What do you think?
Rate this book
Win a free print copy of this book!
9 days and 23:05:46
30 copies available
U.S. only
Hungered
Win a free print copy of this book!
9 days and 23:05:46
30 copies available
U.S. only
OPRAH’S BOOK CLUB PICK • A 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.
“A riveting new novel from first-time author Amanda Rizkalla compassionately tackles the difficult subject of families who live outside the margins, living unhoused, and makes us see not only their struggles, but their hopes, dreams, and the perseverance it takes to face another day.” —Oprah
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 moving portrait of the working unhoused 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.
“A riveting new novel from first-time author Amanda Rizkalla compassionately tackles the difficult subject of families who live outside the margins, living unhoused, and makes us see not only their struggles, but their hopes, dreams, and the perseverance it takes to face another day.” —Oprah
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 moving portrait of the working unhoused 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.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 19, 2026
About the author
Amanda Rizkalla
2 books91 followersAmanda Rizkalla is a recent Steinbeck Fellow and Wisconsin Institute for Creative Writing Fellow. She has been a writer-in-residence at Ragdale, Hedgebrook, Djerassi, Mountain Words, the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts, Monson Arts, and Blue Mountain Center. After graduating from Stanford University, she received her MFA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she was a Kemper Knapp Fellow. Her work has received a grant from the Barbara Deming Memorial Fund and nominations for the Pushcart Prize. Hungered is her debut novel.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 401 reviews
June 17, 2026
Powerful debut novel that follows Sofia, a girl in elementary school, as she, her mother, and her brother Rafa live out of their mother’s car. Amanda Rizkalla does a great job of capturing what it’s like to live in economic insecurity, from the physical hunger of it to the casual classism of children from more affluent backgrounds. Rizkalla’s prose is quiet and subtle, though still moving and engaging. It was great, too, to read a book from a biracial, half-Mexican, half-Egyptian narrator, as a lot of biracial media focuses on folks who are half-white. Rizkalla touches on several important topics in this novel in addition to economic insecurity, such as domestic abuse and immigration and xenophobia, though Sofia’s voice and coming-of-age remains a strong anchoring center stage.
While at times I wished Rizkalla’s prose cut a little deeper, it’s still emotionally affecting and after about 100 pages I felt invested in Sofia’s life and her emotional experience. I would definitely read whatever Rizkalla writes next.
While at times I wished Rizkalla’s prose cut a little deeper, it’s still emotionally affecting and after about 100 pages I felt invested in Sofia’s life and her emotional experience. I would definitely read whatever Rizkalla writes next.
Review of advance copy
I was thrilled to win a copy of this book at LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review. I was eager to read this book. It was one that I really wanted to win. I entered to win in early February and was informed I’d won a copy on 2/26. I received the galley copy of the book on 3/24. The book’s expected publication date is 5/19. I love getting advance copies of books. I’m very appreciative that the publisher provided this copy.
This is a special book. The narrative is poetically told with spare but beautiful language and it has short sections which were easy for me to read and made me want to keep reading. It was a page turner for me. There were no chapter numbers or titles; I don’t know whether or not the finished hardcover edition will have them. I could see it being either way. It was fine as it was. I liked it as it was.
I was sure that this would be my kind of book and I was right.
At this one point something happened that was so agonizingly painful that I had to stop reading, briefly. Brutal! I’m not sure why it was that moment that got to me the most. That event had a follow up later in the story and there were so many other harrowing moments throughout the book. It was a tough read.
It was heartbreaking. It was compelling. It was also at times heartwarming.
I love Sofia’s voice. I love Sofia.
I appreciate how the history gradually unfolds, and also how this family’s life progresses, what things happen with them are revealed at just the right times. I predicted some of what transpired but only because everything made sense and what happened all the way through was realistic. I’m glad that the story didn’t have less than believable outcomes. I got frustrated with the characters at times but it was just because I cared so much and wanted them to be okay. I got worried that this would dissolve into a romance between twelve year olds and was relieved when it did not. Those relationships were true to life.
There are so many flashes of hope and of love and of grace but I would not call this an uplifting book or an easy one. What to do when there are no good choices?! So many times these people are let down and in (probably more than) one case abused/betrayed, as I see it. The racism and classism and treatment of immigrants and family strife, and the various living circumstances were all difficult to read about but absolutely accurately portrayed.
The little and bigger humiliations, the mistreatment, by the system and by many individuals, including even some of the people trying to be helpful, were also hard to read.
All the characters felt like real people to me and most of them were presented in a three dimensional manner. I do think that this trio (daughter, mother, son) are luckier than some because even though I felt despair at times, including at the end, even though I kept thinking that things could have been much worse. The reader is left wondering what is going to happen next. None of the three short term options are great (I have a preference for one of them) but I suppose there is hope that eventually something better will happen. There is no false hope though. This really is a great book!
If any reader of this book does not feel empathy and/or cannot extrapolate their feelings to other, real people in similar circumstances, well then in my opinion there is something wrong with you, very wrong.
There were quite a few Spanish words and phrases throughout the book and a few Arabic words. Their English meanings were usually obvious but I did look up a Spanish-English translation for one phrase. It turns out it also made perfect sense and I would have been right if I’d just guessed its meaning.
