  | Absent Author: Ogle, Rex | |
| Price: $22.58 | ||
Summary:
With a dad in jail and a lack of teachers interested in helping him learn, Manny doesn’t see the point in anything besides skateboarding and writing lyrics. Calvin has so many responsibilities that when his bike is stolen, he can’t make it to school on time. And while Liam is studious and wants to become a doctor, he is tormented by bullies and hides out instead of going to class. When the boys are thrown together in detention, they learn there's more to each other than meets the eye.
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (+) (07/15/26)
Full Text Reviews:
Publishers Weekly - 06/29/2026 Alternating between rhythmic verse, introspective journal entries, and humor-infused comics by debut illustrator Baptiste, Ogle (Fruitcake) delivers an exceptional mixed-media novel narrated by three middle school classmates. After his father is imprisoned, 13-year-old Manny Fueyo doesn’t see the point of going to school, instead skipping class to write in his Book O’Rhyme$ at the skate park. Honors student Liam Miller, meanwhile, loves learning ("Science is my jam"), though he spends more time hiding in a library storage closet from bullies-and enduring the terrifying "breathless sensation" he experiences following encounters with his tormentors-than in class. And while eldest child Calvin Johnson Jr. loves drawing, he often misses art class to care for his younger siblings while their single father works long hours. When the trio receive detention for their habitual truancy, their resulting bond inspires Manny to find his voice as a rap lyricist, Liam to seek help with his bullies and his panic attacks, and Cal to self-advocate at home. Empathetic depictions of supportive adults wrestling with their own challenges (kind grandparents, an apologetic father, a teacher who reveres Tupac, a tattooed librarian) combine with innovative storytelling and the kids’ distinct voices, adding texture to a nuanced portrait of absenteeism that thoughtfully centers working-class families. Ages 10-14. Author’s agent: Brent Taylor, Triada US. (Sept.) - Copyright 2026 Publishers Weekly used with permission.
