In this sequel to Four Eyes, Ogle continues his semi-autobiographical story of his troubled middle school experience. He overhears Kennedy, whom he has spent a lot of time, laugh with her friends about his squeaky voice, and stops talking to her. Things go from bad to worse when he wakes up on the first day of school with an enormous zit in the middle of his forehead. Luckily, he's still friends with Scott, and the two share a love of comic books. For a while, Courtney, Emma, and Kennedy sit with the boys at lunch, but as his relationship with Kennedy deteriorates, and he doesn't stand up to bullies who make fun of the girls, they move to another table. Chase, whom Rex has know in the past, returns to school a little "cooler"; he smokes, and looks a little like Kurt Cobain, with his shaggy hair and skater clothing. (This is set in the 1990s.) Chase is not nice to Scott, who stops speaking to Rex. Chase is a bad influence in many ways. He's unkind to Rex, smokes, picks fights with others, and treats his girlfriend badly. Rex's problems with acne continue, and because his family is struggling to make ends meet, Rex's mother refuses to buy him special soap or acne medication. His abuela, who often visits, does make sure that he has supplies, including deodorant, which his mother also won't buy. Eventually, he comes clean to Kennedy about why he stopped talking to her and the two reconcile. His abuela takes him to a dermatologist, and having a plan of attack for his problems helps.
Strengths: It is a rare middle school student who is untouched by acne, so most readers will be sympathetic to Rex's blight and glad to know some tips for skin care. Friend drama also looks large, so the various difficulties Rex faces with his friends are realistic. There are also some bullies in school, and Rex is a perfect target, although he does make peace with one, who in turn picks him first in gym class for a change. It was interesting to see the financial struggles of the family and how they impacted Rex, and the mother and stepfather is kinder in the graphic novels than they are in Free Lunch. Abuela is the star, giving Rex lots of support in many different ways.
Weaknesses: I'm not sure that acne makes children the target of bullying as much any more, in the same way that braces and glasses are fairly standard and unworthy of comment. It's a huge trend in my school for students to wear brightly colored, adhesive star patches over zits. Granted, these are expensive, and children with cystic acne or more blemishes would not benefit from these, but I've just not seen this type of behavior at my school. I'm sure students still feel awful when they have acne. This book includes helpful representation in that respect, so I'll probably buy a copy.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like Scrivan's Nat Enough or Libenson's Invisible Emmie series, both of which deal with middle school anxiety and self esteem.
July 1, 2024 by Sleeping Bear Press
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
After their adventures in The Amazon and The Vaquita, the Wildes have returned home to their wildlife refuge in Texas, The Wilds. Ring is up to his old tricks, running off without his cell phone, and Asia steps in to give status update to the media when her parents are busy. There is a lot of interest in the vaquitas (porpoises) that the family rescued, and not everyone agrees that captivity is the best place for them. In addition to George Sweeney, of The Animal Protection Army, there are a number of animal rights activists and reporters hanging out. Not only that, but Dave Lamella is sighted in Texas. Professor Bob wants the kids to return to their studies, but they are busy solving several mysteries and keeping everything running while their mother Jane returns to help the tamarind monkeys and their father flies off to rescue another vaquita. When snow leopards are let loose on the compound and there are a number of security concerns, will the kids, with the help of longtime sanctuary worker Hawk Hickman, be able to keep everyone safe?
This didn't have the travel adventure of the previous two volumes, and felt a little more like early Gibbs' Fun Jungle books. Still lots of mystery, and plenty of Kids Doing Things. I liked the environmental messages, and can see Asia being either a public relations representative or lawyer for animal rights groups when she grows up. It does look like there could be more adventures for the Wildes, but I would love to see the parents more involved.
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