Oprah Winfrey selects debut novel Hungered as 125th book club pick

Oprah Winfrey selected Amanda Rizkalla's debut novel Hungered as her 125th book club pick. She announced it on CBS Mornings on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, with Rizkalla in-studio. Hungered, published in May 2026 by Henry Holt, follows 12-year-old Sofia living with her mother and younger brother Rafa in their car. Winfrey said in a press release the riveting novel compassionately tackles families living unhoused and shows not only their struggles but their hopes, dreams, and perseverance. She also called it a provocative and beautiful read. Rizkalla, 28, a Los Angeles native in the Bay Area, said she never imagined this could happen for her book and that it still feels like one big daydream. She learned via a surprise phone call from Winfrey. The story began as a short story assignment when she was a 19-year-old Stanford sophomore; she graduated in 2020, expanded it into a novel, earned an MFA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and is a Steinbeck Fellow. Rizkalla and Winfrey discussed the inspiration on The Oprah Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.