numbness. What is there is fairly superficial and dumbed down, both in terms of characterization and writing style. In retrospect, part of me wonders if this is because of my wariness of third person omniscient narration. It can get impersonal really quickly. It’s a trap! Some can avoid it, like the incredible J.K. Rowling, but others fall prey to its guile.There. I didn’t want to do it, and I tried to be as intellectual as I could be without being mean. Did it work?Additional Thoughts: The second book in the series, Rage comes out April 11th. I will probably read it… but it will definitely be a library/borrowed book kind of situation.Rating: 3: Terrible, pretty cringe-worthy

[henriettatwloha · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Hunger is a very unique take on the story of a girl struggling with an eating disorder. I've never had an eating disorder but I can relate with having that voice in your head telling you what to eat and what not to eat. I tried a strict diet for a while and had an absolutely horrible time trying to keep that voice out of my head; constantly fighting to ignore it was a full time job. I was always telling myself "no" and was incessantly hungry and did not allow myself to eat enough. After a few weeks I had had enough and gave up the diet, now I just try to eat in moderation. I was fortunate to not get sucked into an eating disorder and I hope that I never have to experience having that voice talk to me again. That being said, I didn't really care for how quickly the story was told. It seemed rather odd that Lisa, when told that she was Famine, just went right along with it. She didn't really put up a fight and it didn't really freak her out much, she just ran out and jumped on the horse. If I had had death standing there telling me that I was now Famine, I would have turned tail and ran as fast as I could in the other direction. The story also could have been explored a lot more. I felt that Lisa should have gone on a longer journey to realize and learn the things she did. The book just felt very rushed to me, however, I did enjoy it. I liked that Lisa stood up to her demons and got help and that the author didn't paint the ending as happily ever after but rather hopefully ever after. The ending was much more realistic than the beginning and the middle. I hope that in the following books Kessler will explore the characters and the journey more and write a longer book, 178 pages just didn't do the story justice.

[rosa.mill · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I thought I wasn't going to like Hunger at all. I don't always do so well with issue books, but the idea of a fantasy issue book intrigued me and I ordered it for the library collection because I thought it would be a good way to bring an important issue to a different group of kids. Lisa is anorexic and in denial. She thinks she needs to be skinny to earn her mother's approval and to be good enough for her boyfriend so she counts calories and over excercises. One night Death shows up at her door and offers her the job of Famine, one of the four horseman of the Apocalypse.

Death appears in the guise of Kurt Cobain, now I love Nirvana but Lisa calls him old. Kurt Cobain was popular and died while I was in elementary school which wasn't that long ago. That's not old. Lately people calling thing's that happened in the ninties old has been making me a little touchy.

Other then that I really liked the book. I really liked all of the other horseman. I liked the way Pestilence and Famine found ways to use their powers both to destroy and to rebuild. I also really loved Midnight. He was so sweet to her and if I had a horse I would want him to be like that.

I thought it was important that becoming Famine is not an easy fix for Lisabeth. Yes it teaches her about balance and that is a lesson that she is sorely in need of. It also helps make her a stronger person. But at the end of the story she still needs to go get counseling and more help to become healthy again. I thought that was really important. This was a quick read that presents an important issue in an interesting and clever new way.

[crazyhippo37 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book was dark, scary, and heart-wrenching, but I liked it. The mood of this book was one of my favorite parts, because it was raw and dealt with anorexia in an honest way. The moments with Death added a bit of lightness to an otherwise very heavy book. Though some parts were hard to read, I personally think everyone should read this book.

