46 pages • 1 hour read
Free Lunch
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Book Brief
224
Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction
Texas • 1990s
2019
Middle grade
10-14 years
HL540L
Super Short Summary
Free Lunch by Rex Ogle is a memoir about his sixth-grade year dealing with the emotional and financial challenges of his family. Rex navigates isolation at school, domestic violence, and poverty, while trying to find hope and gratitude amidst adversity. The story highlights the impacts of classism, abuse, and conditional love on youth and families. The book includes descriptions of child abuse, domestic violence, and a racial slur.
Challenging
Emotional
Melancholic
Inspirational
Contemplative
Reviews & Readership
10,189 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Rex Ogle's Free Lunch has been praised for its raw and honest portrayal of poverty and childhood struggles. Readers commend its emotional depth and relatability, though some note discomfort with its unflinching depictions of hardship. The memoir is lauded for its educational value and powerful narrative, making it a compelling read despite occasional bleakness.
Who Should Read Free Lunch?
Readers who would enjoy Rex Ogle's Free Lunch are typically middle-grade and preteen readers, aged 10-14, who appreciate raw, heartfelt memoirs about overcoming adversity. Fans of Wonder by R. J. Palacio and Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson, which also explore themes of resilience and self-discovery, may find Ogle's story compelling.
10,189 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
224
Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction
Texas • 1990s
2019
Middle grade
10-14 years
HL540L
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