4-1/2 stars. I went back and forth whether to give this book 4 or 5 stars. I started by rounding down but the more I thought about it I think that Sofia and some of the other people will stick with me and the story is so beautifully told and it’s an important story so I finally decided to round up.
This is a special book. The narrative is poetically told with spare but beautiful language and it has short sections which were easy for me to read and made me want to keep reading. It was a page turner for me. There were no chapter numbers or titles; I don’t know whether or not the finished hardcover edition will have them. I could see it being either way. It was fine as it was. I liked it as it was.
I was sure that this would be my kind of book and I was right.
At this one point something happened that was so agonizingly painful that I had to stop reading, briefly. Brutal! I’m not sure why it was that moment that got to me the most. That event had a follow up later in the story and there were so many other harrowing moments throughout the book. It was a tough read.
It was heartbreaking. It was compelling. It was also at times heartwarming.
I love Sofia’s voice. I love Sofia.
I appreciate how the history gradually unfolds, and also how this family’s life progresses, what things happen with them are revealed at just the right times. I predicted some of what transpired but only because everything made sense and what happened all the way through was realistic. I’m glad that the story didn’t have less than believable outcomes. I got frustrated with the characters at times but it was just because I cared so much and wanted them to be okay. I got worried that this would dissolve into a romance between twelve year olds and was relieved when it did not. Those relationships were true to life.
There are so many flashes of hope and of love and of grace but I would not call this an uplifting book or an easy one. What to do when there are no good choices?! So many times these people are let down and in (probably more than) one case abused/betrayed, as I see it. The racism and classism and treatment of immigrants and family strife, and the various living circumstances were all difficult to read about but absolutely accurately portrayed.
The little and bigger humiliations, the mistreatment, by the system and by many individuals, including even some of the people trying to be helpful, were also hard to read.
All the characters felt like real people to me and most of them were presented in a three dimensional manner. I do think that this trio (daughter, mother, son) are luckier than some because even though I felt despair at times, including at the end, even though I kept thinking that things could have been much worse. The reader is left wondering what is going to happen next. None of the three short term options are great (I have a preference for one of them) but I suppose there is hope that eventually something better will happen. There is no false hope though. This really is a great book!
If any reader of this book does not feel empathy and/or cannot extrapolate their feelings to other, real people in similar circumstances, well then in my opinion there is something wrong with you, very wrong.
There were quite a few Spanish words and phrases throughout the book and a few Arabic words. Their English meanings were usually obvious but I did look up a Spanish-English translation for one phrase. It turns out it also made perfect sense and I would have been right if I’d just guessed its meaning.
4-1/2 stars. I went back and forth whether to give this book 4 or 5 stars. I started by rounding down but the more I thought about it I think that Sofia and some of the other people will stick with me and the story is so beautifully told and it’s an important story so I finally decided to round up.
May 17, 2026
Standing ovation.
There is something truly special about stories told through the eyes of a child. The narration carries a kind of honesty that adults often lose. Children observe the world without fully understanding its cruelty, which makes their perspective both innocent and devastating. More than once while reading, I found myself stopping and thinking, Oh. The kind of realization that quietly settles in once you understand what the child narrator does not.
Hungered follows Sofia and her family: Nina, her mother; Rafa, her younger brother; and Baba, her father. When Nina leaves an abusive relationship with little more than a car and her children, the story becomes a journey through survival, instability, and resilience.
Through Sofia’s perspective, the book explores silent struggles that feel painfully real. Hunger, unstable housing, motherhood, lack of resources, identity, and emotional survival all weave naturally into the story without ever feeling forced. Nina being Mexican and Baba Egyptian adds another meaningful layer, especially as Sofia navigates a new school and begins to understand where she fits within the world around her.
What makes this book stand out is how deeply human it feels. The emotional weight never relies on dramatics. Instead, it builds through small moments, observations, and the quiet realities of what families endure behind closed doors.
I just finished this book, and I already miss Sofia.
This is the kind of story that stays with you long after the final page. Highly recommend without hesitation.
There is something truly special about stories told through the eyes of a child. The narration carries a kind of honesty that adults often lose. Children observe the world without fully understanding its cruelty, which makes their perspective both innocent and devastating. More than once while reading, I found myself stopping and thinking, Oh. The kind of realization that quietly settles in once you understand what the child narrator does not.
Hungered follows Sofia and her family: Nina, her mother; Rafa, her younger brother; and Baba, her father. When Nina leaves an abusive relationship with little more than a car and her children, the story becomes a journey through survival, instability, and resilience.
Through Sofia’s perspective, the book explores silent struggles that feel painfully real. Hunger, unstable housing, motherhood, lack of resources, identity, and emotional survival all weave naturally into the story without ever feeling forced. Nina being Mexican and Baba Egyptian adds another meaningful layer, especially as Sofia navigates a new school and begins to understand where she fits within the world around her.
What makes this book stand out is how deeply human it feels. The emotional weight never relies on dramatics. Instead, it builds through small moments, observations, and the quiet realities of what families endure behind closed doors.
I just finished this book, and I already miss Sofia.
This is the kind of story that stays with you long after the final page. Highly recommend without hesitation.