[kristibernard · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Lisabeth is a teen like many others. She is daddy's little princess, can never please her mother, is depressed and thinks she's fat. Contemplating suicide, she grabs a bottle of her mothers anti-depressants. After popping only 3 she is visited by a delivery man who hands her a set of scales and pronounces her Famine.Obsessed with her weight, her daily routine consists of stripping down to weigh and constantly counting every calorie she ingests. Her best friend calls her anorexic and her boyfriend is angry because she doesn't eat. Lisabeth is upset and at risk for loosing them both. Her mother doesn't understand her and her father aware that something is wrong but walks on eggshells.With the sudden appearance of a mystery horse and a visit by death, Lisabeth is given a choice to either finish what she started with the pills or take on the responsibilities of Famine. With that, she must learn to find balance with her new job and for herself, all the while feeling as though it were all a dream.After viewing life through the eyes of Famine in a third world country and what it means to be truly hungry, Lisabeth discovers its power and that she can help take away the pain and agony of hunger. She begins to feel confident and accepts that she is anorexic and needs help. Admitting to her father all the things she is feeling she welcomes the help of a clinic and arrives home after 49 days. Lisabeth chose to live and returns the scales to death.Kessler does a great job of introducing readers to the character Lisabeth. Readers can relate to and understand the thought process of someone with an eating disorder and how it could be overcome with the help of family and friends. Kessler was not real clear on the role of the four horseman and how they relate to anorexia. For a young adult reader more clarification would have been nice.

[nikkayme · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

4.5Lisabeth Lewis’ life as an anorexic girl in denial, slowly killing herself, could have easily made Hunger and issues book, but it’s so much more than that. Kessler’s writing is haunting and terrifying in its blunt telling, yet entertaining at the same time. Although short in length, the book packs quite a punch. Kessler makes the reader think, feel, and hurt with Lisa. We know the depths of her hunger and how that little voice inside her head is beating her down.And it is so sad that anyone ever feels that way. Because they shouldn’t. We shouldn’t. Yet we do.Lisa’s role as Famine leads her to learn more about that voice in her head, about the hunger that plagues the world, and about how to fight for life. All this can be heavy and some of the descriptions even made me nauseas, but I loved the book nonetheless. Kessler writing is raw, but beautiful at the same time. She grabs you by the shoulders and shakes you until you wake up and pay attention – that’s how jarring some scenes are.Heavier moments are broken by the other Horsemen, War, Pestilence, and Death. War brings attitude, Death brings such morbid humor, and Pestilence becomes quite the teacher. I’ve read many reviews that gush about Death, but it was Pestilence who glued me to the page. His scene, while not funny like many of Death’s appearances, made me think.Hunger is a great book, no doubt about that. Difficult to read at times? Yes. Entertaining? Yes. But more than anything else, it’s the message behind the story of Famine that got to me. I implore you to read this book, but don’t stop there. Devour it, soak it in, and read the author’s note because even though the 174 pages of fiction got to me, it was the author’s note that tied it all up and hit me the hardest.Opening line: Lisabeth Lewis didn’t mean to become Famine. ~ pg. 1Favorite lines: “Thou art Famine, yo,” Death said. “Time to make with the starvation.” ~pg. 49And another one:This wasn’t incessant appetite or some internal appeal to be fed that she could ignore. This was a tortured beast bellowing, scrabbling toward either survival or surrender.This was unbearable. ~ pg. 97

[ahappybooker · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Suicidal and anorexic teen Lisabeth Lewis' life changes drastically when a strange delivery man comes to her door and hands her a package containing a set of scales and proclaiming "Thou art Famine" Lisa learns that, as Famine, she has an innate understanding about food and hunger that has little to do with why she's been starving herself. As one of the mythical four horsemen, Famine's steed, which Lisa christens Midnight, accompanies her on several adventures into lands that have felt the touch of Famine. Lisa learns about hunger, herself and meets her fellow horsemen along the way.Hunger was a fascinating young adult fantasy that strongly reminded me of Piers Anthony's Incarnations of Immortality series, which I loved. A lot of the subject matter discussed was a bit shocking and disturbing but ultimately very realistic. I truly enjoyed the very candid way they author tackled issues like anorexia, bulimia, as well as world hunger. But this wasn’t simply a book trying to make a statement about the issue of eating disorders, this was a very entertaining read with a well developed plot and a very unique story. Once I read a couple paragraphs of the first chapter, I was hooked, and I never once lost interest. The characterization in Hunger was great. Death was mysterious and intriguing, he seemed to be the leader of the Four Horsemen and there was just enough of him in the book to make me really want to read more about him as the series continues. I hope he gets his own book in the series eventually. The horses themselves were entertaining and seemed to have their own individual personality. Lisa was both a character that I pitied as well as cheered on. The gradual changes Lisa made throughout the book showed her growth in a way that was believable. I would highly recommend Hunger to anyone looking to read something unusual and outside the norm in young adult fantasy. Rating 4- loved it and look forward to continuing the series

