Happy Booker

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.