May 7, 2026
4.25 A heavy and moving debut. This story follows a mother and her two children as they leave a stable life behind for incredibly challenging circumstances. The writing is wonderfully descriptive; you can truly feel the ‘hunger’ the family experiences as they navigate displacement, homelessness, and the harsh realities of racism as a mixed family.
The narrator was great and added to the overall experience, making it the kind of story that stays with you. It’s a beautiful example of making the most of what you have amidst having nothing. A great read for anyone who loves character-driven stories that dig deep into complex emotions.
The narrator was great and added to the overall experience, making it the kind of story that stays with you. It’s a beautiful example of making the most of what you have amidst having nothing. A great read for anyone who loves character-driven stories that dig deep into complex emotions.
January 4, 2026
A stunning, devastating, heartbreaking novel that tackles housing insecurity, racism, abuse, class discrepancies, cruelty towards immigrants, and systems designed to work against mothers in this country. This is such a well-written, sad story that is unfortunately relatable to a lot of people. This is the kind of book that should prompt everyone to be more compassionate and understanding.
November 1, 2026
Twelve-year-old Sofia's voice and feelings of hunger and insecurity were powerfully rendered in this novel. Rizkalla writes with an emotional charge about an unhoused family and convincingly from Sofia's perspective. My difficulty with the novel was the mother. I didn't understand her choices.
Leaving an unhappy marriage made sense, but was it necessary to force her children to leave school and live in a car? She was educated, had relatives and friends, was not an addict or alcoholic, and seemed to have other resources to try before allowing her children to suffer. And what was that with the priest?? I didn't believe it. I needed her to be more than a caricature.
Leaving an unhappy marriage made sense, but was it necessary to force her children to leave school and live in a car? She was educated, had relatives and friends, was not an addict or alcoholic, and seemed to have other resources to try before allowing her children to suffer. And what was that with the priest?? I didn't believe it. I needed her to be more than a caricature.
November 13, 2025
A gripping, powerfully raw read!! HUNGERED will be staying with me for quite some time, and I urge everyone to read it. This book shines light on the fastest growing segment of the unhoused population in the United States - families. The book is told from 12-year-old Sofia’s point of view as she grapples with the disparity between the seemingly secure life she once had to the uncertain life she is now living with her mom and brother out of their car.
The characters in the story are well portrayed and complex. The book masterfully handles and fleshes out the intense range of differing emotions felt by each character as the story develops. My heart went out to Sofia and her mom throughout book. Their inner strength is something to behold. The book has a heavy subject matter, but the story is not overwhelming. I found myself wanting to continue to read to see how Sofia’s days and life unfolded. The story went by all too quickly; I’d LOVE to read more about Sofia and her family.
This would be a great discussion book for a book club! Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for offering me an ARC of HUNGERED.
The characters in the story are well portrayed and complex. The book masterfully handles and fleshes out the intense range of differing emotions felt by each character as the story develops. My heart went out to Sofia and her mom throughout book. Their inner strength is something to behold. The book has a heavy subject matter, but the story is not overwhelming. I found myself wanting to continue to read to see how Sofia’s days and life unfolded. The story went by all too quickly; I’d LOVE to read more about Sofia and her family.
This would be a great discussion book for a book club! Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for offering me an ARC of HUNGERED.
October 27, 2025
Told from Sofia’s point of view as her and her mother and brother leave her father and experience homelessness and scraping to get by, this was a raw play by play that touched my soul. Complete with the experience of being a girl in the world, friends, family, and more watching how Sofia and her family endure their situation was absolutely fascinating. The characters are all so well developed and it feels like I got to know them in real life. This is a must read book for everyone. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 15, 2026
Synopsis: Sofia’s mother promises that she’ll have her own bedroom to decorate soon. 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 brother, Rafa, in their car. For now, Sofia’s days are a blur of freeways and strip malls across the West Coast as her mother searches for a safe place to park for the night. For now, her mother contemplates impossible choices, while Sofia catches glimpses of kindness and cruelty from strangers, and 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. Beautifully rendered and emotionally charged, Hungered is an indelible ode to survival, memory, and the search for home in its many forms.
What an absolutely eye opening and heart wrenching novel! I really feel for anyone in this type of life situation, but specifically reading it through the eyes of a 12 year old girl is incredibly emotional. There were many heartbreaking stories but specifically the story about the giftcard made me break down. It is also difficult to read about how differently her mother treated her and her brother. Sofia’s story is so powerful and important! This novel provides an authentic look into the realities of racism, poverty, and homelessness in America. The book is short and easy to fly through but packs a major gut punch. I highly recommend this one and I think it will bring more awareness to what exactly people face with poverty and homelessness.
Thank you to Amanda Rizkalla, Henry Holt & Co, and NetGalley for the gifted copy. This is a voluntary and honest review.
What an absolutely eye opening and heart wrenching novel! I really feel for anyone in this type of life situation, but specifically reading it through the eyes of a 12 year old girl is incredibly emotional. There were many heartbreaking stories but specifically the story about the giftcard made me break down. It is also difficult to read about how differently her mother treated her and her brother. Sofia’s story is so powerful and important! This novel provides an authentic look into the realities of racism, poverty, and homelessness in America. The book is short and easy to fly through but packs a major gut punch. I highly recommend this one and I think it will bring more awareness to what exactly people face with poverty and homelessness.
