Free Lunch (book)
{{Short description|2019 middle-grade memoir by Rex Ogle}}
{{Infobox book|
| name = Free Lunch
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| image = Free Lunch - Rex Ogle.jpg
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| author = Rex Ogle
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| language = English
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| subject = Childhood poverty, Poverty in the United States
| genre = Middle grade, Memoir
| publisher = Norton Young Readers
| release_date = September 10, 2019
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| media_type = Print, Audio
| pages = 224
| isbn = 9781324016946
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Free Lunch is a middle-grade memoir by Rex Ogle, published September 10, 2019, by Norton Young Readers. The book follows Ogle's middle school experience of being "a poor kid in a wealthy school district."{{Cite web|title=Free Lunch|url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43726584-free-lunch?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=n5QmZjkVZL&rank=1|access-date=2022-02-20|website=Goodreads}}
Reception
Free Lunch is a Junior Library Guild selection{{Cite web|title=Free Lunch by Rex Ogle|url=https://www.juniorlibraryguild.com/book/landing/detailedview?itemcode=9781324003601J&name=Free_Lunch|access-date=2022-02-21|website=Junior Library Guild}} and was generally well-received, including starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews,{{Cite web|date=2019-06-16|title=Free Lunch|url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/rex-ogle/free-lunch-ogle/|access-date=2022-02-20|website=Kirkus Reviews}} Publishers Weekly,{{Cite web |date=2019-07-18 |title=Free Lunch by Rex Ogle |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781324003601 |access-date=2023-07-01 |website=Publishers Weekly}} and School Library Journal.{{Cite web |last=Sommer |first=Shelley |date=2019-10-04 |title=Free Lunch |url=https://www.slj.com/review/free-lunch |access-date=2022-02-21 |website=School Library Journal}}
Kirkus Reviews called the book "A mighty portrait of poverty amid cruelty and optimism."{{Cite web|date=2019-06-16|title=Free Lunch|url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/rex-ogle/free-lunch-ogle/|access-date=2022-02-20|website=Kirkus Reviews}} Publishers Weekly applauded how Ogle "captures the experience of chronic poverty in the United States." They continued, stating that while "Ogle doesn’t shy away from the circumstances ... there is no shortage of humor, human kindness, and kid hijinks."
The Chicago Public Library{{Cite web|title=Best Informational Books for Older Readers of 2019|url=https://chipublib.bibliocommons.com/list/share/200049033_chipublib_kids/1526320469_best_informational_books_for_older_readers_of_2019|access-date=2022-02-21|website=Chicago Public Library|language=en-US}} and Kirkus Reviews{{Cite web|title=Best of 2019|url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/best-of/2019/middle-grade/books/|access-date=2022-02-21|website=Kirkus Reviews|language=en}} named Free Lunch one of the best middle grade children's books of 2019.
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|+Awards and honors for Free Lunch !Year !Award/Honor !Result !Ref. |
| 2020
|Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Award |Winner |
| 2022
|Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award |Nominee |