Rex Ogle's Punching Bag is a stunningly well written book that discusses abusive families, sibling relationships, and survival.

While I cannot say I enjoyed this (who would?), I found it compelling and unforgettable. It will stick with me and has encouraged me to do what I can to combat domestic violence. Highly recommend along with its companion, “Free Lunch.”

This is a very sad, intense, and eye-opening read. I had a hard time stomaching some of what I read and I felt horrified at most times. This is an important story to read and I would recommend it to my students - while giving them a warning about the content.

Punching Bag by Rex Ogle is just as powerful and illuminating as its companion Free Lunch with strong inner spirit.

Incredibly intense and realistic, this book was a powerful and dynamic read. I enjoyed it but felt sick to my stomach at times with the descriptions of realistic child abuse. This book would do well in a book club setting with students as the need for discussion and processing is key.

Thanks to W. W. Norton & Company, Norton Young Readers, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Punching Bag.

About 2 years ago, a former co-worker recommended Free Lunch to me. Although I never got around to reading it, I recognized Rex Ogle's name when Punching Bag appeared on NetGalley and I requested it. I read that it's sort of a sequel to Free Lunch so I was finally spurred on to read Free Lunch.

Both of these books are heartbreakingly true accounts of Ogle's childhood living in poverty and suffering verbal and physical abuse by both his mother and step-father. As difficult as they were to read, I am so glad they are available both for the kids who need to see they are not alone in these situations as well as for the kids who need to see that not everyone has things so easy. I wish the endnotes would have told what happened to Rex's younger brother, Ford, but thanks to Google, I found my answer! Both of these books were 5-star reads for me. Free Lunch is suitable for upper elementary, but I would recommend Punching Bag for high school-age readers.

This book reminded me of "A Child Called "It"'. It was very heartbreaking to read all the things that Rex had to endure as a kid. It's one of those things that pull at your heartstrings because I deal with students who are in similar situations or hear about things like this on the news. You always ask the question of where are the adults who could have stepped in and intervened? Someone at school or a neighbor should have called Child Protective Services to intervene.

It's super unfortunate that this all happened yet when you deal with addictions and mental health problems that go untreated, this is the outcome. The highs and lows, ups and downs. I'm super proud that no matter what Rex didn't give up and he always looked out for his brother and attempted to protect him the best way he knew how.

Punching Bag was not an easy book to read. Rex Ogle takes a hard look at his own childhood and vividly portrays the damage caused by his mom and stepdad's emotional and physical attacks. He works to protect her younger brother which also hampers his ability to get out of this bad situation. He also has the ghost of his baby sister, whom he never met but whom his mother tells him he is responsible for killing. She appears and counsels him to be safe but also not to fall into abusive patterns.

It is a gut punch but one that I would still highly recommend with the warning that there are many triggering events in this book.

I LOVED Free Lunch, so this had high expectations, and this book met them. Definitely something I could see being assigned reading in a classroom. Some of the topics are dark and touchy, especially since this is a higher age range than Free Lunch. I'm hoping that kids who are fans of Free Lunch read the description before jumping into this one. Glad there's a trigger warning.

Rex Ogle first grabbed my attention with his memoir Free Lunch which detailed his familial struggles while he was in middle school. His newest release, Punching Bag, continues his story, sharing his experiences in high school.

Many students face struggles due to poverty. Ogle shares brutally honest accounts of his family's difficulties paying for basic necessities and utilities. Additionally, Ogle details life with a parent facing mental health concerns as well as physical and verbal abuse. This book should be required reading for all educators. Reading about Ogle's life experiences will help to foster empathy for the struggles that some students are facing.

Punching Bag, Rex Ogle's follow up to Free Lunch, was a gut wrenching look into the life of a young boy as he navigates the hardships and pitfalls of living with abusive and mentally ill parents. As in Free Lunch, the reader is taken on a journey with Rex as he longs for a life free from violence, as well as mental and verbal abuse. Ogle gives an authentic account of living with abusive parents and the ways he longed and learned to find moments of hope, as well as ways to change patterns for his own life. At times, it was an extremely hard read, but an important journey for readers.

Wow! This one is a gut punch. Ogle details the abuse he endured growing up, his reactions to that abuse, and how it impacted his life both short term and long term. I enjoyed Free Lunch, but I think Ogle really forces the reader to connect with his emotions more in this one. You can feel the range of emotions he experiences, and the pain he feels as he tries to cope on so many levels. I still adore the relationship he has with his younger brother. Although this one is marketed as Middle Grade, this one is definitely more YA than his previous novel (based on both his age in the story as well as the content). My only complaint is that I wish he had dived more into what comes next instead of making it a short epilogue at the end (maybe he has another book planned?). This is a super short read that you can finish in one sitting.