Thank you to Amanda Rizkalla, Henry Holt & Co, and NetGalley for the gifted copy. This is a voluntary and honest review.
October 24, 2026
Review to follow shortly
June 28, 2026
Worst ending!!! I would've given this maybe 4 stars if it had a decent ending.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Henry Holt & Company for the free e-ARC to review.
*SPOILERS AHEAD
This book attempted to tackle a lot of important issues in the world, but it seemed like there was a lot of "telling" and but much "showing."
This attempts to deal with domestic violence, infidelity, homelessness, and marginalization and racism of brown people, especially Mexican. It also brings up the "false charity" of a lot of religious people: judging low income people for needing help but not providing any meaningful help. Or, if help is provided, to remind you that you are somehow "less than" and like you owe something. Oh and there's a touch on immigration, too.
It would've been better to focus on less of these and explore them more instead of just glossing over a lot of it.
SPOILERS BELOW
Sofia is a 12 year old girl who lives with her mom who is Mexican, her father who is Egyptian, and her younger brother Rafa. The father has a temper which came to a final straw one night, on top of the mom finding out her husband cheated on her and got a 21 year old pregnant and moved her into their home. The mom, Sofia, and her brother move into the mom's car. They drive for about a month. She's too proud to ask for help, so the family lives in the car. The mom gets a new job as a nurse (she had not worked in the 7 years since Rafa was born) but they still can't afford an apartment. The kids have also been out of school this whole time as well. They eventually get a scholarship spot at a local Catholic school. (Come to think of it, the brother gets kicked out at one point and I can't recall if that issue was ever resolved). They get a "charity week" of sorts to stay at the home of a local parishioner. They also stay with the grandfather for 2 weeks before being able to afford a low income apartment.
(I know things are expensive these days, and the setting seemed roughly in the present. But a nurse bringing home a couple months of checks but having to live in the car and no money for food doesn't seem super realistic).
Then, they get kicked out of the apartment and move back into the car. At the end, it seems like the dad shows up and they... make up? And plan to move back home? All of those months of pulling the kids out of school, living in a car, and barely eating just to... go back to the problem? Without ever addressing the issues of his violence and infidelity? No thanks.
*SPOILERS AHEAD
This book attempted to tackle a lot of important issues in the world, but it seemed like there was a lot of "telling" and but much "showing."
This attempts to deal with domestic violence, infidelity, homelessness, and marginalization and racism of brown people, especially Mexican. It also brings up the "false charity" of a lot of religious people: judging low income people for needing help but not providing any meaningful help. Or, if help is provided, to remind you that you are somehow "less than" and like you owe something. Oh and there's a touch on immigration, too.
It would've been better to focus on less of these and explore them more instead of just glossing over a lot of it.
SPOILERS BELOW
Sofia is a 12 year old girl who lives with her mom who is Mexican, her father who is Egyptian, and her younger brother Rafa. The father has a temper which came to a final straw one night, on top of the mom finding out her husband cheated on her and got a 21 year old pregnant and moved her into their home. The mom, Sofia, and her brother move into the mom's car. They drive for about a month. She's too proud to ask for help, so the family lives in the car. The mom gets a new job as a nurse (she had not worked in the 7 years since Rafa was born) but they still can't afford an apartment. The kids have also been out of school this whole time as well. They eventually get a scholarship spot at a local Catholic school. (Come to think of it, the brother gets kicked out at one point and I can't recall if that issue was ever resolved). They get a "charity week" of sorts to stay at the home of a local parishioner. They also stay with the grandfather for 2 weeks before being able to afford a low income apartment.
(I know things are expensive these days, and the setting seemed roughly in the present. But a nurse bringing home a couple months of checks but having to live in the car and no money for food doesn't seem super realistic).
Then, they get kicked out of the apartment and move back into the car. At the end, it seems like the dad shows up and they... make up? And plan to move back home? All of those months of pulling the kids out of school, living in a car, and barely eating just to... go back to the problem? Without ever addressing the issues of his violence and infidelity? No thanks.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Sophia is a teen who has suddenly found herself homeless and living in her car with her mom and brother. From this teen’s perspective, we see how she navigates her relationships with her family, her friends (both old and new), and with herself as she tries to make sense of the chaos going on in her life.
I have to admit that this book was not for me. Had I not received an advanced copy, I would have quit the book before the halfway point. There were several instances throughout the book that were just not believable. While the writing was well done, the unbelievable parts ultimately were the reason for the low star rating. Sophia’s mom was a very frustrating, unlikable character. Where I am sure the author wanted the reader to feel compassion towards the mom, I did not.
Even though the book was not for me, others might like it. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy. Hungered comes out on May 19th.
October 28, 2026
4 stars. This book really tugged at my heart. I felt so much for Sofia and everything she was going through. It broke my heart to think about a child having to worry about things no kid should ever have to worry about, while still trying to figure out friendships, growing up, and just being a kid. I found myself rooting for Sofia and hoping things would get easier for her and her family. This was such an emotional, thought-provoking read that reminded me not to take the little things in life for granted. Definitely one that will stay with me. Pub. 5/19/26
July 6, 2026
4🌟 Hungered is eye opening and heartbreaking. It’s the story of Sophia, her mother, and younger brother as they navigate a season of homelessness, living in their car. I have a whole new empathy for those who find themselves in this situation. Told through the eyes of a 12 year old Sophia, it sheds light on the unfortunate predicament that is no fault of her own. My heart went out to her as she had to go to school hungry and without a bath or a good night’s sleep. Another debut novel that will stay with me for a long time. It is fiction, but reads like a memoir. Thank you NetGalley and Henry Holt Publishing for early access to this thought provoking read.
