Hungered

Goodreads Editors' Book Pick

For readers of The House on Mango Street and We the Animals, this striking debut brings to life an unforgettable young narrator and the complicated, loving, cruel, and generous figures that make up her universe.

Sofia's mother promises that soon she'll have her own bedroom to decorate. Soon, too, she'll be able to see her friends, go back to school, and eat the colorful, tempting cakes in the grocery store's display case. For now, though, twelve-year-old Sofia lives with her mother and younger brother in their car. For now, Sofia's days are a blur of freeways and strip malls as her mother searches for a safe place to park for the night. For now, Sofia tries to carve out a space and an identity for herself while grappling with her family's disintegration.

This haunting and lyrical novel captures the fault lines of an existence marked by economic insecurity, exploring what it means to come of age during a moment of displacement. Beautiful, evocative, and emotionally charged, Amanda Rizkalla's Hungered is an indelible ode to survival, memory, and the search for home in its many forms.

From the publisher

Macmillan / Henry Holt and Co. | May 19, 2026 | 336 Pages | ISBN-13 9781250420756 | Women's Fiction

1. How did Sofia's twelve-year-old perspective influence your understanding of the story? How might the reading experience have been different if it were narrated by Rafa, or mama? How about if the book was written in the third person?

2. Over the course of the novel, Sofia and Rafa both urge mama to seek support with abuelo, with friends' parents, and even with baba. Why do you think mama is hesitant to acquiesce? In the times that she does, what is motivating her?

3. While this is a story of financial and housing insecurity, it is also a coming- of-age story. Can you recall moments throughout the novel that are pivotal to Sofia's understanding of herself and of the world? In what ways do Sofia's family circumstances influence, or not, her evolving sense of self?

4. There are lots of complicated familial relationships depicted in Hungered. How would you characterize Sofia's relationship to mama? How about to baba? How would you describe the dynamics between Sofia's parents and their own parents?

5. Sofia's multiethnic identity is mentioned often in the novel. In what ways does her Mexican and Egyptian heritage shape her sense of self? How about her identity as an American child of an immigrant? Outside of her family background, what factors shape the way Sofia sees herself, and the world?

6. Among the novel's many heartbreaking scenes is the moment when Ashley uses Sofia's gift card to buy pastries for herself. What did that gift card represent to Sofia? What did it represent to Ashley? Were you surprised, or unsurprised, by Sofia's reaction to the scene?

7. The idea of stories and storytelling comes up consistently throughout the novel. What does storytelling mean, to Sofia and Rafa? Why is it important to them?

8. Sofia experiences many changes over the course of Hungered: where she is sleeping night-to-night, where she is going to school, and what she is able to eat are certain examples. Discuss some of the things that stay consistent for her, even as her circumstances evolve.

9. While much of Hungered is concerned with familial relationships, Sofia's friendships are also central to her life. In what ways do you think her friendships with Lena and Chloe differed from her friendships with Ana and Antonio? In what ways were they the same?

10. In the final scene of the novel, readers don't know where Sofia, Rafa, and their mother are going to end up. Where do you envision them going, in the hours after the novel ends?

QUESTIONS FOR PARENTS

1. Sofia's mother uses the word "soon" regarding a bedroom, school, and even treats. As parents, we often use "soon" to comfort our children. At what point does this move from a hopeful promise to a "survival lie"? How does Sofia's perception of her mother's credibility evolve as the story progresses?

2. Sofia navigates "first days of school and first friendships" while living in a car. What is the psychological toll on children of maintaining a "normal" social life while hiding a fundamental part of their existence? How does this secrecy shape Sofia's identity, compared to her peers? Hungered by Amanda Rizkalla | Book Club Guide

3.The novel explores a family in crisis and a mother searching for safety. How does the book challenge or reinforce your definitions of a "good parent"?

4. While unhoused, Sofia's longing for all the things she cannot have is amplified... from the cakes at the bakery to the friends she left behind at her old school. Sofia's experience is a visceral image of being on the outside looking in. How can we teach our children to be mindful of differences in access to things some people take for granted?

5. This novel explores how trauma survives across generations. Do you see Sofia's mother's actions as a reflection of her own upbringing, especially with how Sofia observes her mother while they stay with their abuelo? Do you think Sofia or her mother attempt to break that cycle?

6. Shilpi Somaya Gowda mentions "beauty in small acts of grace" in her review. Which moment of kindness-either from a stranger, a friend at school, or within the family- felt most impactful to you? How can we model these "small graces" for our children so they become the glue in their own communities?

Book Club Talking Points:
Hungered is a strong book club choice because it gives readers plenty to discuss beyond the story itself. Sofia's experience with housing insecurity raises questions about poverty, dignity, family responsibility, shame, and the meaning of home, while her young perspective makes those issues especially emotional. It should also spark conversation about the assumptions we make about homelessness and how quickly a family's circumstances can change.

One of Stanford Magazine's Summer 2026 Reading Recommendations

"This is difficult subject matter, told superbly, and offers much to discuss and ponder." -Booklist (starred review)

"With spare, elegant prose, Rizkalla captures the world and its contradictions perfectly through Sofia's eyes. . . .Thoughtful and wise, Hungered is a powerful and resonant read." -Shelf Awareness (starred review)

"Rizkalla offers a well-written and haunting look into a childhood marked by instability. A heart-wrenching and powerful debut encapsulating the heaviness of class, race, and adolescence." -Kirkus Reviews

"Told with raw emotion and unflinching honesty, Rizkalla's powerful debut captures the heartbreak of a family in crisis and the quiet resilience of a young girl who can't make sense of the world but still dares to dream." -Library Journal

"Hungered is a heartrending debut that transforms the invisible reality of housing insecurity into a story of profound humanity. Amanda Rizkalla has crafted a coming-of-age story that never romanticizes hardship, yet finds genuine beauty in small acts of grace and the irrepressible hope of childhood." -Shilpi Somaya Gowda, bestselling author of A Great Country and The Shape of Family

"In this impressive debut, Rizkalla magically gifts us Sofia, a fierce but vulnerable protagonist who serves as the glue in her disintegrating family. Rizkalla's narrator shines in these stunning vignettes that portray a family in crisis. As she navigates her landmine life and her own conflicted identity, Sofia sometimes takes charge and often takes risks-and you will cheer for her all the way." -Susan Muaddi Darraj, award-winning author of Behind You is the Sea

"In this captivating debut, Amanda Rizkalla presents the world as seen through the eyes of a young narrator grappling with the hard truths of a life filled with secrets, instability, and betrayal. Mixed in with these hard truths is the softness of adolescence, complete with first days of school, first friendships, and first crushes. At its core, Hungered is a story of survival-how we survive our childhoods, how trauma survives across generations, and how one family learns to survive unimaginable circumstances. This is a novel to return to when you're searching for wonder in all the small places." -Kai Harris, award-winning author of What the Fireflies Knew

"On each page, Rizkalla's precise and tangible rendering of image, of hope like candy floss, of familial bonds and betrayal-each sentence-is an opening to stay. Readers will devour this world, easily." -Dantiel W. Moniz, award-winning author of Milk Blood Heat