
Reach for this book when you notice your child becoming preoccupied with the cost of things or expressing anxiety about the family budget. Money Hungry tells the story of thirteen-year-old Raspberry Hill, a girl driven by a desperate need to make and save money after experiencing homelessness. Her obsession with financial security begins to strain her relationships with friends and her mother, highlighting the deep emotional scars that poverty can leave behind. This is a powerful choice for middle schoolers as it validates the stress of financial instability while gently teaching that human connection and integrity are far more valuable than a growing bank account. It provides a realistic but ultimately hopeful look at resilience and the meaning of true wealth.
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Sign in to write a reviewSome realistic urban slang and mild insults typical of middle school environments.
Protagonist makes questionable ethical choices, like selling expired candy, to make money.
The book deals directly with poverty and the threat of homelessness. It is secular and grounded in a gritty, urban reality. The resolution is realistic rather than fairy-tale: the family doesn't become rich, but they find stability and emotional healing.
A middle schooler who feels 'different' because of their clothes or housing situation, or a child who has experienced a sudden change in family finances and is struggling with the loss of control.
Parents should be prepared to discuss the scene where Raspberry’s money is stolen and her subsequent desperation. The book can be read cold, but it is best followed by a conversation about what 'security' means to the child. A parent might choose this after hearing their child say 'We're poor' with shame, or noticing the child hoarding items or refusing to spend even small amounts of gift money due to fear.
Younger readers (10-11) will focus on Raspberry’s clever business schemes. Older readers (12-14) will better grasp the psychological trauma of her past and the ethical gray areas of her choices.
Unlike many 'rags to riches' stories, this book focuses on the psychological compulsion created by poverty. It doesn't demonize the desire for money but explores how fear can distort that desire into something harmful.
Raspberry Hill is a 13-year-old living in a public housing project with her single mother. Traumatized by a previous period of homelessness, Raspberry is obsessed with money, selling everything from rotten candy to cleaning services to ensure she never ends up on the streets again. The story follows her various 'hustles' and her evolving relationships with her peers, ultimately culminating in a crisis where her stash of money is stolen, forcing her to confront her priorities.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.