August 4, 2026
This book had me in the first 90%.
As a former single mom, this story hit hard. There were multiple times I had to put it down because it brought me right back to a place in my life that I’d rather not revisit. It was raw, emotional, and painfully realistic. The struggle, the constant stress, the impossible choices, those parts felt incredibly authentic.
I also loved that we got so much of the story through the daughter’s perspective. That was honestly one of my favorite parts. Kids don’t always understand what’s happening around them, but they absorb everything. Seeing adult situations through her eyes was heartbreaking in a way that felt so intimate. It was a really unique perspective, and I thought it was executed so well.
And then…
What in the Hallmark movie gone wrong was that ending?
This woman spends the entire book clawing her way toward a better life. She sacrifices everything. She works herself into the ground. She makes heartbreaking decisions because every single one is for her kids. I was rooting for her so hard.
Then the author looked at all of that character development and said, “Nah.”
She goes back to the man who abused her child.
I’m sorry, WHAT?
So we’re supposed to believe that after everything she fought through, after all the growth, after finally finding her backbone, she just tosses it in the trash? Cool. Love that for her…
It completely erased everything the story had spent hundreds of pages building. Instead of ending with a woman proving that cycles can be broken, we’re left with the message that maybe you should just, go back? To the guy who abused your kids? Absolutely not.
Maybe this ending wouldn’t bother everyone as much as it bothered me, but as someone who fought tooth and nail to build a better life for my own kids, it felt like a slap in the face. I wanted her daughter to see what strength looked like. I wanted her to have a role model who kept choosing herself and her child, even when it was hard.
Instead, she got a front row seat to “Well, I guess we’re doing this again.”
Fantastic.
This was so close to being a 4 star read. The writing was emotional. The characters felt real. The child’s perspective was one of the strongest I’ve read in a long time.
But that ending?
It didn’t just miss the landing. It drove straight off the runway.
As a former single mom, this story hit hard. There were multiple times I had to put it down because it brought me right back to a place in my life that I’d rather not revisit. It was raw, emotional, and painfully realistic. The struggle, the constant stress, the impossible choices, those parts felt incredibly authentic.
I also loved that we got so much of the story through the daughter’s perspective. That was honestly one of my favorite parts. Kids don’t always understand what’s happening around them, but they absorb everything. Seeing adult situations through her eyes was heartbreaking in a way that felt so intimate. It was a really unique perspective, and I thought it was executed so well.
And then…
What in the Hallmark movie gone wrong was that ending?
This woman spends the entire book clawing her way toward a better life. She sacrifices everything. She works herself into the ground. She makes heartbreaking decisions because every single one is for her kids. I was rooting for her so hard.
Then the author looked at all of that character development and said, “Nah.”
She goes back to the man who abused her child.
I’m sorry, WHAT?
So we’re supposed to believe that after everything she fought through, after all the growth, after finally finding her backbone, she just tosses it in the trash? Cool. Love that for her…
It completely erased everything the story had spent hundreds of pages building. Instead of ending with a woman proving that cycles can be broken, we’re left with the message that maybe you should just, go back? To the guy who abused your kids? Absolutely not.
Maybe this ending wouldn’t bother everyone as much as it bothered me, but as someone who fought tooth and nail to build a better life for my own kids, it felt like a slap in the face. I wanted her daughter to see what strength looked like. I wanted her to have a role model who kept choosing herself and her child, even when it was hard.
Instead, she got a front row seat to “Well, I guess we’re doing this again.”
Fantastic.
This was so close to being a 4 star read. The writing was emotional. The characters felt real. The child’s perspective was one of the strongest I’ve read in a long time.
But that ending?
It didn’t just miss the landing. It drove straight off the runway.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2026
Sofia is twelve when her life is upended. Along with her little brother, her mother hurries them into their car and they drive away from her father, her house, her school, her friends and her sense of security. Her mother is a nurse, and she eventually gets a job, but Sofia and her brother remain out of school, spending their days quietly in the car or at a library. Eventually there are some hard won improvements; a school is found and Sofia begins to put down tentative roots again. But every win feels tenuous, and a problem can destroy any gains.
This is a look at houselessness and economic insecurity from the point of view of an adolescent who understands little of what is going on around her, but who is observant and resilient. The point of view blunts some of the realities being experienced by this small family, and means the reader isn't getting a real view of the factors at work, which are hinted at and do not hold Sofia's mother blameless. This is a novel with a lot of promise although the author never managed to bridge the gap between having a child are the protagonist and narrator and telling a complex and nuanced story. The novel deals with some adult issues, but was told in a manner that flattened the characters, turning them into stereotypes. This novel needed a good editor to help Rizkalla hone this book into something extraordinary, the elements are all there, but much is unrealized, from the choppy one and two page chapter length to the abrupt ending. But if you're wondering about what it might look like on a day to day basis to be a homeless child, this book is a good introduction.
