Free Lunch

Rex Ogle is a young boy entering middle school for the first time, and he wants to make sure this year is better than the last. In this nonfiction narrative, Rex embarks on a journey of self-discovery, presenting a realistic depiction of the struggles of those in a lower socioeconomic class and connecting to issues around depression, loneliness, and family dysfunction. Suitable for middle-school students in Grade 6–9, “Free Lunch” touches on issues relevant to adolescents today and uses humour and engaging descriptions to address themes around social issues surrounding poverty and its effect on children and their families, inviting class and group discussions on this topic. Appropriate for a literature circle or as an independent novel choice, this novel may also be useful to help analyze point of view and voice.