This book is everything you wanted to say to that one person who’s always been in your corner, and always will be.
Title: Abuela, Don’t Forget Me
Author: Rex Ogle
ISBN: 9781324019954
Publisher: Norton Young Readers
Publication date: 2022
Genre(s): Poetry, memoir
Available format(s): Print, audio. I reviewed the print version.
Awards, honors, notable mentions: 2023 YALSA Nonfiction Award Finalist
Reading level/interest level: Grade 8 and up, according to Amazon
Summary: In this heart-wrenching memoir-in-verse, Rex Ogle catalogs his memories of his grandmother, who is now losing her own memory in a battle with dementia. Ogle’s abuela loved him unconditionally, supported him and soothed him through the abuse he suffered at the hands of others (especially his mother) and believed in him fully.
About the author: Rex Ogle (he/him) grew up in Texas, and spent his early adult years in New York City as an editor for publishers like DC Comics, Scholastics, and Little Brown Young Readers. As a result, he has contributed to hundreds of books for children and teens. He has even worked with Neil Patrick Harris! Ogle also occasionally writes under pen names, including Ray Terciero, bestowed upon him by his beloved Abuela). In recent years, he has been reflecting upon his upbringing in his memoirs, which include Free Lunch, Punching Bag, and of course, Abuela Don’t Forget Me (Ogle, n.d.).
Critical review: This book is a shining example of intergenerational trust and affection. The poetry itself struck me as extremely accessible; Ogle favors plain language over metaphors, and often includes dialogue, making the poems read like a prose novel or even a play. And for me, the most striking piece of dialogue appears in a poem titled “journal,” midway through the book. As his mother screams and hits him for spending money on a blank journal, Ogle fights back with, “These are my words! They matter! Hit me all you want! I will write!” and concludes the poem with “My words are mine, / with a voice given to me / by my abuela” (Ogle, 2022). This particular poem brought to mind a similar scene in The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo, and in fact I think fans of that book should consider picking up Abuela, Don’t Forget Me.
Related programming ideas: This could be my fondness for the poem “journal” speaking here, but I think this book calls for a make-your-own poetry journal session in our library’s Makerspace!
Brief booktalk: This book is everything you wanted to say to that one person who’s always been in your corner, and always will be. For Rex Ogle, that’s his abuela. His teenage years were miserable, but Abuela was the bright spot, and you’ll want to read his poetry to learn how her love illuminated him even in his darkest days.
Potential challenges: This book is frank in its mentions of domestic abuse and consequent trauma from that experience. Personally, I don’t believe that the imagery of physical violence or instances of emotional abuse is gratuitous (just honest – it is a memoir, after all). However, I am wary of potential challengers deeming this book too graphic.
Reason for inclusion: For teens that might be living in similar situations to young Rex Ogle, this book could honestly be a saving grace. This is for the teens who feel truly alone and may need a reminder that support can be found somewhere.
References:
Ogle, R. (n.d.). About the author. https://www.rexogle.com/about
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