Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How did the relentless hunger and violence in the novel affect your reading experience? Did you find the story’s intensity compelling, or was it difficult to get through at times?

2. The SuperSummary guide connects Hunger to a long tradition of “all-kid dystopian societies,” most famously William Golding’s Lord of the Flies. How do you think this story updates or challenges the ideas presented in that classic novel, especially with the addition of supernatural powers?

3. What was your reaction to the chilling epilogue, where Brittney is revealed to be conscious in her grave? What did this final scene suggest to you about the nature of the FAYZ and the direction the series might be heading?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. How did Sam’s public breakdown, where he admits he’s “just a kid,” affect your view of him as a leader? Did this moment of vulnerability make him seem stronger or weaker in your eyes? Have you experienced a moment where you felt overwhelmed, unqualified, or “imposter syndrome”? How did you cope with your situation?

2. In the FAYZ, basic necessities like food and toilet paper become currency. If you found yourself in a similar situation, what skills or resources do you think you’d have to offer a community trying to rebuild itself?

3. Which character’s approach to the crisis in the FAYZ did you identify with the most? Could you relate to Sam’s reluctant heroism, Astrid’s intellectual problem-solving, Albert’s pragmatic economics, or Lana’s isolated struggle? What personal experiences have you had that connect with their personalities? Did you handle your situation in the same way you think these characters would?

4. Duck Zhang evolves from a bullied kid into an unlikely and tragic hero. What does his journey suggest about where true courage and heroism come from, especially when it’s not tied to obvious strength or charisma? Have you ever felt heroic or witnessed heroism in nontraditional ways?

5. How do you think you would navigate the social divisions that emerge between the “normals” and the “freaks”? Would you be more likely to align with a group for safety, or try to bridge the divide?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The novel uses anxieties about nuclear accidents and radiation to explain the mutations in the FAYZ. How does grounding the story’s supernatural elements in these real-world scientific fears affect the horror of the story?

2. Zil Sperry’s “Human Crew” gains power by scapegoating the super-powered kids for the community’s problems. How does this storyline reflect real-world instances where a society under stress has turned on a minoritized group?

3. What does the children’s attempt to build a new society from scratch suggest about the importance of established laws, adult guidance, and social structures in maintaining order and morality?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Sam and Caine represent two opposing models of leadership. How does the author use their relationship as twin brothers to explore the themes of power, responsibility, and corruption?

2. How does the recurring motif of hunger evolve throughout the novel? In what ways does it transform from a physical need into a psychological, moral, and even cosmic force embodied by the Gaiaphage?

3. Michael Grant co-wrote the popular Animorphs series, where kids also gain extraordinary powers to fight a larger threat. How do the moral complexities and psychological burdens of having powers in the FAYZ compare to how they are portrayed in that series or other similar young adult fiction you’ve read?

4. In what ways does Duck Zhang’s character arc subvert typical superhero tropes? How does his final, sacrificial act redefine what it means to be a hero in the world of the FAYZ? What other characters embody heroic traits not solely dependent on their superpowers?

5. The FAYZ itself is a hostile environment, with its impenetrable barrier and mutated creatures like the zekes. How do the various settings (Perdido Beach, Coates Academy, Clifftop Resort, town hall, the power plant, McClub, the cabbage field, the abandoned homes, the mine) shape the children’s conflicts and moral choices?

6. What is the function of body horror in the narrative, from E.Z.’s death by worms to Drake’s regenerating whip hand? How do these grotesque elements heighten the stakes and explore the novel’s themes of unnatural transformation and survival?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. The novel’s new Temporary Council is tasked with rebuilding society. What would be the first law or policy you would propose to address the community’s most pressing challenges, and how would you persuade others to support it?

2. Orsay’s ability to enter dreams offers a unique window into a character’s mind. Which character’s dreams, other than those shown, would you most want to see, and what do you imagine they would reveal about their hidden fears or desires?

3. Albert establishes a new economy with his gold-backed “Albertos.” Develop an alternative system for resource distribution in Perdido Beach. What would its core principles be, and what unique challenges might it face?