Fruitcake

Gr 6-8–In the third installment of the “Four Eyes” series, Rex is navigating crushes and self-image. Eight grade starts with all of Rex’s friends paired off in couples, and he often feels like a third wheel. To make matters worse, he is confused about his own feelings for new student ­Charlotte and former BFF Drew. As his family struggles financially, Rex begins babysitting, which brings him a bit of cash, to be spent on clothes that fit him. ­Although bullies abound in his school, Rex is inspired by Nina, a confident classmate who shows him that others’ opinions don’t really ­matter. With fluctuating friendships, mistakes, ­secrets, and often bewildering thoughts, Rex learns who he is and what he’s made of. Ogle and Valeza have added an astutely ­poignant exploration of identity and sexuality to their successful series. The loneliness of feeling different, of experiencing attraction that is not reciprocated, permeates this beautiful story, largely based on the ­author’s own life. There is a list of ­LGBTQIA+ resources at the back of the book, as well as notes from both the author and the illustrator. This book will resonate with readers navigating the challenging life stage that is middle school.