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Kids of Appetite
by
The bestselling author of Mosquitoland brings us another batch of unforgettable characters in this 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 thei ...more
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 thei ...more
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Kindle Edition, 352 pages
Published
September 20th 2016
by Viking Books for Young Readers
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Start your review of Kids of Appetite

This was a really interesting read for me. I didn't LOVE LOVE IT like I can't stop reading and all that jazz (it had a more somber tone to it and I always move more slowly through sadder plot lines), but I enjoyed how different it was and the diversity of its characters. Here's the link to my full review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFAcR...
...more

As I was devouring (no pun intended) David Arnold's sensational new book,
Kids of Appetite
, I started pondering the existential question, "Why do I read?" As you'd probably imagine there isn't one easy answer to that question—at different times I may read for entertainment, escape, information, motivation, or to be moved, and quite often it's a combination of more than one of those.
While I didn't set out to read Kids of Appetite to be moved, this story of the bonds of friendship, preserv ...more
While I didn't set out to read Kids of Appetite to be moved, this story of the bonds of friendship, preserv ...more

This book is presented as fiction for 14 – 18 year olds and though I’m (ahem) slightly outside this age bracket I’d read this brilliant review from Larry and I just had to take a look at it for myself. And what a joy it was.
It starts out as a murder mystery, as two people are being questioned by police over a murder. They are evasive – they are certainly hiding something. Then we slip back in time a week. Sixteen year old Vic has Mobius syndrome, a condition that means he can neither blink or sm ...more
It starts out as a murder mystery, as two people are being questioned by police over a murder. They are evasive – they are certainly hiding something. Then we slip back in time a week. Sixteen year old Vic has Mobius syndrome, a condition that means he can neither blink or sm ...more

Oct 30, 2016
Elle (ellexamines)
rated it
did not like it
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
not Pragya great job DNFing this my girl
Wow, wow, wow. Y'all really want to continue writing The Fault On Our Stars v2: mental illness instead of cancer. Ugh. Can't we move past this phase of YA? Can't we move past using mental illnesses as characters? Can't we stop with this manic pixie everything bullshit? Can't we actually write some damn books instead of covering our lacking plots and lacking everythings with purple prose? Can't we write stories with some fucking plot?
Are you ready for my controversial, maybe inaccurate theory? No ...more
Are you ready for my controversial, maybe inaccurate theory? No ...more

buddy read #5 with Pragya let's hope this one doesn't disappoint :) :)
DNF @ 30%
Disclaimer: There’s nothing wrong with this book. In fact, I’m sure it’s probably a great, exceptional, heartwarming book, nonetheless, I didn’t feel any of those sentiments. . . so continue on with the review.
Reading Kids of Appetite, is like being that one friend in a group who doesn’t get the inside jokes. And it’s really not fun. .-.
There are so many unexplained phrases, puzzling memories, and weird ...more
DNF @ 30%
Disclaimer: There’s nothing wrong with this book. In fact, I’m sure it’s probably a great, exceptional, heartwarming book, nonetheless, I didn’t feel any of those sentiments. . . so continue on with the review.
Reading Kids of Appetite, is like being that one friend in a group who doesn’t get the inside jokes. And it’s really not fun. .-.
There are so many unexplained phrases, puzzling memories, and weird ...more

If anyone was silly enough to be worried that David Arnold's second book wouldn't live up to his wonderful debut, MOSQUITOLAND, they should rest assured that it does. KIDS OF APPETITE is brilliant, incredible, emotional, sensitive, not what I was expecting and better than I could hope for. David has a sensitivity in his writing that I haven't seen anywhere else and his characters have an intensity and passion for life that you can really feel in his writing and that will light your soul on fire.
...more

DNF @6%
If May's not doing it, I'm not doing it. (I have no willpower) (If I read one more page of everyone saying frak I will gouge my eyes out) (I have no idea what the hell happened I was so in love w Mosquitoland) ...more
If May's not doing it, I'm not doing it. (I have no willpower) (If I read one more page of everyone saying frak I will gouge my eyes out) (I have no idea what the hell happened I was so in love w Mosquitoland) ...more

I was intrigued by this, but I think I can finally say that Arnold's writing and his precocious - to the point of being unbelievable - teens are not for me. Those who think John Green is one of the best YA writers ever will probably like this a lot more than I did.
...more