This is a look at houselessness and economic insecurity from the point of view of an adolescent who understands little of what is going on around her, but who is observant and resilient. The point of view blunts some of the realities being experienced by this small family, and means the reader isn't getting a real view of the factors at work, which are hinted at and do not hold Sofia's mother blameless. This is a novel with a lot of promise although the author never managed to bridge the gap between having a child are the protagonist and narrator and telling a complex and nuanced story. The novel deals with some adult issues, but was told in a manner that flattened the characters, turning them into stereotypes. This novel needed a good editor to help Rizkalla hone this book into something extraordinary, the elements are all there, but much is unrealized, from the choppy one and two page chapter length to the abrupt ending. But if you're wondering about what it might look like on a day to day basis to be a homeless child, this book is a good introduction.
September 26, 2026
Full warning: if you grew up poor and faced any level of homelessness and/or had a complicated mother who had to make pretty impossible decisions, this one is gonna be triggering 😭
May 29, 2026
When you're only a young child and you live in a car and you got nothing to eat,
you don't go to school; and for something to do you write in your diary and think life is cruel.
Your mother has no clue of what she will do. How are you supposed to feel and when you wonder when it will all end.
When you sit in the car all day with your little brother and pray at lunchtime you mom
will bring you scraps from the employee lounge, and a tear runs down your cheek as you eat
that humble pie. You look up to the sky and ask "why?"
You wonder if anything will ever change and when it dose how long it will last until the next crisis comes if your mother will break or how much she can take because you always worry first about her
So, you make a wish as your anxiety grows by plucking your eyebrows out one by one and put them in the palm of your hand. Make a wish and you blow them into the wind and pray your mom and dad get back together again or how much she will have to endure for you to be secure
jodell2026
This book is along the lines of "Free Lunch" by Rex Ogle.
you don't go to school; and for something to do you write in your diary and think life is cruel.
Your mother has no clue of what she will do. How are you supposed to feel and when you wonder when it will all end.
When you sit in the car all day with your little brother and pray at lunchtime you mom
will bring you scraps from the employee lounge, and a tear runs down your cheek as you eat
that humble pie. You look up to the sky and ask "why?"
You wonder if anything will ever change and when it dose how long it will last until the next crisis comes if your mother will break or how much she can take because you always worry first about her
So, you make a wish as your anxiety grows by plucking your eyebrows out one by one and put them in the palm of your hand. Make a wish and you blow them into the wind and pray your mom and dad get back together again or how much she will have to endure for you to be secure
jodell2026
This book is along the lines of "Free Lunch" by Rex Ogle.
March 30, 2026
Sofia, her brother Rafa and mom, Nina are homeless after leaving her emotionally abusive dad. They live out of a car while Nina looks for employment and saves enough to get them into housing. While she does find a nursing position, getting into housing is becoming increasingly difficult.
Sofia is worried how this will impact her relationship with friends, school, and teachers. They struggle and it is overwhelming much of the time. Nina is reluctant to ask her father for help. Once they do secure a subsidized apartment, Nina has trouble staying on top of the rules and regulations.
It is an emotionally disturbing picture of homelessness, food insecurity, and mental health. The mental strain and unrelenting anxiety takes a toll on the whole family. Other problems are hinted at and it was difficult to make assumptions that were excruciatingly haunting.
Leaning toward 4 1/2 to 5 stars, I eventually dropped to 4 for the utterly ambiguous ending. Drawing my conclusions left me baffled. However, it is beautifully written and the story begs for empathy and understanding.
Update: We can now post a 4.25, 4.5, or 4.75. So I’ve adjusted my rating to 4.5. A solid 4.25/4.5.
Thank you to LibraryThing Early Reviewers, Henry Holt and Company, and Amanda Rizkalla for this ARC.
Sofia is worried how this will impact her relationship with friends, school, and teachers. They struggle and it is overwhelming much of the time. Nina is reluctant to ask her father for help. Once they do secure a subsidized apartment, Nina has trouble staying on top of the rules and regulations.
It is an emotionally disturbing picture of homelessness, food insecurity, and mental health. The mental strain and unrelenting anxiety takes a toll on the whole family. Other problems are hinted at and it was difficult to make assumptions that were excruciatingly haunting.
Leaning toward 4 1/2 to 5 stars, I eventually dropped to 4 for the utterly ambiguous ending. Drawing my conclusions left me baffled. However, it is beautifully written and the story begs for empathy and understanding.
Update: We can now post a 4.25, 4.5, or 4.75. So I’ve adjusted my rating to 4.5. A solid 4.25/4.5.
Thank you to LibraryThing Early Reviewers, Henry Holt and Company, and Amanda Rizkalla for this ARC.
May 23, 2026
This was definitely a heartbreaking read. I had goosebumps throughout and found myself crying multiple times while reading it.The book portrays a wide range of difficult realities within certain family structures poverty, infidelity, societal neglect, the devaluation of women, and bullying. It feels like a layered reflection of how these issues intersect and affect people’s lives, rather than focusing on a single theme.What struck me the most was how realistic it all felt, especially towards the ending. It made me reflect deeply on these issues, and it was truly devastating to see how the story unfolded.The main character and narrator, Sophia, a 12 year old girl, felt incredibly innocent and vulnerable, which made everything even more emotionally intense and painful to read.I honestly don’t know what else to say my heart really broke while reading this book.
