1
of
1
Free Lunch
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still
learning, it may not be perfect - your
feedback is welcome!
Summary
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$1899
Unit price
/
Unavailable
AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER
Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 3-4 weeks
Found a better price? Request a price match
Free Lunch
$1899
Unit price
/
Unavailable
Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
Rex Ogle’s story of starting Year 7 on the free lunch programme is timely, heart-breaking and true.
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
still learning, it may not be perfect - your
feedback is welcome!
Description
Instead of giving him lunch money, Rex's mum has signed him up for free meals. As a poor kid in a wealthy school district, better-off kids crowd impatiently behind him as he tries to explain to the cashier that he's on the free meal programme. The lunch lady is hard of hearing, so Rex has to shout.
Free Lunch is the story of Rex's efforts to navigate his first semester of sixth grade—who to sit with, not being able to join the football team, Halloween in a handmade costume, classmates, and a teacher who take one look at him and decide he's trouble—all while wearing secondhand clothes and being hungry. His mum and her boyfriend are out of work, and life at home is punctuated by outbursts of violence. Halfway through the semester, his family is evicted and ends up in government-subsidised housing in view of the school. Rex lingers at the end of last period every day until the buses have left, so no one will see where he lives.
Unsparing and realistic, Free Lunch is a story of hardship threaded with hope and moments of grace. Rex's voice is compelling and authentic, and Free Lunch is a true, timely, and essential work that illuminates the lived experience of poverty in America.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Free Lunch by Rex Ogle is a powerful memoir depicting the author's own childhood experiences with poverty in America. The book is praised for its honest and gripping portrayal of the challenges faced by the protagonist as he navigates sixth grade while dealing with a chaotic home life and the stigma of receiving free meals. Readers appreciate Ogle's ability to infuse grace and humour into a poignant story, making it highly recommended for young readers aged 13 and up.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781324016946
Publisher: WW Norton & Co
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 15 October 2021
Country: United States
Imprint: WW Norton & Co
Audience: Children
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 15.0mm
Width: 140.0mm
Height: 211.0mm
Weight: 186g
Pages: 224
About the Author
Rex Ogle is the author of Free Lunch, which won the YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Award; Abuela Don’t Forget Me, a finalist for the YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Award; Punching Bag; and the novel When We Ride. He lives in Los Angeles, California.
Also by Rex Ogle
View all-
Abuela, Don't Forget Me
In his award-winning memoir Free Lunch, Rex Ogle's abuela features as a source of love and support. In this companion-in-verse, Rex captures and celebrates the powerful presence of a woman he could always count on—giving him warm hugs and ear kisses, teaching him precious words in Spanish, bringing him to the library where he could take out as many books...Paperback$1899Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 3-4 weeks -
Punching Bag
Punching Bag is the compelling true story of a high school career defined by poverty and punctuated by outbreaks of domestic abuse. Rex Ogle, who brilliantly mapped his experience of hunger in Free Lunch, here describes his struggle to survive; reflects on his complex, often paradoxical relationship with his passionate, fierce mother; and charts the trajectory of his stepdad's anger....Paperback$1899Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 3-4 weeks -
Abuela, Don't Forget Me
In his award-winning memoir Free Lunch, Rex Ogle's abuela features as a source of love and support. In this companion-in-verse, Rex captures and celebrates the powerful presence of a woman he could always count on—to give him warm hugs and ear kisses, to teach him precious words in Spanish, to bring him to the library where he could take out...Hardback$3599Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 3-4 weeks -
Road Home
When Rex was outed the summer after he graduated high school, his father gave him a choice: he could stay at home, find a girlfriend, and attend church twice a week, or he could be gay—and leave. Rex left, driving toward the only other gay man he knew and a toxic relationship that would ultimately leave him homeless and desperate...Hardback$3599Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 3-4 weeks -
Four Eyes
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 may or may not like him back. With so much going on, everything is a...Paperback$2199Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 2-3 weeks -
Road Home
When Rex was outed the summer after he graduated high school, his father gave him a choice: he could stay at home, find a girlfriend, and attend church twice a week, or he could be gay—and leave. Rex left, driving toward the only other gay man he knew and a toxic relationship that would ultimately leave him homeless and desperate...Paperback$2099Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 3-4 weeks -
Pizza Face (Four Eyes: A Graphic Novel #2)
On the first day of seventh grade, Rex encounters a bump in the road—a big angry pimple right in the centre of his forehead. And this is only the beginning of his problems. What follows is a frustrating battle with stubborn acne, body odour, and other embarrassments of puberty. Still struggling with a home life edging on the poverty line,...Paperback$2199Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 2-3 weeks -
Fruitcake: A Graphic Novel (Four Eyes #3)
Eighth grade isn’t off to a great start. Everyone but Rex seems to be coupling up, and he’s starting to feel like an outsider... until he meets Charlotte. She’s fearless, smart, pretty, and she likes him back. But as great as Charlotte is, there’s someone Rex can’t stop thinking about. Drew is Rex’s childhood best friend, so when he kisses...Paperback$2499Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 2-3 weeks -
When We Ride
Diego Benevides works hard. His single mother encourages him to stay focused on school, on getting into college, on getting out of their crumbling neighbourhood. That's why she gave him her car. Diego's best friend, Lawson, needs a ride—because Lawson is dealing. As long as Diego's not carrying, not selling, it's cool. It's just weed. But when Lawson starts carrying...Hardback$3599Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 3-4 weeks -
Peacemaker Presents: The Vigilante/Eagly Double Feature!
