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Kids of Appetite Kindle Edition

by David Arnold (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.4 205 ratings

Editors' pick Best Young Adult

See all formats and editions

"A gorgeous, insightful, big-hearted joy of a book." —Nicola Yoon, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Everything, Everything

The critically acclaimed author of Mosquitoland brings us another batch of unforgettable characters in this New York Times bestselling tragicomedy about first love and devastating loss.

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.

From the Publisher

	Mosquitoland	Kids of Appetite	The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik	The Electric Kingdom	I Loved You in Another Life

Customer Reviews	1,196	205	124	307	150
Price	$10.97	$10.99	$10.99	$10.97	$12.99
Check out more from David Arnold:	Told in an unforgettable, kaleidoscopic voice, Mosquitoland is a modern American odyssey, as hilarious as it is heartbreaking.	The New York Times bestseller from the critically acclaimed author of Mosquitoland.	A stunning surrealist portrait, The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik is a story about all the ways we hurt our friends without knowing it, and all the ways they stick around to save us.	New York Times bestseller David Arnold's most ambitious novel to date; Station Eleven meets The 5th Wave in a genre-smashing story of survival, hope, and love amid a ravaged earth.	New York Times bestseller David Arnold returns with a poignant love story about two teens whose souls come together time and again through the ages—for fans of Nina LaCour and Matt Haig.

WARNING: California’s Proposition 65

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 8 Up—Victor has an urn with his father's ashes and a set of instructions for scattering them. Madeline has a scar and a troubled past. When the two collide, or "bump," as Victor puts it, Victor joins the Kids of Appetite, a ragtag group that Madeline belongs to. As the gang helps Victor complete his dad's last mission, he begins to fall for Madeline. Meanwhile, one of the KoA comes under suspicion for murder, and Madeline and Victor are swept up in the investigation. Set against the vivid backdrop of Hackensack, NJ, this literary novel will satisfy teens looking for a quirky read. However, sometimes the quirk goes into overdrive and the details overwhelm the plot, which can feel thin in comparison. The KoA are a motley crew, and each member is fairly well drawn, with the exception of one African character, who communicates solely through finger snaps, which is a troubling detail. The writing is lush and lovely, but those seeking a fast-paced or compelling plot should look elsewhere. VERDICT An additional purchase for YA library collections.—Erinn Black Salge, Saint Peter's Prep, Jersey City, NJ

Review

A New York Times Bestseller — A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2016 — An Amazon Best Book of the Year 2016: Young Adult — A Junior Library Guild selection — An ABA Indies Choice Young Adult Honor book 2017 — Kids' Indie Next List "Top Ten" Pick (Autumn 2016) — A YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults 2017 — A Southern Living Best Book of 2016 — A Bank Street CBC Best Book of the Year 2017

"Arnold’s funny and touching second novel is about many things: making peace with the past; the families we create; abstract painting; and what it means to be a 'genuine heart-thinker' . . . Arnold has a talent for stringing together words in just the right, jumbled order. His sentences are arrows." —The New York Times Book Review

"[In] David Arnold’s follow-up to last year’s wonderful Mosquitoland . . . Arnold continues to show mastery in crafting relatable teens struggling with dark circumstances . . . They’re a highly enjoyable bunch of outsiders.” —USA Today

"Funny, sweet, utterly heart-wrenching." —Entertainment Weekly

"A gorgeous, insightful, big-hearted joy of a book. Kids of Appetite made me fall in love with the world a little bit more." —Nicola Yoon, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Everything, Everything

"Kids of Appetite is one of the most honest, emotional, human books I have ever read. You will feel it. This one's a life-changer." —Becky Albertalli, Morris Award–winning author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

★ "Showcases a memorable cast of outsiders carving out space for themselves . . . Arnold writes with a Hinton-esque depth and rawness." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ "Luminous and deeply affecting . . . Beautifully written with compelling voices, evocative allusions and metaphors, and pithy aphorisms, this offers the sentimental cleansing (the kind that comes with tears) that books do best, admirably living up to Mad’s own favorite book, The Outsiders, in its path through tragedy to blessing." —BCCB, starred review

"Expert pacing . . . Arnold’s memorable characters feel real, and their story compels till the end." —Entertainment Weekly

"Spot-on pacing and lovely wordsmithing. Sophisticated teen readers will love this." —Kirkus Reviews

"Arnold's prose is sharp and observant, his pacing restrained, revealing each character’s backstory gradually while also setting up a murder investigation that keeps readers guessing until the second it doesn’t. Vic constantly refers to life revelations from his father, including the idea of “simultaneous extreme opposites”—a concept that, given all the laugh-cries to be had in his emotionally well-wrought novel, Arnold motherfrakking nails." —The Horn Book

"Arnold offers a heartfelt tale that entwines ferocity with quirk, loss with first love, and beauty with asymmetry . . . Philosophical teens drawn to themes of belonging will revel in his latest." —Booklist

"This literary novel will satisfy teens looking for a quirky read . . . The writing is lush and lovely." —School Library Journal

"A big-hearted book that will make you feel nostalgic for your teen years, Kids of Appetite will leave you cry-laughing until the very last page." —Brit + Co.

"Raw, honest, and incredibly affecting." —Bustle

"[A] gorgeously written book whose characters will stay with you long after you've finished reading." —BuzzFeed

"Passion, honesty and energy radiate off every page of this memorable book." —Justine magazine

"Arnold gives the reader a complex plot that incorporates many of the complexities of life. The diverse group of characters substantiates the culmination of the plot and the police investigation. A great book." —VOYA

"With Kids of Appetite, [Arnold] brings the same intense emotion and stunning prose that made Mosquitoland such a perfect book, and takes on some bigger challenges." —Book Riot

“Equal parts S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders and The Breakfast Club . . . Every line is purposeful, and Arnold’s sentence craftsmanship is perfection.” —Clarion-Ledger

“This book will leave you smiling from the inside out, in the best way possible.” —The Morning Call

Praise for David Arnold's Mosquitoland:

"Arnold proves his worth as a top-notch storyteller on his first literary go-round, which is reminiscent of Ferris Bueller's Day Off if done by John Hughes with Jack Kerouac. . . Mosquitoland stings in all the right places, which is why it will no doubt be many teenagers' new favorite book and win over the crustiest old-timer, too." —USA Today

"David Arnold combines brio with compassion in this captivating first novel, which holds surprises, big and small, right to the end. . . Illuminating" —The Washington Post

"David Arnold's sparkling, startling, laugh-out-loud debut. . . speaks to the sweetness of life, the courage of love and the blinkers that adolescents may need to remove to see what is truly around them." —Wall Street Journal

"It's a breath of fresh air when a novel like David Arnold's Mosquitoland bucks the usual classifications and stands defiantly alone. . . like any odyssey worth embarking on, what the heroine—and the reader—finds along the way is far more interesting than we ever could have expected.” —Entertainment Weekly

"Memorable" —People

"One of the most talked about books of the year" —Teen Vogue

"In Mosquitoland, David Arnold has created one of the most unique narrative voices to show up in the world of young adult fiction. I don't remember life before Mim, and I don't want to. Mosquitoland is equal parts sharp, sad, and surreal. This book is genius, war paint and all."
—John Corey Whaley, Printz-winning author of Where Things Come Back

“David Arnold’s writing is both heartfelt and hilarious. You will fall in love with Mim, even as her grand journey will keep you guessing. Mosquitoland reminds us that sometimes imperfect is just perfect.”
—Ruta Sepetys, New York Times bestselling author of Between Shades of Gray

★ “Arnold pens a stunning debut, showcasing a cast of dynamic characters. . . Mesmerizing.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ “Wholly enjoyable. . . There is no shortage of humor in Mim’s musings, interspersed with tender scenes and a few heart-pounding surprises. Mim’s triumphant evolution is well worth the journey.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ "Arnold boldly tackles mental illness and despair, and sexual assault and sexual identity, without ever once losing the bigheartedness of the story. . . In the words of one of Mim's Greyhound seatmates, Mosquitoland has pizazz—lots and lots of it." —Booklist, starred review

★ "Arnold’s characters are captivating and believable. . . This is a very engaging and compelling story about individuals who succeed or fail to manage life’s challenges. An action-packed thriller with a touch of humor and romance." —School Library Connection, starred review

★ "Arnold skillfully sets up doubts in readers' minds about how reliable Mim's impressions are, even as her razor-sharp humor and intelligence make us want to believe her. David Arnold is a write to watch." —Shelf Awareness, starred review

About the Author

David Arnold lives in Lexington, Kentucky, with his (lovely) wife and (boisterous) son. He is the New York Times bestselling author of Kids of Appetite and Mosquitoland, and his books have been translated into over a dozen languages. Previous jobs include freelance musician/producer, stay-at-home dad, and preschool teacher. David is a fierce believer in the power of kindness and community. And pesto. He believes fiercely in pesto.

