Kids of Appetite

Victor Benucci, a sixteen-year-old with Moebius Syndrome, leaves home after his father's death carrying only his dad's ashes. He encounters the Kids of Appetite - a found family of young people living in an abandoned greenhouse in New Jersey. The narrative alternates between two timelines: Victor's integration into the KOA group and police interviews with Victor and fellow KOA member Mad about a murder that occurred one week later. Through both storylines, Victor processes his grief while helping Mad uncover truths about her own family history. The story explores themes of loss, identity, and the ways people create meaning through art and human connection. Its structure draws inspiration from S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders while incorporating elements of mystery and coming-of-age narratives.

Readers describe Kids of Appetite as a complex story about grief, family, and belonging. The book maintains a 3.8/5 rating on Goodreads from 4,800+ ratings and 3.9/5 on Amazon from 80+ reviews. Readers appreciated: - The unique narrative structure jumping between timelines - The diverse cast of characters and their individual backstories - The incorporation of The Outsiders references - The portrayal of found family dynamics Common criticisms: - Too many quirky character traits feel forced - The plot moves slowly in the middle sections - Some dialogue comes across as unrealistic for teenagers - The mystery element lacks tension Multiple reviewers noted the book tries too hard to be philosophical and profound. One Goodreads reviewer wrote: "The characters speak in metaphors that no real teenager would use." Others praised the emotional depth, with an Amazon reviewer stating: "The way Arnold writes about loss and healing feels authentic without being heavy-handed."

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🎯 David Arnold was inspired to write Kids of Appetite after learning about a rare neurological condition called Moebius Syndrome, which affects facial expressions and became a key element of the story. 🎨 The book's structure alternates between two timelines: one covering seven days in the past, and one covering 48 hours in the present during a police investigation. 📚 The novel heavily references S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders, with characters regularly quoting the book and drawing parallels between their own lives and the classic story. 🌍 One of the main characters, Vic, carries his father's ashes in a Folger's coffee can throughout the novel, planning to scatter them according to specific instructions—a journey that leads him through various locations in New Jersey. 🎵 Music plays a significant role in the story, with Mad's character being particularly connected to the Beastie Boys' song "Sabotage," which becomes a recurring motif throughout the narrative.