Hungry

Reach for this book when your child starts expressing feelings of being an outsider or is struggling to reconcile their family identity with their desire to fit in at school. It is a perfect choice for the middle-schooler who feels like they are hiding a part of themselves just to survive the social hierarchy. Hungry follows Deborah, a girl from an alien race of soul-eaters, who begins to question her predatory nature after forming a genuine bond with a human classmate named Willy. While the premise sounds dark, the story is a clever metaphor for the internal tug-of-war between peer pressure and personal morality. It tackles themes of empathy, the courage to be different, and the discovery of one's own conscience. Parents will appreciate how the sci-fi elements safely distance the scary reality of bullying, making it easier to discuss how we treat others. It is a thought-provoking read that balances eerie suspense with a hopeful message about choosing kindness over instinct.