A no-holds-barred, laugh-out-loud action extravaganza featuring Peacemaker, Vigilante, and the most badass bird in comics—Eagly! When Peacemaker mysteriously disappears, Adrian Chase goes on a rampage to "save" his best friend... even though Peacemaker is just on vacation. Meanwhile, Eagly and his so-called sidekick, Chris Smith, find themselves stranded in the wilderness, hunted by masked assassins with a serious grudge. With...Paperback$3800Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks
More from Children's Books
View all-
New ReleaseRoyalslinger
K Pop Demon Hunters fans will love this! Graci Kim is back with the second book in her exciting and fantastical Slinger series where dragons and phoenixes roam the skies of Seoul; meals magically appear based on your mood; and dreams literally come to life. Praise for Dreamslinger: “A mind-blowingly original fantasy adventure—Graci Kim has done it again!”—Rick Riordan, New York Times #1...Paperback$1999Elsewhere:$2400Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
New ReleaseDetective Beans and the Map of Mystery
Enjoy this new DETECTIVE BEANS adventure in the bestselling and award-winning graphic novel series by Li Chen! Your favourite kitten detective is back with a new mystery to solve . . . and treasure to find! When Captain Scuttlebeard gives Beans a treasure map, Beans is determined to find the prize at the end. The clues take him all over...Paperback$1900Elsewhere:$2200Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
New ReleaseMei Mei the Bunny
Mei Mei the Bunny is Laufey's picture book debut about a bunny learning to believe in herself through music. Experience a heartwarming tale of self-belief in this enchanting picture book by GRAMMY Award-winning musician Laufey. Meet Mei Mei, a little bunny with a big dream—to spread joy through her music! As her debut recital at the H'Opera House draws near,...Hardback$3199Elsewhere:$3800Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
New ReleaseHunted: Wolf Girl 15
Just when Wolf Girl is finally reunited with her father, he is torn away from her once more, and Gwen vows to stop at nothing to track him down. But danger is closing in: a giant snow leopard and a mysterious hooded figure are hot on their trail. As Gwen and the pack race through deep caverns to snowy peaks,...Paperback$1699Elsewhere:$1899Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
New ReleaseWhat If You Could
From the former prime minister of New Zealand comes a guide for teens on chasing your dreams and embracing the unexpected qualities that truly make a person strong. When Jacinda Ardern became prime minister of New Zealand, she was one of the youngest people in the world leading a country. Many people thought she would never succeed — herself included....Paperback$2599Elsewhere:$3000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
New ReleaseLonasei and the Mystery of Origin Grove
Eleven-year-old Lonasei is lonely — she wishes her older sister Eva Grace wasn't so mean, and that her mum Aria didn't have to work so much. But when Aria inherits her childhood home, Lonasei discovers she can enter her late Aunt Malia's paintings and experience the memories within. Through them, she discovers that her mother had another sister, Agnes, who went...Paperback$2199Elsewhere:$2799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
New ReleaseThe Case of the Viral Video: Violet and the Velvets 3
Violet and the Velvets can hardly believe they've come so far in the BandChamps competition with only hard work, a smidge of talent, and a whole lot of thinking outside the box. This time, they get to record their new song in a proper recording studio and star in their very own music video! But Violet is letting her perfectionism...Paperback$1600Elsewhere:$1899Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Dawn Raid: The Apology
This sequel to Dawn Raid follows Sofia Savea’s family, 50 years later, as Sofia's grandson becomes involved in the quest for a government apology. INVERCARGILL, 2020 Wow, I thought I knew a bit about the dawn raids, but this is HUGE. It happened to my OWN family and I never knew! I had no idea that Granfia and her family...Paperback$1800Elsewhere:$2099Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
New ReleaseBig Bang Bread
In this time-travel storybook and cookbook with a cosmic twist, take a journey through time and space to discover the secrets of baking! Did you know that bread is made from stardust? Board the rocket and blast off on an adventure through time and space to discover the secrets of a home-baked loaf! Big Bang Bread is a kids' time-travel...Paperback$1800Elsewhere:$2100Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
B is for Bird
From award-winning artist, Lily Emo, comes a beautiful celebration of birds. Paired with a fun rhyming story, gorgeous illustrations, and fold-out pages, this book is set to be a favourite for everyone and the perfect gift. Make your way through the alphabet with this stunning book featuring a cast of familiar birds. From albatross to fantails, gannets to quail, and...Hardback$1999Elsewhere:$2499Unit price /UnavailableBackorderShips mid August -
Signed CopyNew ReleaseThe Curse of the Carnivorous Cactuses
(Sam: Nothing could be as bad as being covered in icky purple blobs ... wait, what does carnivorous mean again?) The gang is determined to defeat Glam-Evil and her nasty curses so that they can save their park and get back for Shackleton and Amelia's very first sleepover. But Glam-Evil has a few new tricks up her ultravillainous sleeve ......Paperback$1400Elsewhere:$1499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
17% offNew ReleaseBluey: Rain
It's raining! Bluey is trying to dam the water in the front yard, but does she need Mum's help? Join Bluey as she plays in the water when a heavy summer rain thunders over the Heeler home. Can Mum stop Bluey from dirtying the house? Featuring: A nearly wordless picture book with visual storytelling that mimics the dialogue-free episode. A...Hardback$1500Elsewhere:$2100Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today
Why buy from us?
Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!
Service & Delivery
Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.
Auckland Bookstore
We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.
Our Gifting Service
Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.