You can learn more at davidarnoldbooks.com and follow him on Twitter @roofbeam.

From the Hardcover edition.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Chapter 1
The Momentous Multitudes
(or, Gird Thy Silly, Futile Selves)

Interrogation Room #3
Bruno Victor Benucci III & Sergeant S. Mendes
December 19 // 3:12 p.m.

Consider this: billions of people in the world, each with billions of I ams. I am a quiet observer, a champion wallflower. I am a lover of art, the Mets, the memory of Dad. I represent approximately one seven-billionth of the population; these are my momentous multitudes, and that’s just for starters.

“It begins with my friends.”

“What does?”

“My story,” I say.

Only that’s not quite right. I have to go back further than that, before we were friends, back when it was just . . .

. . .

Okay, got it.

“I’ve fallen in love something like a thousand times.”

Mendes smiles a little, nudges the digital recorder closer. “I’m sorry—you said . . . you’ve fallen in love?”

“A thousand times,” I say, running both hands through my hair.

I used to think love was bound by numbers: first kisses, second dances, infinite heartbreaks. I used to think numbers outlasted the love itself, surviving in the dark corners of the demolished heart. I used to think love was heavy and hard.

I don’t think those things anymore.

“I am a Super Racehorse.”

“You’re a what?” asks Mendes, her eyes at once tough and tired.

“Nothing. Where’s your uniform?”

She wears a tweed skirt with a fitted jacket and flowy blouse. I quietly observe her brown eyes, very intense, and—were it not for the baggy pillows, and the crow’s feet framing her features like facial parentheses—quite pretty. I quietly observe the slight creases on her hands and neck, indicative of premature aging. I quietly observe the absence of a wedding ring. I quietly observe her dark hair, shoulder-length with just a lingering shadow of shape and style.

Parenthetical, slight, absence, lingering: the momentous multitudes of Mendes, it seems, are found in the hushed footnote.

“Technically, I’m off duty,” she says. “Plus, I’m a sergeant, so I don’t always have to wear a uniform.”

“So you’re the one in charge, right?”

“I report to Lieutenant Bell, but this is my case if that’s what you’re asking.”

I reach under my chair, pull my Visine out of the front pocket of my backpack, and apply a quick drop in each eye.

“Victor, you’ve been missing eight days. Then this morning you and”—she shuffles through papers until finding the one she’s looking for—“Madeline Falco march in here, practically holding hands with Mbemba Bahizire Kabongo, aka Baz, the primary suspect in our murder investigation.”

“I wasn’t holding hands with Baz. And he’s no murderer.”

“You don’t think so?”

“I know so.”

Mendes gives me a pity-smile, the kind of smile that frowns. “He just turned himself in, Vic. That, plus his DNA is on the murder weapon. We have more than enough to put Kabongo behind bars for a very long time. What I’m hoping you might shed some light on is how you go from running out the front door of your own home eight days ago, to walking in here this morning. You said you have a story to tell. So tell it.”

This morning’s memory is fresh, Baz’s voice ingrained in my brain. Diversion tactics, Vic. They will need time. And we must give it to them.

“Every girl who wears eyeliner,” I say.

. . .

. . .

Sergeant Mendes squints. “What?”

“Every girl who plays an instrument, except—maybe not bassoon.”

“I’m sorry, I don’t unders—”

“Every girl who wears old Nikes. Every girl who draws on them. Every girl who shrugs or bakes or reads.” Tell them about all the girls you thought you loved, the ones from before. I smile on the inside, the only place I can. “Every girl who rides a bike.”

I pull out my handkerchief and dab the drool from the corner of my mouth. Dad called it my “leaky mug.” I used to hate that. Now I miss it.

