In 2022, I had read a book called Good Enough by Jen Petro-Roy which talked about a teenage girl, Riley who was struggling with an eating disorder. After reading this book, I was motivated to learn more about eating disorders and advocate for disordered eating. I was super excited to hear that a male protagonist’s point of view on eating disorders was going to be covered in a book coming out in 2024 called “Louder than Hunger” by John Schu. In our society, there is a myth that Eating Disorders occur only in female adolescents. But the truth is, eating disorders are not uncommon among males. According to Teen Vogue, “Roughly one-third of eating disorders occur in men, which will impact an estimated 6.6 million men in the U.S. at some point in their lives”. After I got a call from the library saying that they finally had the copy of the book I had been long waiting for, I was absolutely thrilled. After two days, I was able to finish this exhilarating and absolutely gut-wrenching book. Despite being a very picky reader, I absolutely loved not only the plot of this book, but the simple and flowing poetic writing flow that kept me constantly hooked to the pages. In my personal opinion, I believe that this book deserves to be read by any teens who are going through a stage in their life where they feel alone and insecure. This book brings hope to anyone who is struggling with any of their life problems whether its eating disorders, mental health issues, bullying and grief. As a Project Heal Ambassador who believes in advocating for Eating Disorders, I was so glad to read the point of view of an Eating Disorder warrior. Through this blog I want to share the review of this wonderful verse novel by author John Schu.
Jake Stacey is an eighth grader with a soft spot for literature as he explains his story through verses. A voice in his head is louder than his own voice as it pressures him to stop eating and pushes him into a deep depression. His family takes him to a psychiatrist with the concern of abnormal eating behavior and weight loss. Jake is soon thrown into an Eating Disorder Recovery Center in Whispering Pines Hospital in Illinois. After spening more than 200 days in inpatient and outpatient recovery centers, Jake finally gets to enter a new world where he can find his path of happiness with the help of friends, family, therapists and psychiatrists. His passion for theater and art gives him the strength to speak against his inner voice that stops him from flourishing.
There are some parts of the story that might make readers feel uncomfortable. However, this book will give optimism and hope to many who find themselves in Jake’s position.
If you know someone who is battling mental health issues and is hesitant to open up, please consider sharing this book and resources on page 514. The author in this book shares a powerful message using simple words. The journey to recovery is long and challenging as you can see in this book, but with the support of the team that includes psychiatrists, dieticians, nurses and therapists, anything is possible.
Thank you so much Mr. Schu for sharing your story because I truly believe it will signicantly impact many lives in such a positive manner.
Lit Lounge Reads 