[renkellym · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Hunger is an incredibly unique novel that combines an “issue” theme (eating disorders) with fantasy. Jackie Morse Kessler’s inventive idea originally seemed a bit forced, but towards the end of the novel I began to fully appreciate her creativity.Hunger’s protagonist, Lisa, wasn’t exactly a character I felt too connected with; she just didn’t seem fully fleshed out to me. Likewise, Death and the other Horsemen were lacking in character, too. Lisa frequently makes commentary that makes it seem like she knows Death quite well, but their relationship seemed almost nonexistent.Though the characters in Hunger were nothing to get too excited about, Jackie Morse Kessler’s portrayal of eating disorders was. The scenes where Lisa’s Thin voice speaks to her and the scenes involving Lisa’s bulimic friend were so raw and horrifying. Kessler does not baby the reader at all, which I found very impressive.Also impressive was the author’s connection between anorexia and Famine, a Horseman of the Apocalypse. Lisa learns how to suck the life out of things (and occasionally people) and in turn give that life back to something else that needed it more. I loved the positive spin on Famine’s legend; it give the book a hopeful undertone.Overall, Hunger was a quick read that tackled a whole lot in its 180 pages. Though I found the characters lacking, the creativity of the concept outshined any grievances I had with the book. I’m definitely looking forward to Rage, the next story in the Horsemen of the Apocalypse series.

[_lily__1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Hunger by Jackie Morse Kesslerreviewed by Moirae the fates book reviews."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?(Synopsis provided by goodreads.com)I first heard about this book from The Story Siren. The premise sounded really interesting to me, I have always loved fantasy and paranormal type books. In this book, Kessler's heroin Lisa is a 17 year old suffering from anorexia. The author has first hand knowledge of eating disorders and she discloses this at the end of the book. This is a very good book, I liked how it explores what what going on inside of Lisa's mind. We get to see what Kessler calls "The Thin voice" talking to Lisa throughout the book telling her of her failings and to watch her weight.I really liked how Kessler doesn't gloss over the horrors of anorexia, she also never glamorizes it. She shows just how destructive it can be to a person. Lisa is a very interesting character, throughout the book we see her struggles and we get to see her grow. The character development is amazing. I loved every page of this book. There were a few things that I didn't see coming mainly how the book ends.I particularly enjoyed the character of Death. He was pretty witty and had some unique abilities that are Kessler's own creations. This character was very complex and the reader is never able to fully figure him out.The dialog in this book was really good, again the parts with Lisa talking with "The Thin Voice" are some of the most powerful in the book.I really loved this book, I only wish it was longer, and I wish we got to know more about what happened to Lisa after the book ended. I can't say much on that without a spoiler.Overall rating:***** 5 out of 5 starsCover art:I like the simplicity of the cover art.What parents need to know:There is some talk about sex, but not a lot, the book deals with some heavy issues and I would recommend ages 16 and up.Obtained:My personal library.

