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Reviewed by: Heather Maneiro, High School Librarian Title: When We Ride
Author: Rex Ogle
Publisher: Norton Young Readers
Year: 2025 Good for Grades: 10-12 Genre/Type of Book: Realistic/Novel in Verse
Content Warnings, or things that other School Librarians should be aware of: drugs, violence
Recommended for a school library: Yes Reason(s) for choosing the book: ARC received - not sure how:)
If you were tasked by the publisher with writing a short quote for the back cover of this book, what would it be:
Get ready to get wrecked. Completely wrecked. Like The Outsiders, like The Hate You Give. Those Young Adult Coming of Age Books just pull the heartstrings like no other. You don’t want to cry. You can’t breathe. You need to take a reading hiatus to just be.
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Review:
Abstract and Mini-Review
Benny is the kid who is going to make it. It doesn’t matter that he lives in the projects. It doesn’t matter that his dad left them after he couldn’t handle cleaning up after his alcoholic mother every single night. It doesn’t matter that he is poor. It doesn’t matter that he lives in the projects. Benny is going to make it. Twelfth in the class, within reach of the top ten. Always reading, working, a little bit of sleep. Even if he just has mom. He does have his best friend (brother) Lawson. Lawson, however, is heading in the wrong direction. Lawson sells, Lawson deals, Lawson does. Mainly just weed, but now more. But Lawson always has Benny’s back. How can Benny say no to a ride? Especially once they make the deal, Lawson will work through this final year to graduate if Benny just keeps driving. Get ready to get wrecked. Completely wrecked. Like The Outsiders, like The Hate You Give. Those Young Adult Coming of Age Books just pull the heartstrings like no other. You don’t want to cry. You can’t breathe. You need to take a reading hiatus to just be.
Recommendation Justification
Rex Ogle books are already a part of our curriculum, so I was thrilled when this ARC showed up, even though the other titles I had read had only garnered four stars. This is a five star one that I know I will be thinking about for years! I am typically not a fan of novels in verse via print medium (I prefer audio), but I flew through this one (and will probably enjoy a second time in audio form!)
Uses in the Library/Classroom
Although this is Ogle’s first title listed as fully fiction, I think it provides insight comparing it to his non-fiction and how even fiction relates to experience. Definitely one for SSR as well.
Appropriateness of Artwork
I always love the simplicity of Ogle’s covers.
Number of party hats:
