Free Lunch is the story of Rex Ogle's first term in Year 7. Rex and his baby brother often went hungry, wore second-hand clothes and were short of school supplies, and Ogle was on his school's free lunch programme. Grounded in the immediacy of physical hunger and the humiliation of having to announce it every day in the school lunch line, Ogle's is a compelling story of a more profound hunger-that of a child for his parents' love and care. Compulsively readable, beautifully crafted and authentically told with the voice and point of view of an eleven-year-old child, Free Lunch is a remarkable debut by a gifted storyteller.

About the Author
Rex Ogle is the author of Free Lunch, which won the YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award; Abuela, Don't Forget Me, a finalist for the YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award; and Punching Bag, a NYPL Best Book of the Year. Rex lives in Los Angeles.

Reviews
"What an amazing book. I don't think I have been that affected by a book since I read The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas..." -- Mary-Brigid Turner, Hodges Figgis Children's Department
"A memoir of Ogle's own childhood, this is a searing look at the lived experience of poverty in America, written with grace, humour and honesty. In 6th grade, Rex's mum signs him up for the free meal programme, much to his embarrassment. But his intelligence and love of learning help him survive his chaotic home life. Highly recommended. Age 13+" -- 50 best books of 2019 for children from babies to teens - The Irish Independent
"This book highlights the reality of being poor in the US." -- Natasha Harding - The Sun



Book Information
ISBN 9781324016946
Author Rex Ogle
Format Paperback
Page Count 224
Imprint WW Norton & Co
Publisher WW Norton & Co
Weight(grams) 182g
Dimensions(mm) 211mm * 140mm * 15mm