Review: Louder Than Hunger

For many teenage boys, there’s nothing in the world that’s louder than hunger (I’ve seen six-packs of bread rolls be devoured by ravenous teens before we’ve even left the supermarket carpark).

Can Jake silence the voice in his head?

Written in a combination of non-rhyming poetry and prose, this elegant and unique verse-novel is propulsive and compelling.

A dark yet hopeful book, Louder Than Hunger takes us into the inner sanctum of teenage male mental ill-health in a no-holds-barred way. 

With incredible momentum, we witness almost a year of Jake’s life In rehab, and are privy to the unadulterated voice inside his head. It is impossible to ignore.

Louder Than Hunger provides a unique window into Jake’s struggle with Anorexia Nervosa and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. and, it does it in such a way that the reader is immediately captivated and held to the very end. I read it one sitting.

Jake’s internal voice – The Voice – is presented as a decisive and powerful presence that is both raw and authentic on the page. As well as being louder than Jake’s hunger, The Voice is also louder than commonsense, than friendships, family and health professionals. It tells him what to do, when to do it, how to think, what to eat, what not to eat, when to exercise, and mostly – how disgusting and ridiculous he is.

This visceral and raw memoir type book instantly draws the reader in and spits us out at the other end – in the best possible way.

It’s a must-read.

Title: Louder Than Hunger
Author: John Schu
Publisher: Walker Books, $19.99
Publication Date: 1 August 2024
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781529514568
For Ages: 12 - 18
Type: Young Adult