July 8, 2026
Hungered is a story of living in limbo through the eyes of twelve year old Sofia, whose life doesn't look the same now that she lives in the car with her mom and younger brother.
I loved that the story was told through Sofia's observations about the world around her and the choices of the adults in her life. Where her life should be focused on school and friends, she's left with an underlying anxiety of the unknown, like the next shoe could drop at any moment. Things no child should face.
As a mother, my heart broke for Sofia, and her mom, who had very few choices and was just trying her best to get her feet under her but kept running into road blocks. It's maddening how the system is set against single mothers and children. God forbid kids get free school lunch, but the government can spend millions on a lobster dinner.
This quietly devastating debut tackled housing and food insecurity and the additional hurdles for immigrants in a simple yet deeply affecting way. Rizkalla's writing is lyrical and compelling; I can't wait to see what she does next.
🎧 Ana Isabel Dow's narration captured Sofia perfectly. The chapters are super short in some spots which felt a bit disconnected via audio, so I switched to immersive reading with the physical copy and that made a huge difference.
Thank you Henry Holt and Macmillan Audio for the gifted copies!
I loved that the story was told through Sofia's observations about the world around her and the choices of the adults in her life. Where her life should be focused on school and friends, she's left with an underlying anxiety of the unknown, like the next shoe could drop at any moment. Things no child should face.
As a mother, my heart broke for Sofia, and her mom, who had very few choices and was just trying her best to get her feet under her but kept running into road blocks. It's maddening how the system is set against single mothers and children. God forbid kids get free school lunch, but the government can spend millions on a lobster dinner.
This quietly devastating debut tackled housing and food insecurity and the additional hurdles for immigrants in a simple yet deeply affecting way. Rizkalla's writing is lyrical and compelling; I can't wait to see what she does next.
🎧 Ana Isabel Dow's narration captured Sofia perfectly. The chapters are super short in some spots which felt a bit disconnected via audio, so I switched to immersive reading with the physical copy and that made a huge difference.
Thank you Henry Holt and Macmillan Audio for the gifted copies!
November 9, 2026
This amazing debut coming-of-age novel focuses on Sofia, a 12 year old girl, her younger brother, and her mother as they face the ongoing demands of life while dealing with domestic violence and living out of their car. Told from Sofia’s perspective, the book paints what feels like a realistic picture of the difficulties of being unhoused and living out of a vehicle and how difficult it is to make headway when faced with severe poverty. The trials of holding down a job while worrying about kids, obtaining food, ensuring kids are going to school in clean clothes with the basic supplies they need, and getting access to places for basic sanitation are all a constant source of worry. Resources are available but limited and often can come with stipulations. Safety is always a concern.
This book presents heavy topics and circumstances all while providing a sweet and earnest character in Sofia as she wrestles with the rights and wrongs of some of her decisions. The author provides examples of how those with the biggest struggles can be taken advantage of with little or no recourse.
This is a story that will evoke emotions, hopefully provide some perspective and empathy for anyone that reads it, and provides reflection and thoughts about how we can do better for one another.
This was a fast but impactful read that is gripping and emotional.
This book presents heavy topics and circumstances all while providing a sweet and earnest character in Sofia as she wrestles with the rights and wrongs of some of her decisions. The author provides examples of how those with the biggest struggles can be taken advantage of with little or no recourse.
This is a story that will evoke emotions, hopefully provide some perspective and empathy for anyone that reads it, and provides reflection and thoughts about how we can do better for one another.
This was a fast but impactful read that is gripping and emotional.
October 12, 2026
Some characters just stay with you and instantly claim a little piece of your heart. Sofia from Amanda Rizkalla’s debut novel, HUNGERED did exactly that. I’m a huge sucker for a story with heavier themes told from a child’s perspective. Give me all of the coming-of-age vibes, please and thank you.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
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.
This novel is a portrayal of a family’s struggle with housing and food insecurity. Twelve-year-old Sofia is living out of a car with her mother and her younger brother after leaving their abusive father. I could feel her anxiety through the pages. Her frustration, uncertainty, and sadness became my own. There was a scene involving a gift card that made me gasp aloud and hold my hand to my heart. My heart absolutely broke for her.
I held the same empathy for her mother. The difficulty of holding down a job, keeping her children clothed and fed, trying to make ends meet, and somehow not going completely insane seemed like an impossible feat. I don’t know how she held it all together.
READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:
- Family drama and dynamics
- Mother-daughter relationships
- Motherhood and marriage
- Survival stories
- Overcoming difficult circumstances
- Coming-of-age tales
- Unhoused POV
- Emotional reads
I don’t think I’ll ever forget this debut. Sofia and her family had me in a chokehold. I whizzed through the audiobook over a couple of days, and would think of them in between listening sessions. Their family consumed my thoughts. Amanda Rizkalla knows exactly how to keep her readers invested and connected to her characters. I can’t wait to read more from her in the future.
5/5 heartbreaking stars for HUNGERED! Oprah picked a really good one this month!
