About
A pitch-perfect middle-grade graphic memoir about crushes, coming out, and finding the courage to be yourself.
Eighth grade isn't off to a great start. Everyone but Rex seems to be coupling up, and he's starting to feel like an outsider... until he meets Charlotte. She's fearless, smart, pretty, and she likes him back. But as great as Charlotte is, there's someone Rex can't stop thinking about.
Drew is Rex's childhood best friend, so when he kisses Rex, all kinds of new feelings begin to stir. Though at school, Drew acts like he doesn't even know Rex, making those feelings turn really confusing really fast. And with all the strong opinions Rex hears at home and at church, he questions his own worth and what his affections actually mean. Rex wants to be more like his new friend, Nina, and not care what others think, but being himself seems impossible. When did middle school get so confusing?!
Praise for Four Eyes:
A Barnes & Noble Most Anticipated Kids' Book Release
An Amazon Best Book of 2023
* "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." -- Booklist, starred review
* "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... A great addition to graphic novel sections of libraries and classrooms in middle schools." -- School Library Journal, starred review
"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." -- Publishers Weekly
"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... A realistic, funny, and heartfelt framing of the hardships of middle school and fitting in." -- Kirkus Reviews
"A touching graphic novel that's easy to relate to... A solid, solid read." -- Graphic Policy
Praise for Pizza Face:
An ALA Best Graphic Novels for Children Reading List Nominee
An Amazon Best Book of 2024
A School Library Journal Best Book of 2024
* "This must-read graphic novel is the perfect choice for tween readers going through challenging times." -- School Library Journal, starred review
* "Pizza Face is a fresh take on the age-old crisis of puberty that will help adolescents feel more empathetic and less alone while navigating their own physical and emotional changes... This book has broad appeal." -- BookPage, starred review
"Readers will be able to find themselves in the characters' struggles. The artwork is colorful and creative, showing a skillful use of the graphic novel format. The supporting characters are well developed and racially diverse... A relatable, engaging sequel about surviving puberty and middle school." -- Kirkus Reviews
"Endearing and engaging... Rex is a likable and relatable character; his trials with puberty and middle school ring true." -- The Horn Book Magazine
"This engaging graphic novel sequel is full of positive messages about forgiveness and strong representations of friendship and family." -- Common Sense Media
Rex Ogle is an award-winning author of more than a hundred books for kids, including his memoirs Free Lunch (winner of the YALSA award for Excellence in
Eighth grade isn't off to a great start. Everyone but Rex seems to be coupling up, and he's starting to feel like an outsider... until he meets Charlotte. She's fearless, smart, pretty, and she likes him back. But as great as Charlotte is, there's someone Rex can't stop thinking about.
Drew is Rex's childhood best friend, so when he kisses Rex, all kinds of new feelings begin to stir. Though at school, Drew acts like he doesn't even know Rex, making those feelings turn really confusing really fast. And with all the strong opinions Rex hears at home and at church, he questions his own worth and what his affections actually mean. Rex wants to be more like his new friend, Nina, and not care what others think, but being himself seems impossible. When did middle school get so confusing?!
Praise for Four Eyes:
A Barnes & Noble Most Anticipated Kids' Book Release
An Amazon Best Book of 2023
* "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." -- Booklist, starred review
* "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... A great addition to graphic novel sections of libraries and classrooms in middle schools." -- School Library Journal, starred review
"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." -- Publishers Weekly
"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... A realistic, funny, and heartfelt framing of the hardships of middle school and fitting in." -- Kirkus Reviews
"A touching graphic novel that's easy to relate to... A solid, solid read." -- Graphic Policy
Praise for Pizza Face:
An ALA Best Graphic Novels for Children Reading List Nominee
An Amazon Best Book of 2024
A School Library Journal Best Book of 2024
* "This must-read graphic novel is the perfect choice for tween readers going through challenging times." -- School Library Journal, starred review
* "Pizza Face is a fresh take on the age-old crisis of puberty that will help adolescents feel more empathetic and less alone while navigating their own physical and emotional changes... This book has broad appeal." -- BookPage, starred review
"Readers will be able to find themselves in the characters' struggles. The artwork is colorful and creative, showing a skillful use of the graphic novel format. The supporting characters are well developed and racially diverse... A relatable, engaging sequel about surviving puberty and middle school." -- Kirkus Reviews
"Endearing and engaging... Rex is a likable and relatable character; his trials with puberty and middle school ring true." -- The Horn Book Magazine
"This engaging graphic novel sequel is full of positive messages about forgiveness and strong representations of friendship and family." -- Common Sense Media
Rex Ogle is an award-winning author of more than a hundred books for kids, including his memoirs Free Lunch (winner of the YALSA award for Excellence in