[molliekay · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Death finds Lisa on the verge of committing suicide and offers her a deal: become Famine, a Horseman of the Apocalypse, and I'll let you live. She consents, but the next day thinks that it was all a dream. Her main concern is how fat she looks. Rather, how fat she THINKS she looks. She counts her calories, exercises at least two hours a day, does a daily fat check, and listens to the Thin Voice when she's tempted. But it's not enough and she will do anything to fill the emptiness inside her. When she does embrace her role as Famine, she finds she has a lot to learn.Don't let this quick read deceive you; it packs quite the punch. Lisa's struggle with anorexia is painful and heartbreaking to watch, and the author's personal experience with eating disorders adds a level of authenticity and rawness. Part of the proceeds from the sale of this book will go to the National Eating Disorders Association.

[urbanfantasyguy · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I wanted to like this book more than I did. The major complaint I had about it was its length because it felt extremely rushed. The good part about the book though is the message that it delivers, and I consider the way in which it does this to be completely original. I still feel that it could have been so much better, but this will not stop me from picking up the next in the series since I enjoyed it, no matter how rushed it felt.

[jrlibrary · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

While an interesting idea, it just didn't work for me. Had to push hard to finish it. A friend read it and told me she thought that when Lisbeth's Famine and riding Midnight, and visiting the Devil, it's actually just her hallucinating because she is so close to dying. I didn't see that at all and I hate it when I don't get a book.

[thewallflower-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This book is really short, more like a novella. Nonetheless, I love the concept. Death calls upon a teenage girl with anorexia to be Famine, one of the horsemen of the apocalypse. It's something I should have thought of. I like the parts that seem real for anorexics -- constant calorie calculation, excessive exercise, obsession with what she eats (to a point where it starts to interfere with the narrative), and denial. But I was a little sad that, despite being a horseman... horsewoman of the apocalypse, there is no apocalypse. And I'm not sure what her purpose in being Famine was. One says her job is to spread chaos, another indicates she's supposed to pave the way for War, to work in tandem with Pestilence. Or is she supposed to eliminate hunger?In fact, that's what she does, once she starts to understand it, to feel the joy that satisfied hunger brings, making her stint seem pointless pandering to dark fantasy nerds. The four horsemen stuff is kinda what I came here for, so it was disappointing that most of it was about the girl and her horse. There are other books in the series though.And they don't wrap up nice and tight either. Her disease is still there after the climax and she seeks help. I think the author did a good job and gave me what I wanted -- a plausible portrayal of an eating disorder + a little dark fantasy.

[a.happy.booker · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Suicidal and anorexic teen Lisabeth Lewis' life changes drastically when a strange delivery man comes to her door and hands her a package containing a set of scales and proclaiming "Thou art Famine" Lisa learns that, as Famine, she has an innate understanding about food and hunger that has little to do with why she's been starving herself. As one of the mythical four horsemen, Famine's steed, which Lisa christens Midnight, accompanies her on several adventures into lands that have felt the touch of Famine. Lisa learns about hunger, herself and meets her fellow horsemen along the way.

Hunger was a fascinating young adult fantasy that strongly reminded me of Piers Anthony's Incarnations of Immortality series, which I loved. A lot of the subject matter discussed was a bit shocking and disturbing but ultimately very realistic. I truly enjoyed the very candid way they author tackled issues like anorexia, bulimia, as well as world hunger. But this wasn’t simply a book trying to make a statement about the issue of eating disorders, this was a very entertaining read with a well developed plot and a very unique story. Once I read a couple paragraphs of the first chapter, I was hooked, and I never once lost interest.

The characterization in Hunger was great. Death was mysterious and intriguing, he seemed to be the leader of the Four Horsemen and there was just enough of him in the book to make me really want to read more about him as the series continues. I hope he gets his own book in the series eventually. The horses themselves were entertaining and seemed to have their own individual personality. Lisa was both a character that I pitied as well as cheered on. The gradual changes Lisa made throughout the book showed her growth in a way that was believable. I would highly recommend Hunger to anyone looking to read something unusual and outside the norm in young adult fantasy.