Sometimes . . . yes, I think I miss the hated things most.

Mendes leans back in her chair. “Shortly after you left, your mom reported you missing. I’ve been in your room, Vic. It’s all Whitman and Salinger and Matisse. You’re smart. And kind of a nerd, if you don’t mind my saying.”

“What’s your point?”

“My point is, you’re no hard-ass. So why are you acting like one?”

Under the metal table, I pick at the fabric of my KOA wristband. “‘I am large, I contain multitudes.’”

Mendes picks up: “‘I concentrate toward them that are nigh, I wait on the door-slab. Who has done his day’s work? Who will soonest be through with his supper? Who wishes to walk with me?’”

. . .

I try to hide my shock, but I can’t be sure my eyes didn’t just give me away.

“Whitman balanced out the criminal justice classes,” says Mendes. “You know what the next line is, don’t you?”

I don’t. So I say nothing at all.

“‘Will you speak before I am gone?’” she says quietly. “‘Will you prove already too late?’”

. . .

“Due respect, Miss Mendes. You don’t know me.”

She looks back at the file in front of her. “Bruno Victor Benucci III, sixteen, son of Doris Jacoby Benucci and the late Bruno Benucci Jr., deceased two years. Only child. Five-foot-six. Dark hair. Suffers from the rare Moebius syndrome. Obsession with abstract art—”

“Do you know what that is?”

“Oh, I’ve had my share of Picasso-obsessed crooks, lemme tell you, it’s no picnic.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“I know what you meant.” Mendes flips the file shut. “And yeah, I did some research. Moebius is a rare neurological disorder affecting the sixth and seventh cranial nerves, present from birth, causing facial paralysis. I understand it’s been difficult for you.”

Mendes’s tone suggests a hint of self-satisfaction, as if she’s been sitting on this definition, just waiting for me to ask if she knew what was wrong with my face. I’ve had Moebius syndrome my whole life, and here is what I’ve learned: the only people arrogant enough to use the words I understand are the ones who can’t possibly understand. People who truly get it never say much of anything.

“You did some research,” I say, barely above a whisper.

“A little.”

“So you know what it feels like to have sand shoved up your eyelids.”

. . .

“What?”

“That’s what it’s like sometimes, not being able to blink,” I say. “Dry eye doesn’t begin to describe it. More like desert eye.”

“Vic—”

“Did your research offer insight into the night terrors that come from sleeping with your eyes half shut? Or how drinking from a cup feels about as possible as lassoing the moon? Or how the best I can hope for is that kids just leave me alone? Or how certain teachers slow down when talking to me because they assume I’m stupid?”

Mendes shifts uncomfortably in her chair.

“Don’t get me wrong,” I say. “I’m not complaining. Lots of people with Moebius have it worse than me. I used to wish I was someone else, but then . . .”

But then Dad introduced me to Henri Matisse, an artist who believed each face had its own rhythm. Matisse looked for what he called “particular asymmetry” in his portraits. I liked that. I wondered about the rhythm of my own face, and about my particular asymmetry. I told Dad this once. He said there was beauty in my asymmetry. This made me feel better. Not un-alone, just less alone.

Accompanied by art, at least.

“But then . . . ?” says Mendes.

I almost forgot I’d started a sentence. “Nothing.”

“Vic, I know you’ve had it tough.”

I point both index fingers at my unflinching face. “You mean my . . . ‘affliction’?”

“I never used the word afflicted.”

“Oh right. Suffers from. You’re a humanitarian.”

Underneath my KOA wristband, I feel my tiny paths going nowhere. My fingers have always been a force to be reckoned with, scratching and clawing and pinching. The wristband is an effective reminder, but it’s no match for my fingers, with their tiny little fingerbrains, determined to test my pain threshold.

I ask, “You ever hear that a person has to go through fire to become who they’re meant to be?”

Mendes sips her coffee, nods. “Sure.”

“I’ve always wanted to be strong, Miss Mendes. I just wish there wasn’t so much fire.”

. . .

“Victor.” It’s a whisper, barely even there. Mendes leans in, her entire presence shifting from defense to offense. “Vic, look at me.”

I can’t.

