Review: The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik

The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik
by David Arnold

Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: May 22, 2018

In THE STRANGE FASCINATIONS OF NOAH HYPNOTIK by David Arnold, high schooler Noah Oakman wakes up in a world where everything he knows, with a few exceptions, is slightly different: small changes that seem meaningless but are eerily inexplicable and random. Noah tries to piece together what happened to him by investigating the few things that stayed constant, which he calls his "fascinations". With no explanation as well as problems besides that parallel universe of sorts he has found himself in, Noah does everything he can to bring his life back to the way it once was.

A refreshing and well-written book, Arnold's third book is a delightful piece of realistic fiction with the tiniest hint of sci-fi/magical realism. It has already been optioned by a film studio to be turned into a movie. The intellectual nature of Noah's thoughts and interests, while familiar, was a clean and realistically executed example of the classic "deep, moody, and knowledgeable of a lot of obscure novels and philosophers" trope common to YA main characters. The confusion I felt reading it and trying to understand what was happening perfectly matched Noah's, and was resolved by the end of the story, making this book more of an experience than a passive read. I would highly recommend this to any fans of authors such as A.S King, Lauren Oliver, and John Green.

Review: Kids of Appetite

Kids of Appetite
by David Arnold

Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: September 20, 2016

David Arnold’s KIDS OF APPETITE is a novel about affection, disappointment, and opening up to the ones you love. When Victor Benuchii III finds a letter inside his dad's urn detailing where to spread his ashes, he feels it's his duty to carry out his father's last wishes. Vic ends up joining a group of kids genuinely eager to help him. The group seeks out each site, retracing Vic’s father’s past. As each of them open up to him, he uncovers tragedy and sacrifice. Soon he finds himself infatuated with Mad, a tough girl with a tragic upbringing living with an abusive uncle. When Baz, the leader of the group, is accused of murdering Mad’s uncle, Vic and his new friends formulate a plan to free him from custody and clear his name.

David Arnold draws vivid characters that come to life on the page. You will enjoy watching their relationships with each other deepen as you read. Vic's devotion to Mad is sweet and passionate; their relationship is the highlight of the book. Throughout the fluctuating plot, this simple love ties the book together and will leave you wanting more. The plot of this book is complicated yet easy to understand, and covers a wide variety of topics, including first love, murder, and acceptance. Once you pick up KIDS OF APPETITE you won't be able to put it down.