Review by Booklist Review
The bullying began in seventh grade. It became unbearable in eighth--until the Voice entered Jake's life, telling him that he could regain control by becoming invisible. By not eating. By exercising more. A diagnosis of anorexia nervosa lands Jake in Whispering Pines for treatment. In raw, free-verse poetry, Schu takes readers inside Jake's tortured psyche during his stay as he combats the self-hating vitriol steadily supplied by the Voice. Flashbacks to happier times reveal Jake's strong connection with his grandmother, in particular their shared love of musical theater, as well as his love of art and poetry. These memories and creative outlets--plus a new friend--become important anchors for Jake as he learns to hear the more positive voices around (and within) him. In his author's note, Schu shares how his own experiences with disordered eating as a teen were the impetus for this story, and a resource page concludes. This candid, challenging story will speak loudly to young people grappling with disordered eating and damaged self-esteem, as they will appreciate the honesty and healing it holds.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In 1996, white-cued 13-year-old Jake Stacey would rather roller skate and listen to Broadway musicals or volunteer at the local nursing home than go to school and face relentless bullying. An internal voice, stylized in all-caps, declares that Jake doesn't "deserve/ love/ and/ warmth/ and/ kindness/ and/ goodness," and persuades him to forgo eating. Jake, who feels as if ignoring his hunger gives him control when nothing else does, is diagnosed with anorexia nervosa and admitted to Whispering Pines, an inpatient treatment facility for eating disorders. Jake initially rebels against the staff, refuses to speak during therapy, and dreams of leaving to attend a Broadway show with his grandmother. As he settles into his treatment, he experiences setbacks, explores his relationship with food, and opens up to the people around him. This heart-wrenching verse novel--inspired by the author's experiences, as discussed in an end note by Schu (This Is a Story)--is an unflinching depiction of resistance and disordered eating recovery. Clever use of negative space and onomatopoeic phrases emphasize Jake's feelings of anger, grief, shame, and vulnerability, while musical theater lyrics and letters from Jake's grandmother gently buoy this raw read. Resources conclude. Ages 10--14. Agent: Molly O'Neill, Root Literary. (Mar.)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 5 Up--Schu's dedication in his debut novel-in-verse includes, "For thirteen-year-old me, who needed a book like this one." Legendary Kate DiCamillo adds in her heartening foreword, "Telling your story can save your life. It may save someone else's life, too." This is Jake's story, which Schu reveals in his author's note (empathically self-read), "parallels [his] own life in many ways." Ebner is a vulnerable cipher, assuming Jake's first-person narrative with versatility--wistful, desperate, livid, hopeful. Eighth grader Jake recites Emily Dickinson, enjoys rollerblading, dreams of "see[ing] a musical on Broadway with Grandma." He shares his deepest secrets with an angel statue he's named Frieden--German for peace--but his loudest conversations happen with "The Voice" which feeds Jake's severe anorexia. Forcibly committed to a treatment center, his recovery journey will be harrowing. VERDICT Jake's multi-diagnosis--eating disorder, OCD, depression--might be triggering to some, but also lifesaving inspiration for multitudes.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
This coming-of-age novel in verse depicts one boy's harrowing experiences with his eating disorder in the late 1990s. Jake Stacey loves rollerblading, Emily Dickinson, Broadway shows, and his grandmother, but he's not well. Jake has been starving himself since seventh grade--and concerned adults in his life have caught on. They admit Jake against his will to an inpatient program, where he's treated for anorexia nervosa, depression, and OCD. Jake's striking first-person voice and the ups and downs of his emotional journey toward healing are centered through a variety of poetic forms and styles, as well as journal entries and confessions Jake makes to an angel statue at a park. Jake experiences grief, gets a feeding tube, confronts horrifying memories of bullying, learns to talk back to "the Voice" of his disorder, befriends another patient, and embraces known and emerging parts of himself without over-explanation or exoticization. The emphasis on internal contradictions and the carefully rendered ending, hinting at hope without promising certainty of recovery, are especially honest and notable. Secondary characters are less well developed, and the middle of the book drags at times. A note from the author, who is white, reveals that Jake's story is inspired by his own. While Jake, who turns 14 while in treatment, reflects on his emotionally intense tween experiences, his goal setting is relevant to older teens and includes milestones like getting a driver's license and attending college. A sensitive, true-to-life narrative that is respectfully and indelibly portrayed. (resources) (Verse fiction. 11-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
