Free Lunch is a middle-grade memoir by Rex Ogle, published September 10, 2019, by Norton Young Readers. The book follows Ogle's middle school experience of being "a poor kid in a wealthy school district."[1]
 | |
| Author | Rex Ogle |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Subject | Childhood poverty, Poverty in the United States |
| Genre | Middle grade, Memoir |
| Publisher | Norton Young Readers |
Publication date | September 10, 2019 |
| Media type | Print, Audio |
| Pages | 224 |
| ISBN | 9781324016946 |
Reception edit
Free Lunch is a Junior Library Guild selection[2] and was generally well-received, including starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews,[3] Publishers Weekly,[4] and School Library Journal.[5]
Kirkus Reviews called the book "A mighty portrait of poverty amid cruelty and optimism."[6] Publishers Weekly applauded how Ogle "captures the experience of chronic poverty in the United States."[4] They continued, stating that while "Ogle doesn’t shy away from the circumstances ... there is no shortage of humor, human kindness, and kid hijinks."[4]
The Chicago Public Library[7] and Kirkus Reviews[8] named Free Lunch one of the best middle grade children's books of 2019.
| Year | Award/Honor | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Award | Winner | [9] |
| 2022 | Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award | Nominee | [10] |
References edit
- ^ "Free Lunch". Goodreads. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
- ^ "Free Lunch by Rex Ogle". Junior Library Guild. Retrieved 2022-02-21.
- ^ "Free Lunch". Kirkus Reviews. 2019-06-16. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
- ^ a b c "Free Lunch by Rex Ogle". Publishers Weekly. 2019-07-18. Retrieved 2023-07-01.
- ^ Sommer, Shelley (2019-10-04). "Free Lunch". School Library Journal. Retrieved 2022-02-21.
- ^ "Free Lunch". Kirkus Reviews. 2019-06-16. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
- ^ "Best Informational Books for Older Readers of 2019". Chicago Public Library. Retrieved 2022-02-21.
- ^ "Best of 2019". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 2022-02-21.
- ^ "Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults | Awards & Grants". American Library Association. Retrieved 2022-02-21.
- ^ "2022 Master List Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award Illinois Children's Choice Award" (PDF). Rebecca Caudill Young Readers’ Book Award. February 8, 2021. Retrieved 2022-02-20.