Four Eyes
by Rex Ogle & Dave Valeza
Autobiography
Biography
Graphic Novel
Nonfiction
* * * * Stars (Great!)
Rex Ogle (the author) is going into middle school and is super excited about it until his first day, when he discovers that because of new school districts being created, most of the kids he knew from his old school are going somewhere else. His friend Drew is there, though, but he’s obsessed with becoming one of the cool kids and their leader is a bully who isn’t nice to anyone. It gets worse when Rex discovers that he can’t see what teachers are writing on the board, and has to get glasses. His family can’t afford a lot of things and Rex has to get the cheapest glasses – ugly frames and thick bottle-like lenses that make his eyes look huge. Other kids at school tease him constantly (is this still a thing?) and Rex can’t decide whether it’s worse to be teased or to fail all of his classes and suffer terrible headaches from eye strain and not being able to see. He does eventually make some new friends, though it happens slowly – ones who don’t care about his glasses and like him for who he is. There are a lot of emotional scenes in this book with Rex and his family, while they struggle to balance finances and relationships. Rex’s mom is divorced and his dad can be a real jerk who is stingy with child support. For upper elementary + middle school teens. (Fans of Raina Telgemeier’s autobiographical graphic novels may also enjoy this one.)
Reviewed by YA Librarian
