Published: 2023
Genre: Nonfiction, Friendship, Memoir, Realistic Fiction, Graphic Novel
Trigger Warning: none
Stand Alone/Series: Series
Audience: Middle Grade
Summary: Sixth grade isn’t as great as Rex thought it would be. He’s the only kid who hasn’t had a growth spurt, and the bullies won’t let him forget it. His closest friend is unreliable, at best. And there’s a cute girl in his class who he can’t stop thinking about. With so much going on, everything is a blur — including Rex’s vision! So when he discovers that he needs glasses, and his family can only afford the ugliest pair in the store, any hope Rex had of fitting in goes completely out of focus. In this true coming-of-age story, Rex has his sights set on surviving sixth grade, but now he’s got to find a way to do it with glasses, no friends, and a family that just doesn’t get it!
Review: I read Free Lunch by Rex Ogle and loved it so I was very excited to read this book. I liked it a lot and found it more humorous and light with it being a graphic novel. Parts of Free Lunch were hard to read, heartbreaking. Knowing some about his life, this was another glimpse into it in a different way. I thought it carried a powerful message of family acceptance and also that all friendships don’t last. Some of the bullying is hard to believe but kids can be so mean. I did appreciate the character development and growth of characters in the end. I think it is a pretty realistic image of middle school. While I never had glasses, I remember making fashion choices and worrying what others thought and of course, braces. I had it pretty good in middle school (thanks to protective older siblings and cousins) but being a middle school teacher, I do see how truly difficult it is for some kids daily. This book would serve as a beautiful window into others life or for some, a much needed mirror.