“Look at me,” she repeats.

I do.

“Did Baz Kabongo put you up to this?” She nods slowly. “It’s okay. He did, right?”

Still, nothing.

“Let me tell you what I think happened,” she says. “Kabongo gets nervous, sees his face posted all over town, decides he’s done hiding. He talks you and your girlfriend into lying to us, saying you were in places you weren’t, at times you weren’t, with people you weren’t. He knows his only chance is an alibi, or an eyewitness saying someone else did it. And who better than two innocent kids? Am I warm?”

I say nothing. I am an absolute ace at nonverbals, and every minute that passes is a win, a victory no matter how small.

“I’m pretty good at my job,” she continues, “and while I don’t know where you were on the night of December seventeenth, I know where you weren’t. You weren’t in that house. You didn’t see that pool of blood. You didn’t see that man’s eyes go out, Victor. You know how I know this is true? If you’d seen all that, there’s no way in hell you’d be sitting in that chair right now, dicking around with me. You’d piss your pants, is what you’d do. You’d be fucking terrified.”

. . .

. . .

Those fingerbrains are ruthless animals, munching on my multitudes.

“Kabongo is counting on you to lie, Vic. But do you know what he forgot? He forgot about Matisse. He forgot about Whitman. He forgot about art. And you know what all good art has in common, right? Honesty. It’s the part of you that knows what’s what. And that’s the part that’s gonna tell me the truth.”

I count to ten in my head, where Baz’s voice plays over and over like a scratched record. Let them think what they want. But do not lie.

“We’ll protect you,” says Mendes. “You don’t have to be afraid. Just tell me what happened.”

Diversion tactics, Vic. They will need time. And we must give it to them.

. . .

. . .

I lean in to the digital recorder and clear my throat. “Every girl who drinks tea.”

Mendes calmly shuts the file. “All right, we’re done here.”

“Every girl who eats raspberry scones.”

She scoots her chair out from under the table, stands with an air of finality, and speaks loud and clear. “Interview between Bruno Victor Benucci III and Sergeant Sarah Mendes terminated at three twenty-eight p.m.” She pushes stop, grabs her coffee and folder off the table, and heads for the door. “Your mom should be here soon to pick you up. In the meantime, feel free to get coffee down the hall.” She shakes her head, opens the door, and mumbles, “Fucking raspberry scones.”

The Hackensack Police Department, Interrogation Room Three, dissolves into the Maywood Orchard, Greenhouse Eleven. I imagine: Baz Kabongo, with his borderline paternal instincts, and sleeve of tattoos; audacious Coco, loyal to the end; Zuz Kabongo, snapping, dancing in place; and I imagine Mad. I remember that moment—my moment of heartbreaking clarity when the clouds parted, and I saw everything as if I’d never seen anything at all. The truth is, I didn’t know what love was until I saw it sitting in a greenhouse, unfolding like a map before me, revealing its many uncharted territories.

As Sergeant Mendes opens the door to leave, I pull my hand from under the table, raise it up until the wristband is at eye level, admire those three block letters, white against the black fabric: KOA.

Walt Whitman was right. We do contain multitudes. Most are hard and heavy, and what a headache. But some multitudes are wondrous.

Like this one . . .

I am a Kid of Appetite.

“I was in that house, Miss Mendes.” I focus on the snow-white K and O and A as the blurry image of Mendes freezes in the doorframe. She does not turn around.

“I was there,” I say. “I saw his eyes go out.”

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01A6EQGGG
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Viking Books for Young Readers (September 20, 2016)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 20, 2016
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 3.2 MB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 348 pages
Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1472218957

Best Sellers Rank: #1,214,932 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #13 in Democratic Republic of Congo Travel
- #355 in Teen & Young Adult Fiction about Being a Teen (Kindle Store)
- #359 in Teen & Young Adult Fiction about Death

Customer Reviews:
4.4 205 ratings

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David Arnold

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David Arnold is the New York Times bestselling author of Mosquitoland, I Loved You in Another Life, The Electric Kingdom, Kids of Appetite, and The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik. He has won the Southern Book Prize and the Great Lakes Book Award, and was named a Publishers Weekly Flying Start for his debut. His books have been translated into over a dozen languages. He lives in Lexington, Kentucky, with his wife and son. Learn more at davidarnoldbooks.com and follow him on Instagram @iamdavidarnold.

