GUEST WRITER LEAH FRIESEN RECOMMENDS LOUDER THAN HUNGER BY JOHN
Jake is a middle schooler who loves rollerblading, musicals, and his Grandma. He’s got a big, beautiful heart which gives love away like the free samples at Walt’s Food Center… But he doesn’t eat the free samples anymore, and he punishes his body with strict exercise. The voice that’s taken up residence inside his head since he was bullied in grade 7 tells him he’s repulsive and that he’s not worth love or even a pretzel. As Jake shrinks, his problems grow. Something seems to be amiss with his grandma, and his mom who was always a distant raincloud of depression is suddenly starting to suspect something’s wrong with him. Plus, his hair is beginning to fall out…
Based loosely on the author’s lived experiences, Louder than Hunger addresses eating disorders, bullying, anxiety, and depression with thoughtful vulnerability. Perhaps most importantly for junior high readers, this book encourages readers to be themselves, because that’s what they – and the world – need most. Written in the style of free-form poetry, this book can be read in a day and last for a lifetime. As somebody who dealt with bullying and a negative inner voice in grade 7, I would have found understanding and help in this novel. The story sweeps you along with its sophisticated yet simply executed prose until you can hardly believe you’ve read 300 pages and cried twice. You know your students best, but I’d wager that most middle school classrooms would be a better place for having Louder than Hunger on the shelf.
Leah Friesen is a future teacher passionate about helping others find and grow their passions. Her other passions include painting, reading, and being among trees.