Review: Breath by Jackie Morse Kessler

 Title: Breath

Author: Jackie Morse Kessler

Series: 4th (Hunger, Rage, Loss)
Pages: 336

Published: April 16th 2013 by HMH Books for Young Readers

ISBN:  9780547970431

Source: Personal Copy 

 

 I GIVE THIS ...

I think this one was easily the best out of the four. And that's saying something but I really enjoyed this series. 

Death is an amazingly complex character. All that he has seen as he has managed death throughout humanities existence. He reminded me a tad of death in "The Book Thief" Humans fascinate him. But, he knows he can't get attached because our life compared to his is but a speck in time.

 I found it interesting that he created the 4 horseman and how he did it.  Despite all that he has witnessed, he's lonely. He has nothing to share this world with. 

Xander was also an interesting addition to the story. I enjoyed how his story is woven in with death's and how he was the one person Death turned to when he felt the world was at it's end. 

Review: Rage (The Horseman of the Apocalypse: The Rider's Quartet #2) by Jackie Kessler

Title: Rage

Author: Jackie Kessler

Series: 2nd in Horseman of The Apocalypse

Pages: 228

Published: Available now from Harcourt

ISBN: 978054744528

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

Description: Missy didn’t mean to cut so deep. But after the party where she was humiliated in front of practically everyone in school, who could blame her for wanting some comfort? Sure, most people don’t find comfort in the touch of a razor blade, but Missy always was . . . different. That’s why she was chosen to become one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: War. Now Missy wields a new kind of blade—a big, brutal sword that can cut down anyone and anything in her path. But it’s with this weapon in her hand that Missy learns something that could help her triumph over her own pain: control. A unique approach to the topic of self-mutilation, Rage is the story of a young woman who discovers her own power and refuses to be defeated by the world.

I Give This ...

I still love the idea behind this series.  It's a very unique way to present topics that aren't talked about very happen.

I actually really liked Missy's character.  I may not understand the need for self-mutilation, but Missy gave it a face.  How it makes her feel was very descriptive.  In the end, I felt like I really had a grasp on why Missy did it.  She really put on a brave front for the rest of the world, buy behind closed doors it was an entirely different matter.  I liked the inner dialogue's she had about the locked box, how the blade made her feel, and trying to keep herself from turning to it.

 I also really loved her as War.  It taught her a lot about who she was and how to control her pain.  It was also ok for her to feel it in the first place.  I also liked how her personal mood affected how others felt when she took the place as War.  I think my favorite parts were her interactions with the other horseman.  I really enjoyed learning about Pestilence.  

What really bothered me about this book was others reaction to Missy's cutting.    It seems the whole school know about Missy and her problem.  Only one of them seems supportive of her in any way.  They call her names and treat her not as someone who needs helps, but as an outcast because of it.  I found that odd.   What upset me the most was her soccer coach's reaction.  While I understood this reaction was what lead her finally take up the mantle of War, it was poorly done.  I disliked her being called a bad influence.  

I will finish this series and very interested to see what Pestilence does!

Hunger (Horsemen of the Apocalypse, #1) by Jackie Morse Kessler

Title: Hunger

Author: Jackie Morse Kessler

Series: 1st in Horseman of the Apocalypse series

Published: October 10, 2010 by Harcourt Graphia

Pages: 180

ISBN: 9780547341248

Source: ARC from We Love YA Tours

Description: Lisabeth Lewis is no stranger to starvation. Her life revolves around counting calories, constant exercise, denying herself even the strongest cravings. Lisa is in a constant battle with hunger for control over her body. When, in a moment of desperation, she almost gives up that control completely, she is visited by a wisecracking messenger who turns out to be Death. He offers Lisa a rare opportunity: to become one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse—Famine. As Famine, Lisa travels the world on her black steed, visiting parts of the world where hunger is a painful part of everyday life. She’s horrified to see her own power destroy crops and turn food to dust. But when she finds a way to harness her power as Famine and use it for nourishment rather than deprivation, Lisa finally gains the courage to face her own problem. 

I Give This ...

 

I have to admit this book was completely original.   I loved how the author has taken a biblical reference and made it into something modern.  All 4 of the horseman are included in this book, but we only get a real look at Famine (although Death plays a pretty good role as well).  By the end of the book I truly wondered if Death choose Lizabeth as Famine because she was anorexic.  It was a way to help her see past her problem and see people who were really hunger.  I think it helped put her eating disorder in perspective.  I liked how the supernatural played into this story.  Horses that no one can see, traveling huge distance in the blink of an eye, and the awesome power to create hunger.  I thought it was impressive that Lizabeth managed to find away to use her power for good.  In turn I thought this created an awesome showdown with War.   I was impressed with how the author handled the delicate issue of an easting disorder.  It showed Lizabeth vulnerable.  I liked how the author was able to show that even those who you think are total control of themselves are likely putting on a show.  And sometimes, the ones who care about you the most are saying something you don't want to hear.

So, why the 3 butterflies?   There's two main reasons.  First, I really think the book could have been longer.  At under 200 pages, I just wasn't satisfied.  I know everything ties up nicely, but I wanted more.  I think the author could have expanded on some things.  Second, I hate nitpicking, but when something still stands out in my mind 2 weeks after I read the book, I have to mention it.  I dislike talk about bodily functions.   There's a passage describing Lizabeth's struggle to have bowel movement.  Now maybe this is a real problem with eating disorders, but I just didn't like the way the author presented it.  And, it didn't add to the story.  There's also a part with a very detailed description of Lizabeth's friend and her bulimia.  While, I do think this helped show something important to Lizabeth, it was just really hard to read (I think this might be partly due to my own aversion to throw-up).

I will be continuing this series though.  The author has something to offer her and I want to see were the series goes!