[a_reader_of_fictions · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

While the book does eventually come out on the side of not being anorexic, reading the sections where Lisabeth (what kind of a name is that anyway?) wishes she could be bulimic is (pardon the incredibly awful pun) nauseating. Add to this the constant interruptions of the Thin voice, which constantly reminds Lisabeth that "Anorexics don't have muffin tops," so she is not anorexic. The voice tells her not to eat and mocks her. This may be how it feels to have an eating disorder, as the author reveals at the end that she suffered from bulimia for a time. but it drove me crazy.

Perhaps worst of all are some of the delightful scatalogical scenes that come along with a book centered largely on anorexia and bulimia. After her first night working as Famine, there is a lovely description of Lisabeth's really painful poo. Later, when she spends time with Tammy, the reader is treated to an even more detailed description of vomiting. Certainly this might be off putting to a teen considering throwing up as a method of weight loss, but it also urged me to keep far away from any other books this series may have.

Although this book is technically fantasy (and I marked its genre as fantasy for lack of a better heading), Hunger is far more about eating disorders than about the Horsemen of the Apocalypse. In fact, the whole fantasy frame story could easily be read as a dream that motivates Lisabeth to change her ways. The fantasy elements never feel real and are only a vehicle for keeping the book from being preachy.

I do not particularly recommend this book. If you really like books that deal openly with tough teen issues, like Speak does, then this book may interest you. This not being my niche area, I am just glad the book was really short.

[shaelipar · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I struggle with what to rate this because although I did like it, I also had a few problems with it. For starters I found Lisa to be an extremely hard character to like, until about half way through the book. I understand that Lisa suffers from a very serious disease, and I did feel sympathetic towards her but also a bit angry, as she kept pushing people away. I also couldn't understand how Lisa's dad never realized that she was sick and needed help.I did enjoyed the relationship between Lisa and her steed though and I liked how her affection for the horse brought out a strength in her that she hadn't possessed before. I also really liked how we got to see things from the Black Horse's POV. It certainly added a very unique perspective to the story.Death was by far my favorite character, he's funny yet stoic. He's also the best of the horseman, but then again, I don't think enough time was spent with the other horseman. I did appreciate that War was portrayed as a women, since so often War is blamed on men. The novel was very short and often moved to quickly. I felt like I had just started to dig into it and then it was over.At no time during the novel are eating disorders ever glamorized. Jackie Morse Kessler uses her own past experience with bulimia to help tell the story of Lisa and what she's physically and mentally going through. I find it extremely brave to share such a personal thing about yourself with complete strangers, and although Lisa is not based on Jackie, she is very loosely based on one of Jackie's friends.I commend Kessler on her originality, but I think I expected more to the supernatural side of the story. I do think the novel's worth checking out though, especially if you've ever suffered from or know someone struggling with an eating disorder.

[marielovesbooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Hunger is a fast paced read from the first page to the last. There isn't much of an introduction into anything, it starts with Lisa agreeing to be Famine assuming it was a dream. It took me awhile to understand the scales. I thought she meant like, armor scales. I didn't realize it was the scale, like on the cover. Makes so much more sense now why Death was constantly saying balance. I know, I'm slow right? Here's my thing with people who are obsessed with being skinny. I'm 5'2 and I'm 90-95 pounds. My weight increases and decreases rapidly. I've hit 100 pounds a few times, but for no more than a week. I have friends who are gorgeous and obsessed with losing weight even though they're already thin, even though they have amazing bodies. And it makes me mad when they touch my arm and tell me they wish they could be skinny like me. Because I would give anything to be like them. Being skinny isn't glamorous. It doesn't solve all your problems, but they don't know that. And it isn't healthy. My back is the width of my tiny hand and every time I touch it, it depresses me. No matter how much I eat or what I do, I'll never be a healthy weight. I'll never be healthy. I'm sick all the time, I get back aches, I worry that someone can snap my arm in half. And I wish that the people who obsess over being skinny would realize that.In the beginning Lisa irritated me. I get that people think and feel the way she does but it irritated me that she wouldn't step back and listen to what everyone in her life was saying. That she thought everyone was against her when really they were really really worried about her. I loved watching Lisa grow though the whole process of her figuring out who she wanted to be. I enjoyed watching her find her strength, standing up to not only War but to the voice in her head too. And I loved that she figured out in the end, who she wanted to be. Of all the characters, I liked reading Death the most. That Death, what a sense of humor! I hated reading about War, everything about her just... ugh!I enjoyed Hunger and I look forward to reading Rage. Which by the way, proceeds go to my favorite organization To Write Love On Her Arms. Proceeds for Hunger go to National Eating Disorders Association.Before I go, I just want to say to the author, Jackie... you are a such a strong person and you're amazing. Thank you for writing this and sharing this story with us all.