This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life.
I decided to read this book partly because of the amazing cover. Seriously, the cover just screams "read me" to me. It wasn't just the cover that grabbed my interested though. I loved the synopsis and have had the author's debut novel on my TBR since it was released. I am glad that I made the decision to read this book. I actually read the whole book in a day which is unusual these days.
The characters really made this a very interesting story ...more
I decided to read this book partly because of the amazing cover. Seriously, the cover just screams "read me" to me. It wasn't just the cover that grabbed my interested though. I loved the synopsis and have had the author's debut novel on my TBR since it was released. I am glad that I made the decision to read this book. I actually read the whole book in a day which is unusual these days.
The characters really made this a very interesting story ...more

Actual rating: 4.5
Holy crap, David Arnold has done himself with this sophomore novel!
All the love for:
- the book's unique format/nonlinear narrative
- Coco, who faux-cussed adorably and made me laugh too loud
- Baz and Zuz, two brothers with kind, sensitive souls
- Mad, whose love for reading was wonderful to read about
- Vic, whose thoughts were so smart and eloquent and whose grief was genuine
- the beautifully diverse and striking cast
- the light romance between the two protagonists and the wonde ...more
Holy crap, David Arnold has done himself with this sophomore novel!
All the love for:
- the book's unique format/nonlinear narrative
- Coco, who faux-cussed adorably and made me laugh too loud
- Baz and Zuz, two brothers with kind, sensitive souls
- Mad, whose love for reading was wonderful to read about
- Vic, whose thoughts were so smart and eloquent and whose grief was genuine
- the beautifully diverse and striking cast
- the light romance between the two protagonists and the wonde ...more

Though pretentious at times, I enjoyed this book overall. Like I say all the time, and yet never act upon, review to come.

Oct 31, 2016
Rebecca
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
childrens-or-ya,
reviewed-for-nudge
David Arnold’s second YA novel opens in a Hackensack, NJ Police Dept. interrogation room. Someone is dead, but we don’t learn who, why or how for quite a while. For now, the reader’s task is to figure out how the events of the past week have landed sixteen-year-old Vic Benucci and his new girlfriend, Mad Falco, here; and why they are trying to drag out their questioning for as long as possible. The first-person perspective shifts from Vic to Mad throughout, and flips between their respective int
...more

Oct 13, 2016
Bee
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
review-books,
standalones
Another super great read! Kids of Appetite really is something special. The characters are diverse and their voices are so clear and witty. Similarly to Mosquitoland, KOA has a series of fast paced events but is mostly character focused. Uh, I just really liked it.

3.5 stars
I requested this because I had heard a lot of great things from friends {Cody, I'm looking at you} and it was all over IG as well. Even though I wasn't sure it sounded like my sort of thing, I gave it a try.
I loved the characters. Vic and Mad and the others are so vivid on the page. The back and forth of the past and present chapters was done in an interesting way. I definitely didn't expect the outcome happening the way it did.
And yet, I set it down for days at a time. I wasn't compe ...more
I requested this because I had heard a lot of great things from friends {Cody, I'm looking at you} and it was all over IG as well. Even though I wasn't sure it sounded like my sort of thing, I gave it a try.
I loved the characters. Vic and Mad and the others are so vivid on the page. The back and forth of the past and present chapters was done in an interesting way. I definitely didn't expect the outcome happening the way it did.
And yet, I set it down for days at a time. I wasn't compe ...more

I received a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review via FirstToRead. DNF @ about 10%. This just isn't for me. I don't know why, but I was bored. I've never read this author before and the writing wasn't bad. Just not for me I guess.
...more

Want to see more bookish things from me? Check out my Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfer...
Vic Benucci and his friend Mads are in the Hackensack Police Department telling the story behind the murder of Mads Uncle.
I was initially very excited to read this, as I absolutely adored Mosquitoland. Unfortunately, this fell a bit short for me. I really enjoyed the found family in this, and the adventures that Vic and his friends went on to spread his father's ashes. The story is tol ...more
Vic Benucci and his friend Mads are in the Hackensack Police Department telling the story behind the murder of Mads Uncle.
I was initially very excited to read this, as I absolutely adored Mosquitoland. Unfortunately, this fell a bit short for me. I really enjoyed the found family in this, and the adventures that Vic and his friends went on to spread his father's ashes. The story is tol ...more

This is now my favorite book of all time ever. It's so so so so game changing! You should definetly read it when it comes out in September. I REALLY don't wanna give the arc back to my friens, but I have to
...more