Punching Bag is the powerful sequel to Rex Ogle’s memoir, Free Lunch, which came out in 2019. Free Lunch has been a favorite among my students ever since. Punching Bag continues Ogle’s story into his high school years. Punching Bag is a tough story. Ogle recounts his teen years, which are peppered by physical abuse at the hands of his mother and stepfather. This is a story of trauma and survival, of family and breaking the cycle of violence, and of rising above and moving forward. The writing is beautiful and Rex’s story will break your heart. Recommended for high school and up; some readers will undoubtedly see themselves in this story. For others, it will be a window into the often-hidden world of domestic violence.

Thank you to NetGalley for a free eARC copy of this book, in exchange for my honest review.

My little heart aches for Rex in this "story" (I put it in quotes because it is his real life experience, not some made-up narrative).

I have been rendered speechless for what to say as a response to this book (which, if you ask my partner, isn't something that happens often). I said this for "Free Lunch", and it still applies to "Punching Bag"... this is one of those books that if all kids read, we'd be raising more compassionate humans.

Trigger warning: domestic violence and abuse

So many types of abuse. Verbal: Rex’s mother shows him photos of his stillborn sister after Rex comes home from a three-month visit. She tells him “Your fault.”

Physical abuse: even though the world is gray, his mother’s thigh has vibrant colors—-deep purple eggplant, dark red cranberry, yellow sunflower. Bruises, evidence of another fight.

Social abuse. Embarrassing. Screaming and fights at a family reunion and at a neighborhood barbecue.

Emotionally wrecked. That’s Rex. Something bad is always around the corner. His stomach is always heavy with nausea. He cannot believe he’s a good person, because if he were good, God wouldn’t let him live this way.

Rex is often comforted by his dead sister Marisa, who silently calms him during moments of stress.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Norton Young Readers for introducing me to Rex Ogle. I have reserved an InterLibrary Loan of “Free Lunch” and will recommend my county library purchase both of his books.

Rex Ogle shares his story with domestic violence openly and honestly (which is quite rare in YA books). He chronicles family experiences that often left his family isolated, and notes how much his mom struggled to leave his stepdad. Throughout the book, he notes how he never gave up hope for a better future and his desire to not continue the cycles of abuse. While heartbreaking, the story reminds the reader (and others who may be in a similar situation) that there is hope for a better future.

I wish a bit more would have been shared about Rex's life after leaving his home, but the story was still incredibly well written, and it's perfectly communicated for HS students. I hope Rex continues to share his life experiences as it's so important that students, especially those in challenging situations, to see a brighter future.

Punching Bag
by Rex Ogle
Pub Date: 05 Oct 2021
I finished this in one sitting...just couldn't put it down. This is Ogle's memoir of his childhood growing up in an abusive household. From his mother blaming him at a young age for the death of his unborn baby sister to his step-father beating him when he tries to protect his mother, your heart absolutely goes out to Rex and any child who has had to endure abuse from the very people who are supposed to keep them safe. Heartbreaking to say the least, but what he wants you to remember: he survived, and so can you. ❤️

Punching Bag, Alex Ogle's follow up to School Lunch, details the years of abuse and neglect that the author faced growing up. While the content is often hard to read, Ogle's personal account shows the human side of abusive situations, answering the questions of why people stay in abusive situations, why a teenager might not run away, and how cycles of abuse continue over a period of years. Punching Bag somehow contains incredibly difficult depictions of child abuse while still leaving the reader feeling hope for those who have had similar childhoods. The book ends with an incredible afterword and Q&A that show how Ogle is currently doing in his daily life and with his relationship (or non-relationship) with his parents. The inclusion of this after-material makes Punching Bag an essential read and one of the best books of 2021. Highly recommended for teens and adults.

Punching Bag is a fantastic middle-grade read. It is heavy stuff about a teenager who is beaten by both his mom and his stepdad. The main character continues to blame himself for a miscarriage that he has nothing to do with, as a matter of fact, he wasn't even there. Although he is really messed up, he still makes it out. It's a hard story to read but it sheds a light on domestic violence and child abuse. Rex is a great writer and I look forward to reading more of his stuff.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me an ARC of this book.
This book is devastating and goes deep into the effects of cyclical violence. Marisa, in particular, is just heartbreaking. I'm amazed by the author's resilience. I appreciate that he includes such a crucial afterword to others who are coping with trauma. There aren't many books written with teens in mind that speak so directly to these issues. This is a tough read, but well worth the time. Punching Bag is a masterwork on the subject of generational violence, self-loathing, poverty, and resilience. I am so happy Rex made it out of there and that he is now strong enough to share his story.