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Customers say

Customers find the story poignant and thought-provoking. They appreciate the well-developed characters and their relatable voices. The writing quality is praised as clear, with attention to detail. Readers describe the plot as twisty and realistic. They find the book original and inventive. Overall, customers enjoy the entertaining read that blends family, personal tragedies, and humor.

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Heartfelt story Character development Writing quality Plot Creativity Entertainment value Humor

11 customers mention "Heartfelt story"11 positive0 negative

Customers find the book poignant and funny. They describe it as a beautiful story about grief, healing, friendship, and family. The book is thought-provoking and entertaining, making readers feel many emotions. It's unique, interesting, and a mix of what makes a family, personal tragedies, and how to overcome them.

"...In the end, KIDS OF APPETITE is a beautiful story of grief and healing, of friendship and found family, of first impressions and broadened horizons,..." Read more

"...This book made me feel so many things. I was proud of the characters, laughed with them, celebrated and cried for them...." Read more

"...David Arnold has written a wonderful book about love, loss, survival, and it is written in the believable voices of the protagonists...." Read more

"...I found it funny, clever, thought provoking and simply an entertaining read. It was refreshing . The characters were well developed...." Read more

10 customers mention "Character development"10 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the well-developed characters. They find it refreshing to experience life with these characters and watch them live. The author paints vivid, distinct characters with a vivid brush.

"...It’s a tricky structure, but it works. Both voices are sharp and distinctive, and the skips back and forth in time flow well, and are never jarring..." Read more

"...This book made me feel so many things. I was proud of the characters, laughed with them, celebrated and cried for them...." Read more

"...book about love, loss, survival, and it is written in the believable voices of the protagonists...." Read more

"...It was refreshing . The characters were well developed. I didn't figure out "who dunnit". Often I know long before the mystery is revealed...." Read more

8 customers mention "Writing quality"8 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing quality. They find the prose beautiful, with clear attention to detail. The characters are relatable and the plot draws them in. The time flows smoothly and is never jarring or confusing. The journey is complicated and engaging.

"...The care and attention to detail was clear, and there is an author’s note at the end which thanks four individuals with Moebius for consulting..." Read more

"...(great way to present this story - police interrogation, deciphering clues in urn, living together at the florist shop)...." Read more

"...story again and again, and can only hope more people find the beauty in the prose and the infinite wonder in the narrative that I did." Read more

"...I do, however, recognize that it was very well written. Perhaps I would recommend it to a teenager who might be grieving over the loss of a parent." Read more

7 customers mention "Plot"7 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the twisty and engaging plot. They appreciate the realistic ending that ties together loose ends. The intense bonds between the five kids are also mentioned as gripping, emotional, and gritty.

"...is an often poignant, occasionally hilarious, surprisingly twisty delight from start to finish...." Read more

"...The plot was great and well executed. I really loved it! Five stars, plus one for creativity- this book is a super racehorse...." Read more

"...I loved the tight bonds Vic forms with Mad, Baz and his brother, Zus and foul-mouthed Coco as they unite to find the meaning of the contents found..." Read more

"...The beginning was just so captivating, interestingly strange and wonderful...." Read more

5 customers mention "Creativity"5 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's creativity. They find it original, inventive, and beautiful.

"...KOA is beautiful, sweet, and hopeful; just like life. "..." Read more

"...I read it since I was intrigued by the title. I found it funny, clever, thought provoking and simply an entertaining read. It was refreshing ...." Read more

"...It's unique, it's interesting and it has great characters (one of which has a rare physical disability)...." Read more

"Profoundly beautiful. a mix of what makes a family, personal tragedies, and how to overcome the odds...." Read more

5 customers mention "Entertainment value"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book entertaining and refreshing. They enjoy the quirky kids banding together and find it heartfelt, thrilling, and surprising. The characters are great, and the story is a mix of family, personal tragedies, and how to deal with them.