[phoebereading · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Jackie Morse Kessler's YA debut Hunger is the story of an anorexic girl tapped as one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse--Famine, specifically. It features Kurt Cobain as Death, magical vomiting, and it is exactly as insane as it sounds.It's also a pretty damned good read.And gross. I have to warn you that Hunger is not for any reader with a weak stomach. Kessler vividly and graphically describes vomiting (of both the literal and magical sorts) and a bout of constipation (which is not magical at all). And the descriptions of food at the beginning of the novel straddle the border between food porn and just plain disgusting--and often cross it.All this is appropriate, of course, and also kind of the point--Kessler's illustrating to us, though in a way that's mildly stomach churning, exactly how severely ana wrecks your life.Hunger is the story of Lisabeth Lewis, a teenage girl who has a crisis of confidence after she nabs her first boyfriend. We're introduced to her amidst an attempted drug overdose following a lovers' quarrel. Three Lexapros down, Death comes calling, announcing to Lisa that, as Famine, she's got some work to do. But Lisa resists the call to adventure, and we're instead plunged back into her stifling suburban life, one where one best friend hates her while the other enables her, one where her mother is absent and her father only pleasantly clueless--one where a "Thin voice" intrudes on every aspect of her waking life, helpfully telling her how many calories are in each dish and how many hours she need bike to burn them off.It's sometimes uncomfortable to be in Lisa's head--it's a suffocating, oppressive place. Kessler does a good job of accurately rendering the horror, discomfort, and stringent control of disordered eating. Lisa herself is believable, if sometimes unlikable, thanks to her eating disorder, and the supporting cast of characters in her real life is likewise very real.The paranormal aspects are described a bit more hazily. Don't get me wrong; I loved Lisa's interactions with Midnight, her immortal steed, and Death himself. But Pestilence and War were little more than caricatures, and I never quite understood how Lisa's powers worked. And the entire supernatural storyline is resolved entirely too quickly and neatly. Despite the fact that Lisa learns that she can solve world hunger, we're given a simple, rosy, and utterly unsupernatural ending--one that would be more apropos for an 80s problem novel than a modern paranormal one.Still, Kessler gives us an innovative premise that's well-executed, and at times even artful. Her prose is flawless and sometimes pretty (and sometimes, again, really appropriately gross). This is certainly a worthwhile read for fans of paranormal YA and is a solid start to a new series.Disclosure: I received a review copy of this volume through netgalley.com.

