The Hoarders - Softcover

Jean Stringham

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1599554070 ISBN 13: 9781599554075

Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc., 2010

Synopsis

When nine-year-old Cheyenne Walker and his younger brother lose the mother they love and the aunt they trust, they go underground to survive. But they've spent years on the edge already and they've developed some skills. They know what kinds of foods will take them the furthest, what kind of people to avoid (Grey Tooth), and how to watch adults to get the clues as to which ones will help them. What they have yet to work out is whether Dead Uncle Dick is a good ghost or a bad one, and if the monstrous-looking lady in the hospital bed is really someone they love. The brothers' story is an adventure and a mystery with a sprinkling of kid jokes.

(BTW, The Hoarders is NOT about people with messy houses like the TV show.) 

About this title

About the Author

Jean Stringam has worn many hats, from piano teacher to English professor and from member of SAG to member of SCBWI. Born and raised in Alberta, Canada, she has lived in half a dozen US states, plus England, France, and China. Her definition of home is wherever the people she loves happen to live. She thinks stories are wonderful because you can live everywhere you can imagine and be anyone you can envision.

From the Back Cover

For Cheyenne and Joaquin, two brothers who are expert hoarders, the future has always been uncertain. That's why it's important to keep a food hoard. After all, you never know when Momma might forget about eating for a few days. But as things get more and more desperate, the boys realize they'll have to rely on each other and the lessons they've learned together to get them through.

This captivating coming-of-age novel is vibrant, alarming, and yet full of joy. With characters who are as true to life as they are heartbreaking, this is one book that will stick in your mind and make you appreciate something as simple as a meal at a table, with forks, knives, and plates. Like a hug that's a little too tight, this story is unforgettable--a potent mix of enduring themes and quietly brilliant writing that's sure to become an instant classic.

Reviews

Because of the irresponsibility of their often-absent mother, Cheyenne and his younger brother Joaquin are often alone and hungry. As a result, they become hoarders, stockpiling food in their bedroom closet. This, however, proves to be the least of their problems when their mother abandons them, and Cheyenne becomes one of those children who must assume sometimes crushing adult responsibilities. And when Aunt Mandy, their surrogate mother, herself disappears, the boys are left in truly desperate straits without a home and now without food. Cheyenne's first-person narration sometimes sounds a bit too adult and can be cloying, and the book is not without plot and character contrivances. But the boys are nevertheless always empathetic figures, and their compelling, dramatic story will captivate most readers. Grades 5-7. --Michael Cart

Edition details

• Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc.
• Publication date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1599554070
• ISBN 13: 9781599554075
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 224