Four Eyes

March 13, 2023
Ogle (Abuela, Don’t Forget Me) recounts his tumultuous sixth grade year in this layered and moving graphic novel memoir. Not only does he seem to be the only kid who hasn’t experienced a growth spurt, but his best friend renounced their shared love of comics to impress popular bully Victor, and days suffering from splitting headaches result in the discovery that he needs glasses. The expense causes friction between Ogle’s divorced parents and puts added pressure on his mother and stepfather, who are overwhelmed by financial stressors but resist monetary assistance from Abuela. Ogle’s new eyewear prompts bullying from classmates; when he vents to Abuela, she describes her childhood living in financial precarity in Rancho Nuevo, Mexico, enabling Ogle to rethink his outlook on life. The lesson in gratitude lands gracefully, in part because it’s accompanied by the important corollary that it’s okay to ask for and accept help. Valeza’s classic-feeling character designs, reminiscent of Raina Telgemeier’s work, effectively capture the 1990s aesthetic, and visual jokes, like an optometrist called Eye Caramba, add levity to a thoughtfully rendered read that tackles themes of loneliness, connection, and change. Ages 8–12.

Starred review from May 26, 2023

Gr 5-8-In Ogle's graphic memoir, he explores universal adolescent themes including self-doubt, friendship troubles, and the pressure to conform. Rex is dreading the transition to middle school, especially since he will start with a group of students he's never met before. He's also struggling with his family dynamics, as he navigates having a stepdad, a half-brother, and a dad who just doesn't seem to care about him. In school, Rex struggles to see the whiteboard in his classes, and he immediately stresses about how that will impact him and his academics. After a trip to the optometrist, Rex is branded with glasses. Between his "nerd-ware" and his mom's job as a waitress at a restaurant, putting his socioeconomic status on display to his classmates, he's not sure if he will survive the sixth grade. This coming-of-age story also tackles classism and stress related to non-traditional family dynamics. Reminiscent of Maria Scrivan's illustrative style, Valeza's captivating visual spreads seamlessly complement the plot and tone of the book. The dynamic and purposeful page layouts enable readers to concentrate on the flow and significance of the text. VERDICT A great addition to graphic novel sections of libraries and classrooms in middle schools.-Angie Jameson

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2023
Rex is looking forward to starting middle school, but his sixth-grade year starts off poorly when he realizes he needs glasses. He's seen other kids being bullied for wearing glasses, and when he goes to school wearing them, Rex is, indeed, made fun of. Victor and his friends are unrelenting, calling him geek, nerd, weirdo, and, of course, four eyes. Victor is the cool guy, and his band of bullies gains popularity by association with him. Even Rex's best friend, Drew, abandons him in favor of Victor, who goes even further and makes fun of Rex's mother for being a waitress. However, after a long depiction of the ways and means of middle-school meanness, Ogle (Free Lunch) and Valeza give the story a positive turn. Rex's abuela tells him the story of the truly hard times of her childhood in Mexico, a few kids from his class who share his "nerdy" interests in comic books and Star Wars become friends, and even Drew returns to the fold. The graphic-novel format is used effectively in this story loosely based on Ogle's life. Sharply defined images become blurry to show readers how Rex sees things; when Abuela relates her childhood story, the colorful palette shifts to gray backgrounds to suggest the family's struggles; and several panels portray the verbal abuse Victor is subjected to by his father, implying why Victor himself has taken to bullying. Rex's glasses help him see more clearly, but listening to his parents, Abuela, and his friends helps him understand what's truly important. Dean Schneider

(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

July 1, 2023
Color by Ash Szymanik. Rex is looking forward to starting middle school, but his sixth-grade year starts off poorly when he realizes he needs glasses. He's seen other kids being bullied for wearing glasses, and when he goes to school wearing them, Rex is, indeed, made fun of. Victor and his friends are unrelenting, calling him geek, nerd, weirdo, and, of course, four eyes. Victor is the cool guy, and his band of bullies gains popularity by association with him. Even Rex's best friend, Drew, abandons him in favor of Victor, who goes even further and makes fun of Rex's mother for being a waitress. However, after a long depiction of the ways and means of middle-school meanness, Ogle (Free Lunch) and Valeza give the story a positive turn. Rex's abuela tells him the story of the truly hard times of her childhood in Mexico, a few kids from his class who share his "nerdy" interests in comic books and Star Wars become friends, and even Drew returns to the fold. The graphic-novel format is used effectively in this story loosely based on Ogle's life. Sharply defined images become blurry to show readers how Rex sees things; when Abuela relates her childhood story, the colorful palette shifts to gray backgrounds to suggest the family's struggles; and several panels portray the verbal abuse Victor is subjected to by his father, implying why Victor himself has taken to bullying. Rex's glasses help him see more clearly, but listening to his parents, Abuela, and his friends helps him understand what's truly important.

(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from June 1, 2023
Grades 3-7 *Starred Review* The transition from elementary to middle school can be tough, but Rex is optimistic as he gets ready for his first day of sixth grade. Once he arrives, however, things are not quite what he expected: many of his previous classmates are not there, and his best friend, Drew, is hanging out with a new crowd, who aren't the nicest group of kids. On top of it all, Rex is having trouble with his vision, and it's affecting his performance in school. He sees how kids with glasses are treated by his peers and dreads how he'd be treated if he were wearing them, too. Beneath the drama of Rex's glasses, Ogle weaves in meaningful subplots--Rex's working-class mom and stepdad struggle to make ends meet, and his wealthy father's acrimonious attitude toward Rex's mother causes tension. Ogle powerfully depicts middle-school bullying, the pressures of living in a low-income family, and the struggle to find a place to fit in and to stand up for one's self, all with multifaceted characters. Valeza and Szymanik's well-paced, wonderfully crafted, and expressive artwork does an excellent job of capturing the emotional turns of this captivating, honest story about adolescence. Hand to fans of Raina Telgemeier, Dan Santat, Jerry Craft, and Shannon Hale.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

March 15, 2023
The first in a new series, this graphic memoir follows popular author for young people Ogle's transition to middle school, a time when things were anything but clear. New sixth grader Rex is ready to take on his first day of middle school with his best friend, Drew, by his side. But when he can't seem to open his locker, loses Drew to the popular crowd, and attracts negative attention for being short and on the free lunch program, middle school suddenly doesn't seem so great. At home, Rex helps take care of his younger half brother while his working-class mom and stepdad struggle to make ends meet. His absentee father is emotionally distant and stingy, despite having more disposable income. Things really start to go south when Rex's vision becomes blurry, and a trip to the optometrist ("�Eye Caramba!") confirms his worst nightmare--he needs glasses. Unfortunately for Rex, his Mexican American mom and White stepdad can only afford the ugliest, cheapest frames. Over the course of the school year, Rex begins to rebuild his confidence and identity with the help of his family and newfound friends. Readers will deeply care for Rex's journey toward self-acceptance, his familial relationships, and his navigation of a new school environment. The bright, clean art emphasizes the emotional highs and lows. Supporting characters are racially diverse, and Rex's stepfather has a stutter. A realistic, funny, and heartfelt framing of the hardships of middle school and fitting in. (Graphic memoir. 8-12)

COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.