The Art of Starving


The Art of Starving is a 2017 young adult science fiction novel by Sam J. Miller. It was published by Harper Collins.

Synopsis

Matt is a bullied gay teen with an eating disorder who discovers that, as his hunger increases, he begins to manifest superpowers.

Reception

The Art of Starving won the 2018 Andre Norton Award.
Kirkus Reviews called it a "dark and lovely tale of supernatural vengeance and self-destruction", and described Matt's superpowers as "trippy". Publishers Weekly lauded Miller for being "brutally honest" in describing the long-term physical effects of anorexia. Tor.com noted that, when compared to other works about eating disorders, it was "too tongue-in-cheek and bizarre" to be a standard morality tale.