The Hoarders

by Jean Stringham

While everything around him falls apart, Cheyenne can only count on two his little brother, Joaquin, and his precious food hoard. But when their situation goes from bad to worse, Cheyenne knows he and Joaquin will need to stick together and rely on the lessons they've learned to keep them alive. This captivating coming-of-age novel will draw you into a world that's all too real. The Hoarders is a vibrant but alarming book that blends enduring themes with quietly brilliant writing to produce an unforgettable story that's sure to become an instant classic.

210 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 8, 2010

Reviews

[Deb · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a book about two young brothers, the sons of a young woman who is a neglectful single parent who sometimes forgets to feed her boys. The one person who the brothers can depend on is their Aunt Amy, who does her best to see that they are fed and provided for. When the boy's mother decides to run away, Aunt Amy steps in and becomes the legal guardian for the boys until Amy suffers a devastating medical condition and other members of their large and dysfunctional extended family decide to make other plans that don't take the real needs of the boys into account. I really wanted to love this book. but this was not a book that I could love. I am sure that the author had good intentions by writing about the plight of the two neglected boys, and how they took care of each other, but large parts of the book seemed to make no sense. The narrator of the story is the older of the two brothers, but the reader never knows exactly how old he is or other basic things like how their large affluent family got to be so dysfunctional, and how two little boys survived so long with so little care, eventually living in a wrecked van in the woods for several months, while their aunt was missing. There are huge holes in the plot that leave the reader with lots of questions and detract from what the author was presumably trying to make a story of perseverance and familial love.

[Catalina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Hoarders tells the heart-wrenching story of two brothers as they strive to survive in a world that is coming undone. Cheyenne and his little brother Joaquin, despite being young, are clever kids looking to survive their parentless world. The struggles which Cheyenne (a boy only about 9 or 10 years old) must endure reflects the unfairness of their situation. Told from the eyes of a child, the novel explores themes of family and perseverance. We learn just how far cleverness can take you and experience how a resourceful kid manages in times of need.


I really enjoyed the themes of family and Cheynne's relationship with his brother, as it reminds me a lot about my own sibling relationship. The novel itself is not dark and dreary, but also not a story for the faint of heart. To see such saddening events occur to the brothers, who are merely kids, it leaves the reader in a sorrowful state. Stringham's writing is simple, yet hold a punch of emotions.

[Swhe641200 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is Rhett’s book. Natalie read it and ask me to bring it in. So I read it. Good book. Sad for many things some children have to go through in this life.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

A heart twisting story of survival and beating the odds.

[sarah parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing story

Two young boys learn what it means to survive hunger when their mother forgets they have needs. The boys are smart and wise beyond their years, building skills no child should be burdened with. Told through the voice of a child, this story is one of triumph and family. A pleasant read despite the battle the boys faced in their early years.

[Naniloa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sad book about neglect and survival against all odds. Not my typical read but I did enjoy it!