Free Lunch

In this memoir, Rex Ogle looks back on a year of middle school, when his family was struggling to get by. His mother is out of work, his stepfather's temper fills the small home with tension, and Rex often looks after his little brother while the adults are away. At school he is signed up for the free lunch program, and every trip through the cafeteria line feels like a public announcement of how poor his family is. Rex tries to keep his life at home hidden from friends and teachers while he deals with hunger, worry and shame. He writes about those days with honesty and moments of real humor, and with an eye for the people who showed him kindness. The book suits readers about 11 to 14 and gives a clear picture of what poverty can feel like for a kid.