"...It is in turns funny and heartfelt, thrilling and surprising and gutting...." Read more

"Read this wonderful book of quirky kids banding together, loved it just as much as Arnold's first book, Mosquitoland...." Read more

"...I found it funny, clever, thought provoking and simply an entertaining read. It was refreshing . The characters were well developed...." Read more

"...Loved the characters. Vic and Mad are great kids...." Read more

3 customers mention "Humor"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the humor in the book. They find it poignant and sometimes hilarious.

"...more than capable, and KIDS OF APPETITE is an often poignant, occasionally hilarious, surprisingly twisty delight from start to finish...." Read more

"...I was proud of the characters, laughed with them, celebrated and cried for them. The character development was amazing...." Read more

"...I read it since I was intrigued by the title. I found it funny, clever, thought provoking and simply an entertaining read. It was refreshing ...." Read more

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TacoReader
A beautiful story of grief and healing, friendship and found family
Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2016
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It’s always a little risky, both as a writer and a reader, taking on a book told from multiple points of view. It’s hard enough to find a book with one narrator I love, let alone two or more. Throw on top of that a non-linear structure — KIDS OF APPETITE opens on a scene that actually takes place near the end of the story, with the bulk of the narrative told in flashback — and in less capable hands, you might have a recipe for literary disaster.

Fortunately, David Arnold is far more than capable, and KIDS OF APPETITE is an often poignant, occasionally hilarious, surprisingly twisty delight from start to finish.

The central characters of KIDS OF APPETITE are a boy, Victor “Vic” Benucci, and a girl, Madeline “Mad” Falco, who meet by chance two years after the death of Vic’s father, and wind up profoundly changing each other’s lives forever. The narrative flips between both of their POVs, and alternates between their separate interrogations in a police station, and the events that brought them there. It’s a tricky structure, but it works. Both voices are sharp and distinctive, and the skips back and forth in time flow well, and are never jarring or confusing.

Vic is a boy still grieving his father’s death following a long illness. After fleeing his house during a particularly upsetting night, Vic encounters Mad and the rest of the Kids of Appetite — Baz and Zuz, refugee brothers from the Republic of the Congo, and Coco, an 11-year-old girl with a boundless imagination and a penchant for swearing. The four Kids live together in a neglected greenhouse, where they spend their time musing upon life, making grand declarations, and, every now and then, deciding to take it upon themselves to make someone else’s life better. When Vic and the Kids collide, they set out on a mission to fulfill his father’s final wish, and in doing so, bring Vic the closure he so desperately needs. But even as they are all working to help Vic, Vic is focused on Mad, who, despite her guarded exterior, he suspects could use some help of her own.

As the story went on, I fell in love with each of these characters. As in David Arnold’s previous book, MOSQUITOLAND, the members of his cast are like a bunch of mismatched puzzle pieces coming together to to form a sort of Wes Anderson-ized whole, full of quirks and flaws and idiosyncrasies that may make them an odd fit anywhere else, but work perfectly with each other. David Arnold’s great strength as a writer is in painting his characters with a vivid brush, and then stepping back and allowing them to shine through their dialogue as they interact with each other, and that talent is on full display here. In both the large moments and the small, loud and quiet, it was a joy to experience life with these characters, and to watch them live and laugh and see that it was good.

I want to take a moment to talk about the disability representation with Vic, who has a rare neurological disorder known as Moebius Syndrome, which is characterized by complete or partial facial paralysis. Before reading KIDS OF APPETITE, I had never even heard of Moebius Syndrome, and certainly had never met anyone who had it. It was evident in reading Vic’s point-of-view that David was very aware that this might be the first exposure many of his readers have to Moebius, as well as the first time his readers with Moebius see someone like them represented in fiction. The care and attention to detail was clear, and there is an author’s note at the end which thanks four individuals with Moebius for consulting closely on the development of Vic’s character. While I am not disabled, I am a strong proponent of increased diversity in fiction, as I believe that reading about a broad spectrum of human experiences can only serve to increase empathy. There are so few books out there with disabled protagonists, and even fewer where the author really opened themselves up to input from the community they are aiming to represent. And while KIDS OF APPETITE is definitely not a book about Moebius, I really appreciated the thoughtfulness that went into crafting Vic and making sure that the portrayal of a character with Moebius was accurate.

