In Bones & All, Camille DeAngelis examines the concept of hunger though cannibals, known as “eaters” in the text, who possess overwhelming urges to wholly consume other people. Through the lens of a hunger for something that is particularly morally and socially unacceptable, DeAngelis explores what it means to be “hungry,” as well as concepts like compulsivity and restraint, free will and predisposition, shame, and the ethics of indulging one’s urges.

The standard definition of hunger is the desire to consume food when the body needs energy for sustenance. The appetites the eaters fulfill, however, are more complex: Their appetites are innate, existential, and enduring. In this way, hunger serves as a metaphor for deeper needs and desires. For Maren, hunger encompasses other types of wanting, especially for connection. She hungers for the love of her mother, for acceptance from her peers, and for the stability and connection of family. Like other coming-of-age novels, the text also explores the new urges that arise in young adulthood, including sexual desire. In this way, the author explores the normal, intrinsic desires that motivate behavior, emphasizing that even abnormal appetites are rooted in basic human needs.

DeAngelis explores the internal consequences of appetites taken to their most extreme.