4 stars
Once in a while, I encounter a book with a unique and quirky plot. With Kids of Appetite, it was the title and premise that drew me in. But before I get to that, I want to say something first.
I'm going to be blunt with you all. This is just my personal opinion: I felt like I was reading a carbon copy of one of John Green's books. Now, that isn't to say that David Arnold is trying to emulate John Green. That isn't the case. It's just I've notice that several books have that whimsical, quir ...more
Once in a while, I encounter a book with a unique and quirky plot. With Kids of Appetite, it was the title and premise that drew me in. But before I get to that, I want to say something first.
I'm going to be blunt with you all. This is just my personal opinion: I felt like I was reading a carbon copy of one of John Green's books. Now, that isn't to say that David Arnold is trying to emulate John Green. That isn't the case. It's just I've notice that several books have that whimsical, quir ...more

Good book. Great concept. I loved both Vic and Mad and all the other characters. They were the kind of characters I want as my friends in real life because they're living proof that no matter how hard life gets... you don't give up.
The beginning was just so captivating, interestingly strange and wonderful.
Now you're probably wondering: "ah... did she accidentally rate this book 2 stars? Maybe she meant 4?"
Well, yes and no.
Thing is, I was so sure this was a 4 stars book for me. I loved the beg ...more
The beginning was just so captivating, interestingly strange and wonderful.
Now you're probably wondering: "ah... did she accidentally rate this book 2 stars? Maybe she meant 4?"
Well, yes and no.
Thing is, I was so sure this was a 4 stars book for me. I loved the beg ...more

I fraking loved this book. I loved Vic, Mad, Baz, Zuz, and of course Coco.
Vic: I want to hug you and tell you that you are perfect no matter what.
Mad: 😄
Zuz: *snap*
Baz: You are such a kind person and you put others before yourself.
Coco: I fraking love you.
It was kind of slow paced
But......
...more
Vic: I want to hug you and tell you that you are perfect no matter what.
Mad: 😄
Zuz: *snap*
Baz: You are such a kind person and you put others before yourself.
Coco: I fraking love you.
But......


Aug 19, 2016
Taryn
marked it as read-no-stats
These are my thoughts after reading the 48 page sneak peek.
I was immediately reminded of John Green as I began to read. I thought it might be a little too much for me: quirky characters with eccentric interests, quirky random details, and philosophical musings. But once I got past the first two scenes, my interest was piqued!
The book opens with Vic being questioned about a man's murder. He's not willing to divulge much to the detective.
Eight days before the interrogation: Vic Benucci's father di ...more
I was immediately reminded of John Green as I began to read. I thought it might be a little too much for me: quirky characters with eccentric interests, quirky random details, and philosophical musings. But once I got past the first two scenes, my interest was piqued!
The book opens with Vic being questioned about a man's murder. He's not willing to divulge much to the detective.
Eight days before the interrogation: Vic Benucci's father di ...more

Review can be found on *Milky Way of Books*
While I have known about "Mosquitoland" the first book by this author, I actually began with "Kids of Appetite". And I loved it.
I loved the diverse characters and the issues of immigration, war, alchoolism and family abuse which were touched in an indirect way through the characters' back stories. Vic and the gang, each one of them was amazing and funny and so, so scarred. Coco knows how to steal the spotlight with her bad mouth and her innocence in the ...more
While I have known about "Mosquitoland" the first book by this author, I actually began with "Kids of Appetite". And I loved it.
I loved the diverse characters and the issues of immigration, war, alchoolism and family abuse which were touched in an indirect way through the characters' back stories. Vic and the gang, each one of them was amazing and funny and so, so scarred. Coco knows how to steal the spotlight with her bad mouth and her innocence in the ...more

This was different!
I loved the idea of the book a lot. It had great characters and amazing quotes (this will mainly be a great-quotes-appreciation-review).
I loved Victor and Madeline. They had so interesting background stories, and a great story together. I honestly had some problems with the plot and the side characters but all in all it was a very honest and sweet book.
Quotes:
“…the only people arrogant enough to use the words I understand are the ones who can’t possibly understand.”
“But be ...more
I loved the idea of the book a lot. It had great characters and amazing quotes (this will mainly be a great-quotes-appreciation-review).
I loved Victor and Madeline. They had so interesting background stories, and a great story together. I honestly had some problems with the plot and the side characters but all in all it was a very honest and sweet book.
Quotes:
“…the only people arrogant enough to use the words I understand are the ones who can’t possibly understand.”
“But be ...more

Nov 11, 2016
Arte_reads
added it
I couldn't finish this and I am having major guilt waves. It just didn't suit my mood right now. There was nothing wrong with it I just couldn't enjoy it properly.
...more

Sometime's you just don't click with a book and Kids of Appetite was that book for me.
...more
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David Arnold is the New York Times bestselling author of The Electric Kingdom, Mosquitoland, Kids of Appetite, and The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik, which has been optioned for film by Paramount. 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 liv
...more
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