In the end, KIDS OF APPETITE is a beautiful story of grief and healing, of friendship and found family, of first impressions and broadened horizons, and of how you can know someone so well, yet discover there are parts of them you never knew at all. It is in turns funny and heartfelt, thrilling and surprising and gutting. It is a brilliant, honest, Super Racehorse of a book, and one I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who loves great stories.

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Amber Garabrandt
This book is a super racehorse!
Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2016
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Vic, Mad have a story to tell. Everything hinges on the telling. The kids of appetite, a small group of “unwanted” took Vic in when he needed them to fulfill his father’s last wishes. As they spend time together, Vic realizes that (for once) his birth defect doesn’t matter. They accept all of him and take him as family. When some of the members are in trouble, it’s Vic’s turn to repay his second family.
It’s all in the telling, you see, because you have to see the big picture. The one that includes:
1. A coded mission to scatter ashes across New Jersey
2. A dormant submarine
3. Two very different songs about flowers.
4. Sunsets, orchards, and graveyards.
5. The many meanings of family
6. A narrow escape from a war-torn country
7. The collection of stories
8. How to hear someone who doesn’t talk
9. Falling in love
10. Super racehorses

This book made me feel so many things. I was proud of the characters, laughed with them, celebrated and cried for them. The character development was amazing. I loved them all- from Vic, who, because of a birth defect, can’t close his eyes or really show emotion on his face but is a true heart-thinker. Mad, who lost both her parents in a wreck and now clings to her grandmother even if it puts her in a tight spot. Baz, collector of people and stories. Zuz, who never says a word but makes himself known. And then there’s Coco, the 11 year old orphan from Queens with a stunning (and sometimes hilarious) vocabulary and a big heart.
The plot was great and well executed. I really loved it! Five stars, plus one for creativity- this book is a super racehorse.
On the adult content scale, there’s a bit. Language, obviously, and violence, both done so as not to be over the top or gratuitous. I’d give it a four. I would give this to my niece, but there are some that would have pause.

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Maureen Hoffman Wehmeier
They lived, and they laughed, and they saw it was good
Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2017
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A student of mine recommended Mosquitoland, and now, after completing Kids of Appetite, I know I will buy it as well. David Arnold has written a wonderful book about love, loss, survival, and it is written in the believable voices of the protagonists. Sharp tongued Coco, philosopher Baz, Mad the caregiver, and Vic, whose journey to say goodbye to his father becomes our own personal journey. KOA is beautiful, sweet, and hopeful; just like life. "We may not have the power to choose the setting or plot, but we can choose what kind of character to be." -KOA

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B. J. Neary
Read this wonderful book of quirky kids banding together
Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2017
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Read this wonderful book of quirky kids banding together, loved it just as much as Arnold's first book, Mosquitoland. Arnold's Kids of Appetite brings together sad teen Vic, who lost his father two years ago to cancer, lives with a facial paralysis disease that earns him daily jeers, pity, and alienation, and a mom who seems to be moving on with her life. As Vic takes off with his father's urn, he comes face to face with a group of kids (Kids of Appetite) who become his lifeline while falling in love with Madeleine, who may just may need more help than them all. I loved the tight bonds Vic forms with Mad, Baz and his brother, Zus and foul-mouthed Coco as they unite to find the meaning of the contents found in the urn as well as their time spent being interviewed by the police (great way to present this story - police interrogation, deciphering clues in urn, living together at the florist shop). I adored the perfect life & love Vic's parents instilled in him, while crafting all of the Kids of Appetited (loved the KOA bracelets!!!) as heroes in their many multiple aching, truthful, painful selves. Highly recommended must read; teens will enjoy the intense bonds between these 5 kids who show resilience, care, & loyalty in their saga.

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Carrie B
Beautiful
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 31, 2019
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A story full of wonderful characters to root for! I loved Mosqitoland and Kids of Appetite did not disappoint. 100% recommend.

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5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful story of grief and healing, friendship and found family

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is a super racehorse!

4.0 out of 5 stars They lived, and they laughed, and they saw it was good

5.0 out of 5 stars Read this wonderful book of quirky kids banding together

Top reviews from other countries

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful

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A beautiful story of grief and healing, friendship and found family

This book is a super racehorse!

They lived, and they laughed, and they saw it was good

Read this wonderful book of quirky kids banding together

Beautiful