Free Lunch. Punching Bag. Abuela Don’t Forget Me. This YA memoir trilogy by Rex Ogle is both engrossing and absolutely tragic. I can’t fathom the courage it must have taken not only to live through the abuse of his childhood, but then to also to write these books and share it with the world. These are not easy reads, but they are so important. High schoolers experiencing abuse will read these and feel seen. Less alone. Maybe even a bit of hope that it can get better. They will see that Rex grew up and thrived in life despite his nightmare of a childhood. A must for high school libraries.
AUTHOR: Rex Ogle
SERIES: Sequel to: Free Lunch and Punching Bag
PUBLISHER: Norton Young Readers
PUBLICATION DATE: Sept. 6, 2022
PAGES: 208
GENRE: memoir
SETTING: mostly Texas, particularly Abilene and Grapevine
GIVE IT TO: HS, adults
SUMMARY OF ABUELA DON’T FORGET ME
This is the third book in a trio of memoirs by Rex Ogle. All three are about his childhood and teen years with an abusive mother and stepfather. Abuela Don’t Forget Me continues the story, but it’s also an homage to Rex’s Abuela, who is clearly his one savior in the midst of constant childhood abuse and emotional trauma.
THE SHORT VERSION
A must-read for high school students who like memoirs or realistic fiction stories about overcoming abuse.
WHAT I LIKED
The audiobook version. I read Free Lunch, Punching Bag, and Abuela Don’t Forget Me on audio. I struggle with my focus sometimes with audiobooks, but these three titles kept me engaged and reluctant to press the STOP button. The audiobook narrator is Ramon de Ocampo for all three. He gives different main characters their own unique voice inflection, and I could tell who was speaking without being told. These are emotional books, and Ramon de Ocampo reads them with appropriate emotional voice and respect for the very real people in the story.
The courage. Rex Ogle, I’m sure you’ll never read this review, but if you do, know that we are ALL behind you. You’ve been through hell and come out clean on the other side. Your courage to write these books will undoubtedly help middle and high school students in abusive situations see a light at the end of the tunnel. To feel less alone. To feel seen and understood. I can only imagine the hate and pressure you experienced from family members upon publication of your books. Telling your story in your own way is so much more important than any hate people might throw your way. Keep standing strong.
Rex’s younger half-brother Ford is in this book less frequently than the first two books. We also don’t really get an update on Ford at the end of Abuela Don’t Forget Me. I’m sure this was to help protect Ford’s privacy, which is fine and understandable. I truly hope Ford is doing well and is still close with Rex. I would imagine Ford suffered abuse just as Rex did.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
I loved all of it. No complaints from me!
DIVERSITY
Rex, his half-brother Ford, grandmother, and mother are Mexican American. Sam (Rex’s stepfather) is white.
LIBRARIANS WILL WANT TO KNOW
Themes: physical abuse, emotional abuse, poverty, grandmothers, Spanish language, overcoming adversity, family problems, the importance and impact of one supportive person in an abused child’s life
Would adults like this book? YES
Would I buy this for my high school library? YES, no reservations at all
Would I buy this for my middle school library? I personally would, but I know other librarians may disagree. Rex is in middle school for much of Free Lunch, but I would still say these books are YA instead of middle grade. The abuse scenes can be difficult to read, but this is the life some of our students live. It’s not fun, but there are middle school students out there who absolutely NEED these books.
TRIGGER WARNINGS
Language: some English and Spanish profanity, including the F-bomb; homophobic and anti-Hispanic racial slurs
Sexuality: none
Violence: Rex experiences lots of physical and emotional abuse from his mother and stepfather throughout all three books.
Drugs/Alcohol: Rex’s stepfather Sam gets drunk and physically abuses Rex. Rex uses marijuana recreationally in high school and also hides his friend’s marijuana in his bedroom.
Other: homophobia
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