Scan barcode
muppetymelody's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
msepulv2's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Violence
katiegrrrl's review
4.0
Another memoir about Rex Ogle’s childhood, this with a focus on his relationship with his abuela. Like his other memoirs there is a lot of domestic violence he endures.
2023 YMA YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults finalist
2023 YMA YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults finalist
rebeshelton's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
4.0
A memoir that tugs at the heartstrings in a way that's both beautiful and heart-wrenching. It's a journey through the eyes of Rex, who finds solace in the warm embrace of his abuela. Her presence is a beacon of love and safety in a life marked by challenges and hardships.
Rex's storytelling is intimate and raw, pulling you into the red-brick house in Abilene, Texas, where his abuela's love and wisdom shine like a lighthouse in the dark. Her hugs, ear kisses, and lessons in Spanish are painted so vividly that you can almost feel them yourself. And the way she brings Rex to the library, igniting his passion for books, is just so touching. It's a reminder of how a single person's influence can shape a life.
What's really amazing about this book is how Rex portrays the family dynamics. It's not sugar-coated or idealized – it's real and it's messy, but it's also incredibly beautiful. Through all the violence and dysfunction, Abuela's house remains a sanctuary, a place of possibility and hope.
I felt that the book could delve deeper into certain aspects of their relationship, perhaps offering even more insights into how Abuela's influence helped Rex navigate his challenges. But overall, this book is a powerful tribute to the unbreakable bond between a grandson and his grandmother. It's a story that resonates with warmth, love, and the enduring power of family. Definitely worth the read!
Rex's storytelling is intimate and raw, pulling you into the red-brick house in Abilene, Texas, where his abuela's love and wisdom shine like a lighthouse in the dark. Her hugs, ear kisses, and lessons in Spanish are painted so vividly that you can almost feel them yourself. And the way she brings Rex to the library, igniting his passion for books, is just so touching. It's a reminder of how a single person's influence can shape a life.
What's really amazing about this book is how Rex portrays the family dynamics. It's not sugar-coated or idealized – it's real and it's messy, but it's also incredibly beautiful. Through all the violence and dysfunction, Abuela's house remains a sanctuary, a place of possibility and hope.
I felt that the book could delve deeper into certain aspects of their relationship, perhaps offering even more insights into how Abuela's influence helped Rex navigate his challenges. But overall, this book is a powerful tribute to the unbreakable bond between a grandson and his grandmother. It's a story that resonates with warmth, love, and the enduring power of family. Definitely worth the read!
jwinchell's review
5.0
I feel protective of Rex Ogle after reading about what he and his step-brother went through at the hands of his out of control mother and step-father. The third of his memoirs about survival, this one is in verse and focuses on his grandmother’s love for him (and his for her) and the many ways she saved his life. She has dementia and is forgetting him, and my heart breaks for him. This is a heartbreakingly lovely tribute to an amazing woman who saved an amazing man.
yoliesbookdates's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Gaslighting, Addiction, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Dementia