[lesleykj84 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Lisa is in denial. Her best friend is not right about her, her boyfriend definitely doesn't want her, and she certainly does not have an eating disorder. If anything, to Lisa, she needs to lose weight not gain it. She might be unhappy, but her health is just fine...right?In her dreams Death comes to her and requests that she become Famine, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and a bringing of starvation and death. When Lisa wakes up the next day she thinks nothing of it. Except wait a minute...what is that scale from her dream doing in the kitchen? And where did that huge black horse in her mom's garden come from, and why is it invisible to everyone but her?Lisa has to make a decision that will change her life: join Death and the other two Horsemen or die?Hunger was one wave of a book. The book would make me laugh one minute, then feel depressed and worried about Lisa the next. I loved every bit of it and at the end I begged for more.And can I say that Death is my favorite character? He's funny, cute, even nice to Lisa. And his impersonation made me gush! If Kessler makes a book just for Death, I will be the first in line for it.Finally the message of the book. Among the paranormal, romance, and hilarity of it all you still have a serious tone throughout about Lisa's struggle with anorexia. Hearing her inner thoughts and her struggles I truly felt for her. I've never really read any books with any issues before, and now I think I will have a different opinion about them.If you like a good laugh, read this. If you like real characters with real (and not-so-real aka Death) problems read this. I already have Book two and three in my wishlist, there is nothing I could say that I didn't enjoy and I know it will carry on to the next two.

[readingdate · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Hunger is a brief yet substantial novel. It’s an original story – integrating fantasy with the topic of eating disorders. Hunger tells the story of Lisabeth (Lisa) who is battling anorexia. Her friends and family are starting to notice and confronting her about it. Lisa is spiraling out of control and even contemplates taking her own life. Suddenly Death appears (assuming the appearance of Kurt Cobain) and gives her the role of Famine, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.At home Lisa battles the Thin Voice who plagues her with negative thoughts and calorie counts. In contrast, as Famine, she rides her black horse Midnight and confronts real hunger. She spends a little bit of time with the other Horsemen of the Apocalypse: War, Pestilence, and Death. Mainly she is on her own figuring out how to carry out her role as Famine. Her accessory is ironically a set of old-fashioned scales that she carries along with her on her journeys.Lisa’s struggle with anorexia is presented in a very realistic way, complete with self-loathing, over-exercising, and carefully calculated food portions. Lisa has a bulimic partner in crime, Tammy, who enables her habit. Their scenes are disturbing and hard to read at times.The book shined for me with the fantasy scenes of Lisa as Famine. It was fascinating to see her thrust into this world and how she learns to use her powers on her own. I hoped she would have a little bit more help with her role, but perhaps that was intended to help her heal and grow.Hunger is a well-written, fast-paced and powerful read. I was surprised by the ending, and am curious to see what happens in the sequel. Rage is due out in April 2011.ARC provided by the publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt via NetGalley.

[thelibraryhag · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Lisa Lewis is going to kill herself, until Death appears and offers her a deal. Instead of dying, she can live and become Famine instead. Yep, the Black Rider herself. At first Lisa thinks it is all a dream but with an horse only she can see hanging around, and that pesky Death egging her on, she finally accepts her duty. All this and having to contend with an eating disorder that she flatly denys having even though her family and friends are all concerned about her. All except her "true" friend Tammy, who had food issues of her own.This was not what I expected but I could not put it down. It take a no holds barred look at eating disorders and world famine. I think teen girls will really enjoy this book, particularly those who can't get enough teenage angst. But there are no easy answers here and Lisa struggles even though things are looking up. I sort of have a crush on the Death character. He is charming and funny.

[dukesangel002 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I had never read a book about the four horsemen before, so I was really excited to start this one. It's a fresh face in the paranormal monster world (at least for me), and I'm always on the look-out for something new. I really liked the premise of it. I think Death was definitely my favorite horsemen. He was funny and really put a fun spin on the concept of death.I think it was great that Jackie Kessler managed to take a fun paranormal read and center it around the very important issue of eating disorders. I think it's so important that teens find books that they can relate to, that help them through tough situations in their lives. Eating Disorders are everywhere these days, and yet you still don't hear people talking about them much.I liked Lisabeth's character. I found her hard to relate to sometimes, but I think that was because she was struggling with herself so much in the book. She had a hard time relating to herself. The eating disorder was eating her. Overall, this was a great new addition to the YA world and the paranormal world and I'm really looking forward to reading Rage, the next Horseman book!