ABOUT THE BOOK:
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.
This novel is a portrayal of a family’s struggle with housing and food insecurity. Twelve-year-old Sofia is living out of a car with her mother and her younger brother after leaving their abusive father. I could feel her anxiety through the pages. Her frustration, uncertainty, and sadness became my own. There was a scene involving a gift card that made me gasp aloud and hold my hand to my heart. My heart absolutely broke for her.
I held the same empathy for her mother. The difficulty of holding down a job, keeping her children clothed and fed, trying to make ends meet, and somehow not going completely insane seemed like an impossible feat. I don’t know how she held it all together.
READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:
- Family drama and dynamics
- Mother-daughter relationships
- Motherhood and marriage
- Survival stories
- Overcoming difficult circumstances
- Coming-of-age tales
- Unhoused POV
- Emotional reads
I don’t think I’ll ever forget this debut. Sofia and her family had me in a chokehold. I whizzed through the audiobook over a couple of days, and would think of them in between listening sessions. Their family consumed my thoughts. Amanda Rizkalla knows exactly how to keep her readers invested and connected to her characters. I can’t wait to read more from her in the future.
5/5 heartbreaking stars for HUNGERED! Oprah picked a really good one this month!
May 27, 2026
Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC.
I really enjoyed the audiobook narrated by Ana Isabel Dow. Her performance captured Sofia’s confusion and emotions well. That said, I do think some of the pauses and chapter transitions would translate even better in a physical copy.
This was a heartbreaking story told through the perspective of 12 year old Sofia. Watching her family unravel after her father impregnates a 21 year old woman was devastating, especially because Sofia is still trying to process everything with the limited understanding of a child. The story follows Sofia, her brother Rafa, and their mother as they leave and end up living in their car. Through Sofia we see her mother’s devastation and depression regarding her husband’s betrayal.
The story is more than just about Sofia’s broken family. We have her experience with being a minority at her new school, as well as her dealing with mean-spirited peers. One of the most interesting aspects was how the book explored Sofia’s Egyptian-Mexican upbringing. Her mother’s Mexican culture and her father’s Egyptian background created such an interesting cultural dynamic.
4.5 stars (rounding up to 5)
I really enjoyed the audiobook narrated by Ana Isabel Dow. Her performance captured Sofia’s confusion and emotions well. That said, I do think some of the pauses and chapter transitions would translate even better in a physical copy.
This was a heartbreaking story told through the perspective of 12 year old Sofia. Watching her family unravel after her father impregnates a 21 year old woman was devastating, especially because Sofia is still trying to process everything with the limited understanding of a child. The story follows Sofia, her brother Rafa, and their mother as they leave and end up living in their car. Through Sofia we see her mother’s devastation and depression regarding her husband’s betrayal.
The story is more than just about Sofia’s broken family. We have her experience with being a minority at her new school, as well as her dealing with mean-spirited peers. One of the most interesting aspects was how the book explored Sofia’s Egyptian-Mexican upbringing. Her mother’s Mexican culture and her father’s Egyptian background created such an interesting cultural dynamic.
4.5 stars (rounding up to 5)
November 6, 2026
“Hungered” by Amanda Rizkallais a compelling, fast-paced, beautifully written, gut-punch of a story about a family suddenly unsheltered in today’s world.
Narrated by twelve-year-old Sofia after her Mexican mother Nina grabs her and her younger brother Rafa, and flees her abusive husband who is Egyptian.
The three of them live in Nina’s car as she tries to get on her feet. Nina’s a nurse so she is able to find work, but until a paycheck comes in her children are hungry. Uncertainty about the future, living day-to-day, scraping together an apple one day, or a granola bar the next, we walk alongside Sofia as she navigates her new reality.
Prepare to fall in love with young Sofia, whose strength, wisdom, and resilience will astound you.
Narrated by twelve-year-old Sofia after her Mexican mother Nina grabs her and her younger brother Rafa, and flees her abusive husband who is Egyptian.
The three of them live in Nina’s car as she tries to get on her feet. Nina’s a nurse so she is able to find work, but until a paycheck comes in her children are hungry. Uncertainty about the future, living day-to-day, scraping together an apple one day, or a granola bar the next, we walk alongside Sofia as she navigates her new reality.
Prepare to fall in love with young Sofia, whose strength, wisdom, and resilience will astound you.
October 26, 2026
I don’t know. This book was a weird story and laid out oddly. Lots of scenarios that implied what happens or the reason behind it making you make your own assumption. It made me feel very judgy. Also said scenarios were very short and never finished. The storyline didn’t really make sense in the modern world
October 16, 2026
I think I’ll think about this book for the rest of my life. A gut wrenching read. Sofia was written with so much depth and heart.
October 25, 2026
After finishing this book I was devastated for days.
October 28, 2026
Oprah can really pick amazing books!!! This was a heartbreaking and emotional story told through the eyes of 12-year-old Sofia, who is living in a car with her mother and younger brother. As they struggle with homelessness, hunger, and uncertainty, Sofia tries to make sense of a world that feels unfair. This story explores family, resilience, and the meaning of home. It was a powerful, thought-provoking audio that really makes you appreciate the things we sometimes take for granted.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 401 reviews