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ellaxiao's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse
jgintrovertedreader's review against another edition
4.0
Rex Ogle’s mother and stepfather physically and emotionally abused him when he was a child. In his second memoir, Punching Bag, he describes unimaginable incidents that are a terrible reality for far too many children. An alcoholic stepfather who continues the cycle of abuse that he experienced as a child himself. An unstable mother who is both victim and abuser. A younger brother who must be protected at all costs. A younger sister, Marisa, whom his mother lost in a late-term miscarriage after a particularly brutal beating.
Yet Ogle’s message is ultimately one of hope. Thoughts of Marisa, who never got a chance at life, guide him through his most difficult days. As he writes in his author’s note, “I lived this, I survived. You survived your past too, or you wouldn’t be here reading this. We are both alive. We may have a few more scars than we’d like—inside or out—but we made it through. No matter how dark the past, or even the present, the sun will always come up tomorrow. There is hope.” He accordingly refers readers to appropriate resources and hotlines at the end of the book. Teens in similar situations are sure to relate to Ogle’s life story—and find reasons to carry on.
Yet Ogle’s message is ultimately one of hope. Thoughts of Marisa, who never got a chance at life, guide him through his most difficult days. As he writes in his author’s note, “I lived this, I survived. You survived your past too, or you wouldn’t be here reading this. We are both alive. We may have a few more scars than we’d like—inside or out—but we made it through. No matter how dark the past, or even the present, the sun will always come up tomorrow. There is hope.” He accordingly refers readers to appropriate resources and hotlines at the end of the book. Teens in similar situations are sure to relate to Ogle’s life story—and find reasons to carry on.
amypt46's review
4.0
4.5 stars. This book is a challenging read and should not be taken lightly. It is a continuation of Rex ogles personal story from “free lunch”, but this one focuses on the physical abuse in his home and his struggle with it and how he tried to protect his younger brother. It is scary, but I hope it finds a child who needs to know they are not alone.
Merged review:
4.5 stars. This book is a challenging read and should not be taken lightly. It is a continuation of Rex ogles personal story from “free lunch”, but this one focuses on the physical abuse in his home and his struggle with it and how he tried to protect his younger brother. It is scary, but I hope it finds a child who needs to know they are not alone.
Merged review:
4.5 stars. This book is a challenging read and should not be taken lightly. It is a continuation of Rex ogles personal story from “free lunch”, but this one focuses on the physical abuse in his home and his struggle with it and how he tried to protect his younger brother. It is scary, but I hope it finds a child who needs to know they are not alone.
celestial_being's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Rex Ogle put it best "Yes, life can be dark. It can be pain. It can be agony. But it can also be sunshine. And birds chirping. And the song of the ocean tide rolling back and forth. It can also be a child's laughter. It can be your own laughter. Life can be good too. Life is never perfect, but is always many things- often at once. Please remember to try and enjoy it." I loved this book. And now... I can love life in a new way.
jwinchell's review
5.0
I couldn’t sleep last night, but that’s ok because I got to binge on Rex Ogle’s next memoir. Absolutely heart-breaking, the violence and physical and psychological trauma he endured in his growing up years. I love that he has an author’s note about deciding if you’re in a good enough place to read about trauma, and his afterword gives readers who might have gone or are going through violence and trauma. And there are websites and hotlines on the final pages. Generational trauma is, it seems to me, an incredibly difficult cycle to break. But Ogle is proof that it can be done and that one can forgive and go on to find a fulfilling life.
sducharme's review
5.0
This memoir for mature middle graders and young adults is the follow up to FREE LUNCH. It continues the story of Rex's childhood growing up in poverty in the US and reveals the domestic violence hinted at in the previous book. It's graphic, very upsetting, and raw. It's a story of survival and hope - but it's absolutely heartbreaking.