Review: Kids of Appetite by David Arnold

Title: Kids of Appetite

Author:  David Arnold
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers

Publishing Date:  September 20th, 2016

Pages:  331
Genre: YA Coming of Age/Mystery

Series:  Stand Alone
Source:  Audio

 

They lived and they laughed…and they saw that it was good.

Victor Benucci and Madeline Falco have a story to tell. It begins with the death of Vic’s father. It ends with the murder of Mad’s uncle. The Hackensack Police Department would very much like to hear it. But in order to tell their story, Vic and Mad must focus on all the chapters in between.

This is a story about:

1. A coded mission to scatter ashes across New Jersey.
2. The momentous nature of the Palisades in winter.
3. One dormant submarine.
4. Two songs about flowers.
5. Being cool in the traditional sense.
6. Sunsets & ice cream & orchards & graveyards.
7. Simultaneous extreme opposites.
8. A narrow escape from a war-torn country.
9. A story collector.
10. How to listen to someone who does not talk.
11. Falling in love with a painting.
12. Falling in love with a song.
13. Falling in love.

This book has been sitting on my TBR for a while. I added it simply for the fact I loved and adored Mosquitoland and I thought I should read more from this author. So I did. And what did I think when I was done. This author is amazing, freaking amazing, and I must read all his books. This book was fantastic. The story was so captivating and the characters so so loveable. 

Vic lost his father recently to cancer. Shortly after his mother meets a new guy and they start dating which leads to a serious relationship and a proposal. Vic can't take it so he runs off, out the door in the middle of dinner, with his father's urn. He runs into Madeline. A girl that is part of the group of kids around town. Here he learns they are a family of sorts and here they promise to help him spread his father's ashes. But to do this they have to decipher a letter his father left his mother. This turns into quite a scavenger hunt. In the end, though they end up at the police station telling a story on how a man was killed. This is the story of the Kids of Appetite. 

This book was so beautifully written.Now really not much happens in this book and a ton of stuff happens in this book. It is a book that is told between the lines. Its a book of healing, forgiving, learning, loving, living, escaping and finding where you belong. It is a coming of age story wrapped up in a mystery. 

One of the things I love most about this book was the characters. This author just can develop characters like no one's business. I loved his characters in Mosqiotoland and I loved them in this book. 

I loved Vic. He was clueless at times and every now and then a whiner. But he was troubled and he was lonely and he was looking for something but had no idea where to start. He needed something but didn't know what. He was lost.

Then there is Madeline. Oh, she was wonderful. Tough and smart, loving and loyal. She has some stuff going on and she takes it no matter how painful it gets... why you ask... because she loves her grandmother. 

All the Kids of Appetite were lovely. I think each individual had a purpose in this story and had a personality and a voice to love. No matter the size or the age. They were all their own so different but the group would have not been the same if even one was not int he picture. Everyone completed the whole picture. 

The story was just so amazing, but really the writing is what makes it exceptional. It's so beautiful and flowing, it really has a movement on its own that is so musical and lyrical. Its different than anything I have ever read before. I just devoured every word. 

I did love how the story was told from present in the police station to flashbacks of how it all came together. The reader hears the story as the police hear the story. I always love books told past and present at the same time. It's really my favorite type to read. 

Really if you have not read this author. Do so... either one will work, both are books are amazing and he does have a new one coming in May. Yup time to preorder my copy. 

So so so loved it. 

David Arnold lives in Lexington, Kentucky, with his (lovely) wife and (boisterous) son. He is the New York Times bestselling author of Mosquitoland, Kids of Appetite, and The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik; his books have been translated into over a dozen languages. Learn more at davidarnoldbooks.com and follow him on Twitter @roofbeam and Instagram @iamdavidarnold.