March 13, 2023
Ogle (Abuela, Don’t Forget Me) recounts his tumultuous sixth grade year in this layered and moving graphic novel memoir. Not only does he seem to be the only kid who hasn’t experienced a growth spurt, but his best friend renounced their shared love of comics to impress popular bully Victor, and days suffering from splitting headaches result in the discovery that he needs glasses. The expense causes friction between Ogle’s divorced parents and puts added pressure on his mother and stepfather, who are overwhelmed by financial stressors but resist monetary assistance from Abuela. Ogle’s new eyewear prompts bullying from classmates; when he vents to Abuela, she describes her childhood living in financial precarity in Rancho Nuevo, Mexico, enabling Ogle to rethink his outlook on life. The lesson in gratitude lands gracefully, in part because it’s accompanied by the important corollary that it’s okay to ask for and accept help. Valeza’s classic-feeling character designs, reminiscent of Raina Telgemeier’s work, effectively capture the 1990s aesthetic, and visual jokes, like an optometrist called Eye Caramba, add levity to a thoughtfully rendered read that tackles themes of loneliness, connection, and change. Ages 8–12.

Starred review from May 26, 2023

Gr 5-8-In Ogle's graphic memoir, he explores universal adolescent themes including self-doubt, friendship troubles, and the pressure to conform. Rex is dreading the transition to middle school, especially since he will start with a group of students he's never met before. He's also struggling with his family dynamics, as he navigates having a stepdad, a half-brother, and a dad who just doesn't seem to care about him. In school, Rex struggles to see the whiteboard in his classes, and he immediately stresses about how that will impact him and his academics. After a trip to the optometrist, Rex is branded with glasses. Between his "nerd-ware" and his mom's job as a waitress at a restaurant, putting his socioeconomic status on display to his classmates, he's not sure if he will survive the sixth grade. This coming-of-age story also tackles classism and stress related to non-traditional family dynamics. Reminiscent of Maria Scrivan's illustrative style, Valeza's captivating visual spreads seamlessly complement the plot and tone of the book. The dynamic and purposeful page layouts enable readers to concentrate on the flow and significance of the text. VERDICT A great addition to graphic novel sections of libraries and classrooms in middle schools.-Angie Jameson

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2023
Rex is looking forward to starting middle school, but his sixth-grade year starts off poorly when he realizes he needs glasses. He's seen other kids being bullied for wearing glasses, and when he goes to school wearing them, Rex is, indeed, made fun of. Victor and his friends are unrelenting, calling him geek, nerd, weirdo, and, of course, four eyes. Victor is the cool guy, and his band of bullies gains popularity by association with him. Even Rex's best friend, Drew, abandons him in favor of Victor, who goes even further and makes fun of Rex's mother for being a waitress. However, after a long depiction of the ways and means of middle-school meanness, Ogle (Free Lunch) and Valeza give the story a positive turn. Rex's abuela tells him the story of the truly hard times of her childhood in Mexico, a few kids from his class who share his "nerdy" interests in comic books and Star Wars become friends, and even Drew returns to the fold. The graphic-novel format is used effectively in this story loosely based on Ogle's life. Sharply defined images become blurry to show readers how Rex sees things; when Abuela relates her childhood story, the colorful palette shifts to gray backgrounds to suggest the family's struggles; and several panels portray the verbal abuse Victor is subjected to by his father, implying why Victor himself has taken to bullying. Rex's glasses help him see more clearly, but listening to his parents, Abuela, and his friends helps him understand what's truly important. Dean Schneider

(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

July 1, 2023
Color by Ash Szymanik. Rex is looking forward to starting middle school, but his sixth-grade year starts off poorly when he realizes he needs glasses. He's seen other kids being bullied for wearing glasses, and when he goes to school wearing them, Rex is, indeed, made fun of. Victor and his friends are unrelenting, calling him geek, nerd, weirdo, and, of course, four eyes. Victor is the cool guy, and his band of bullies gains popularity by association with him. Even Rex's best friend, Drew, abandons him in favor of Victor, who goes even further and makes fun of Rex's mother for being a waitress. However, after a long depiction of the ways and means of middle-school meanness, Ogle (Free Lunch) and Valeza give the story a positive turn. Rex's abuela tells him the story of the truly hard times of her childhood in Mexico, a few kids from his class who share his "nerdy" interests in comic books and Star Wars become friends, and even Drew returns to the fold. The graphic-novel format is used effectively in this story loosely based on Ogle's life. Sharply defined images become blurry to show readers how Rex sees things; when Abuela relates her childhood story, the colorful palette shifts to gray backgrounds to suggest the family's struggles; and several panels portray the verbal abuse Victor is subjected to by his father, implying why Victor himself has taken to bullying. Rex's glasses help him see more clearly, but listening to his parents, Abuela, and his friends helps him understand what's truly important.

(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)