Reviews

Memoirs will always get a five star for me unless there’s something that really bothered me about it. This memoir was pretty good! I loved the authors use of characterization and the experiences that the author went through were told very well and in a great narrative manner. It was a tough read with a relatively happy ending. It did feel just a bit unfinished with it being just a small part of the author’s life but after looking at their other books, it seems that they talk about different points in their life within other novels so all in all good pick. Glad I read it.

adammuly's review

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4.0

What an amazing and difficult read. It really makes you think differently about poverty in America and gives a firsthand account of it through the eyes of a child. Too young to have to deal with many of the things he does, Rex also is older than he should be at his age. He’s forced to be strong and responsible and his life stinks. But, he manages to keep hope and to cling to what moments of joy and positivity he can find in the pains of poverty and abuse. It is well written and surprisingly comical in sections. Ogle handles a tough topic with a natural, child-like voice and maintains hope despite the many hopeless elements of his life story.

ellaxiao's review

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dark emotional reflective sad

For 6th grade seminar - heavy read for them but we’ll crafted themes and ideas/messages

danileighta's review

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Very intense book, especially for any who have experienced abuse and/or poverty. And, for those who have not, this is a raw story that illustrates just what those struggles can entail. The author has given a lot of himself in this book; hopefully able to release some of this trauma in the writing of it.

If your middle schooler is reading this, I humbly suggest making yourself available for conversations and check-ins.

ellytheskelly's review

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challenging dark emotional reflective fast-paced

5.0

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